Dalton Hwy - Annual Memorial Day Weekend Ride

[HayDuchessLives]

Once again Alcan Rider and I are doing the traditional Memorial Day Weekend ride up the Dalton Highway and wanted to see if any brave souls want to join us. The two times I have done this trip we enjoyed decent to pretty darn good weather, (overall, except for the last 30 miles into and out of Deadhorse ) so don't be wimpy and say "it will be too cold." If a Granny can do it - anybody can do it, well... except for one certain inmate who had to ride bitch!

Basic details: We're leaving Thursday, May 24 and I'm returning to Anchorage May 28. We usually stay in Fairbanks one night, then in Wiseman two nights (riding from Wiseman to Deadhorse and back to Wiseman in one day), then spend another night in Fairbanks, and then ride home.

At this point I don't plan on riding all the way to Deadhorse. Some peaks and ridgelines along the highway have been calling my name, so I'm going to stop and do some non-motorized exploring on my two feet, and see how many ridgelines I can traverse or possibly climb one of the peaks. But Jack is riding all the way to Deadhorse and he'll gladly provide his usual outstanding tour guide services.

Let one of us know if you're interested in riding with a Geezer and a Granny Gone Wild. Good sense of humors required, and the ability to duck quickly if you see Jack pointing his camera your direction.

[taoist]

I wish you all the best.
The earliest I have been up the Dalton was June 2nd in a 4wd camper. Watch out for frost heaves!

[JustInconsistent]

I'll just be getting back into the state with my new tires as my checked bags, but I think I can get the KLR ready in time to make it. I may end up chasing a granny and a geezer to the Arctic Circle, but how hard could that be?

Whatever happens I'll be riding north that weekend, hopefully I'll catch you by Fairbanks. It would be a blast to make my first ride on the Dalton with you two.

[fltclark]

Wish we could. There'll be 5 of us getting there probably the 29th or 30th. Would love to ride with you guys but leaving Mississippi on the 20th, and it'll take a few days to get there. Have fun!

fletcher clark

[Wistrick]

Not leaving PNW tell Jun 9th., and we are wimping out and only riding to the Arctic Circle sign....oh well...would love to meet u guys anyways....

[Drunk_Uncle]

I am thinking about it. If there isn't much rain in the forecast I could be game for this ride. Now I just need to get my XR out of shipment holding.

[HayDuchessLives]

Originally Posted by Wistrick

Not leaving PNW tell Jun 9th., and we are wimping out and only riding to the Arctic Circle sign....oh well...would love to meet u guys anyways....

If you go through Glennallen or on the Tok cutoff (where his retirement home is), you can contact Alcan Rider and, if he's available, he'll meet up with you somewhere, especially if you offer to buy him some fudge or a piece of pie. It sounds like he's heading back up the Dalton Highway around June 16th. I'm in Anchorage and if I'm in town I can meet up with you somewhere, and I don't need fudge or a piece of pie (too many calories).

Don't feel like a wimp for "only" riding to the Arctic Circle sign. Even riding that far is a fun adventure! And by turning around there, you'll miss possibly hundreds of miles of wet mud or slick-as-snot calcium-chloride coated roads that coat your bike with a yucky mess.

Originally Posted by Drunk_Uncle

I am thinking about it. If there isn't much rain in the forecast I could be game for this ride. Now I just need to get my XR out of shipment holding.

I hope there's not much rain in the forecast. I'm thinking about climbing the awesome Sukakpak Mountain to get a bird's eye view of the road and the incredible scenery. If it's raining, I sure won't feel like climbing around on the really steep slopes and wet rocks, especially by myself.

Let us know if you can make it. I reserved rooms at the Boreal Lodge in Wiseman and we are their first customers of the season.

[Alcan Rider]

Originally Posted by HayDuchessLives

Don't feel like a wimp for "only" riding to the Arctic Circle sign. Even riding that far is a fun adventure! And by turning around there, you'll miss possibly hundreds of miles of wet mud or slick-as-snot calcium-chloride coated roads that coat your bike with a yucky mess.

