Sport-Touring the Dalton Highway?

[Midnightventure]

Great videos. That looked like some tough riding for that kind of bike. I bet you were a better rider when you got back than when you left.

[ride4321]

Thanks for taking the time to make the videos and share them with us. I learned a lot about what to expect when my time comes to make that trip. Well done.
An Aussie friend rode the Dalton about the same time this year and had the same weather. He was on a Bonnie towing a small trailer. I'll take my DR I think when the time comes.

[blue72beetle]

Wonderful! I just finished watching all 7. Excellent videos

This has really inspired me to do an Alaska trip in the future.

[1994klr250]

Rick, I just got done watching all 7 video's. Excellent job on putting them together. I also rode to Alaska this past summer, from June 19 to July 17 covering 10,500 miles. I noticed in your 7th and final video that you rode into that bad rain storm in Minnesota. Do you happen to remember what day that was on your trip? On June 20th the second day of my trip I also rode into a severe storm and major flooding in Duluth. It took me over 3 hours to get out of the Duluth area due to many roads being closed due to flooding. I wonder if we crossed paths along the way? Thanks again for sharing, Fred.

[rick3foxes]

Originally Posted by 1994klr250

Rick, I just got done watching all 7 video's. Excellent job on putting them together. I also rode to Alaska this past summer, from June 19 to July 17 covering 10,500 miles. I noticed in your 7th and final video that you rode into that bad rain storm in Minnesota. Do you happen to remember what day that was on your trip? On June 20th the second day of my trip I also rode into a severe storm and major flooding in Duluth. It took me over 3 hours to get out of the Duluth area due to many roads being closed due to flooding. I wonder if we crossed paths along the way? Thanks again for sharing, Fred.

LOL - Yes, it was the evening of June 19.
That was the clip about the zoo flooding and the animals escaping/drowning.
It just occurred to me that the animals were probably looking for a really old guy with a huge boat...

Here's my SPOTWalla with all the dates and times in EST:
http://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=45784f8ee1e21d690

On the SPOT track, you can see where I stopped in Superior at a Subway to grab some food and "regain my resolve".

I left quite a water puddle on the floor from my wet gear while I ate, then proceeded to Ishpeming for a dry motel room.

[1994klr250]

Originally Posted by rick3foxes

LOL - Yes, it was the evening of June 19.
That was the clip about the zoo flooding and the animals escaping/drowning.
It just occurred to me that the animals were probably looking for a really old guy with a huge boat...

Here's my SPOTWalla with all the dates and times in EST:
http://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=45784f8ee1e21d690

On the SPOT track, you can see where I stopped in Superior at a Subway to grab some food and "regain my resolve".

I left quite a water puddle on the floor from my wet gear while I ate, then proceeded to Ishpeming for a dry motel room.

Sounds like we did cross paths along the way as I was heading north and you where going south. The first night, June 19th for me I made it to Wakefield, Mi and camped only to have that storm in Duluth to deal with the next morning. That was some of the hardest rain I have rode through in a long time. I had a local out taking pictures of the flooding spot me and ask where I was headed, to which I replied north or west, I need to get to Alaska. Here was my gps track trying to get out of the Duluth area the next morning.



My entire ride to AK and back. Due to limited time I had to take the same way on Route 2 from Minot back home.

[dukedinner]

Look at it this way - the sooner you go on your dream adventure, the longer you'll have to savor the memories and share them with your friends!

How true..it's not the type or make of bike...it's the attitude of the person in the saddle that makes dreams come true or not...you can be on a dualsport, a road warrior, or even a bicycle to go on the adventure of a lifetime

Great job Rick..saw your links on COG and have now watched all seven videos. You have great videography and editing skills. Thanks!!

[EmpireExpeditions]

Watched your videos yesterday in one sitting!

Great job, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

On my todo list but looks scarily slippery!

You mentioned 240 miles from Coldfoot to Deadhorse (love the names!), is that the maximum fuel range you'd need ;plus a reserve of course) or are some parts further apart?

Looked a comfy bike for the trip!

I need to go when the ice roads are there so I can chat up Lisa Kelly..,

[telejojo]

I may have missed it in the vids but did you change tires somewhere ? 12k miles is a lot of miles on a set of tires

[Ironheadziggy76]

Rick, thank you for posting this excellent trip report!
I made the trip back in 2009 on a 650 V-Strom, and am planning to go back in 2015 with a good friend of mine. He is trying to decide what bike to take on this trip as I don't think he will want to take his new Street Glide on this trip. It looks like they have paved a little more of the Dalton since I was last there.

[rick3foxes]

Originally Posted by EmpireExpeditions

Watched your videos yesterday in one sitting!

You mentioned 240 miles from Coldfoot to Deadhorse (love the names!), is that the maximum fuel range you'd need ;plus a reserve of course) or are some parts further apart?

I need to go when the ice roads are there so I can chat up Lisa Kelly..,

Yes - the 240-mile strech is the longest one. I added a couple of bottles of gas when I left Coldfoot just in case, but didn't need them. There are a lot of miles without fuel, so it's a good idea to "See gas, Buy gas".

I wisely used the first day of my trip to determine my exact tank range....

Good luck finding Lisa.

[rick3foxes]

Originally Posted by telejojo

I may have missed it in the vids but did you change tires somewhere ? 12k miles is a lot of miles on a set of tires

I was getting concerned after the first 2 weeks about the tire wear, but after I got off the gravel, they seemed to stop wearing! By the time I got home and rode to work a couple of weeks, I had 15K on the set. (Includes about 900 miles before I left).

Michelin PR3 front
Michelin Commander II rear

[duckman44]

Sorry but did you say what helmet camera you used. I am about to pull the trigger for a Go Pro and want to know if that is what you used.
This is the best report I have read(watched) so far.
My trip starts this year in June and covers almost the exact route you took.
Thanks for keeping me pumped up about my future adventure!

[rick3foxes]

Originally Posted by Ironheadziggy76

Rick, thank you for posting this excellent trip report!
I made the trip back in 2009 on a 650 V-Strom, and am planning to go back in 2015 with a good friend of mine. He is trying to decide what bike to take on this trip as I don't think he will want to take his new Street Glide on this trip. It looks like they have paved a little more of the Dalton since I was last there.

Yes - there is a stretch of highway starting at Coldfoot heading north that was freshly paved for 20 miles.

Nearly Zero traffic, pristine new pavement with bright white lines, no highway patrol, unlimited visibility....
Max Speed? No comment...
But that may all change in the next 12 months, the way the weather attacks the pavement up there.

I did see a guy on an ElectraGlide on the south end of the Dalton.
According to the staff at the Yukon River station, he went down when he hit the "construction area mud". He didn't get hurt, and was able to go as far as the Arctic Circle.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Rick, Alaska owes me one as I didn't make it all the way to Deadhorse!



Here are a couple of my favorite pictures from my trip, the Arctic Circle Campground.





Thanks again for posting this wonderful RR, I'm going to make sure my buddy who is going with gets all the links to this.