Just a minor correction, as HayDee's memory cells (she's a blonde, y'know) haven't thawed out from her winter ski trips: Once you get to the Arctic Circle at Mile 115, the next 82 miles north are paved, other than a few spots where winter frost heaves have broken the pavement - easily skirted if you're paying attention. If you've ridden as far as the Circle, it is really worthwhile to continue on to Coldfoot at Mile 175. There is a really nice visitor center on the opposite side of the highway as well.

[Alcan Rider]

Originally Posted by fltclark

Wish we could. There'll be 5 of us getting there probably the 29th or 30th. Would love to ride with you guys but leaving Mississippi on the 20th, and it'll take a few days to get there. Have fun!

fletcher clark

Hey Fletcher,
You're not in the group getting here by way of Key West? Gonna try to get back up to Deadhorse on the 16th to serve as a witness for those coming and/or going.

[skierd]

Depending on my work schedule I'm interested in going.

[HayDuchessLives]

Originally Posted by Alcan Rider

Just a minor correction, as HayDee's memory cells (she's a blonde, y'know) haven't thawed out from her winter ski trips: Once you get to the Arctic Circle at Mile 115, the next 82 miles north are paved, other than a few spots where winter frost heaves have broken the pavement - easily skirted if you're paying attention. If you've ridden as far as the Circle, it is really worthwhile to continue on to Coldfoot at Mile 175. There is a really nice visitor center on the opposite side of the highway as well.

Hey - my brain has thawed out - although my head got pretty cold last night while skiing 2.5 hours through a snowstorm with strong winds. The snow is still pretty deep up in the Powerline Pass area.

If I recall correctly, if you ride all the way to Deadhorse on the Dalton Highway, roundtrip, it's "hundreds of miles" and not all of that is paved. So there are quite a few long stretches of dirt that can change to mud, if you go all the way. That's what I was referring to; not just riding to the Arctic Circle and back.

[Full Power]

"If I recall correctly, if you ride all the way to Deadhorse on the Dalton Highway, roundtrip, it's "hundreds of miles" and not all of that is paved. So there are quite a few long stretches of dirt that can change to mud, if you go all the way.""
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Fairbanks to Deadhorse and back is a 'day-ride' ..... What are you guys planning to do for 2 days in Wiseman?

[fltclark]

Originally Posted by Alcan Rider

Hey Fletcher,
You're not in the group getting here by way of Key West? Gonna try to get back up to Deadhorse on the 16th to serve as a witness for those coming and/or going.

No, Jack. I'm with a different bunch that wanted to leave earlier . We're bringing two first-timers with us, and the rest of us wanted to do the Haul Road one more time. I've always been intrigued by Telegraph Creek. Is it worth taking the time to do? We're also planning the Kennecott mine, trying to catch stuff that we haven't done. Really enjoyed y'alls photos last year of the mine area.

[HayDuchessLives]

Originally Posted by Full Power

Fairbanks to Deadhorse and back is a 'day-ride' ..... What are you guys planning to do for 2 days in Wiseman?

It may be just a day ride for the Gregarious Geezer from Glennallen, but I'm not even half the rider he is so I need the extra days.

[Alcan Rider]

Originally Posted by fltclark

I've always been intrigued by Telegraph Creek. Is it worth taking the time to do? We're also planning the Kennecott mine, trying to catch stuff that we haven't done. Really enjoyed y'alls photos last year of the mine area.

While I've never seemed to have the time to make that side trip to Telegraph Creek myself, the ride report photographs that several riders have posted convince me that it is definitely worth the extra day it would take. Like so many trips down gravel roads, it is best done with sun shining, no heavy rain.

You will undoubtedly enjoy the ride out to McCarthy/Kennicott. More miles of wilderness - and you can celebrate with a cold one there if you so desire.