Houston to Arctic Circle via Dempster 2009

[solorider]

Towards the end of June, early July we'll be heading to the arctic circle.

Right now there are three confirmed riders and fourth possible. I'll be on KLR, there'll be another KLR and a vStrom.

It's going to be camping most of the way, we'll ride Route 66, we'll visit Grand Canyon and ton of other places avoiding freeways (no ferries this trip.)

I've bought a 2006 KLR for this trip, done doohickey and carb vent fixes/upgrades. Been riding around Carlos, TX on gravel with the other KLR rider.

In the meantime, I'll be creating some posts here about our test rides, preperations, etc.

[solorider]

And here's the partial route...

View Larger Map">
View Larger Map

[solorider]

I've posted this before but not the actual route, so here it is. A good ride is through the Sam Houston National Forest to Carlos, TX. Grab a bite at Yankees Bar and if you happened to be on a dual sport go farther on some dirt tracks. This is the path to Carlos, dirt tracks will come later.



View Ride to Carlos in a larger map

[Cheap Ryder]

Good ride coming up eh? Do the campbell loop on the way up or down for a bit of pristine travel. Leaves north at watson lake and the next gas is 230 miles. If you come thru Helena Mt give me a shout. I can tell you stories about the old days when the dempster was dusty and had tire eating shale and cucachabras behine every bunch of fireweed.

[YukonTracker]

Or better yet, take the stunning south canol road on your way up or down. Ross River has a gas station. The Campbell highway is a so much nicer ride than the Alaska Highway between Watson Lake and Whitehorse.

[solorider]

Options Options!!! Thanks for suggestions and keep them coming. We'll have a month minimum maybe we'll add another 15 days
We have one rider in the group (vstrom) that may have work constraints but he may have to head back early by himself and two of us (KLRs) may take more time to travel that region.

[solorider]

You are talking about taking Hwy 4 North from Watson Lake right? What place is the next gas station at?
Hopefully that tire eating shale is not there anymore we are planning on not carrying extra tires. In the words of the KLR rider going on the trip, "we'll look like gypsies". I don't care what we look like, we'll look mighty fine with extra tires if one blows.

Originally Posted by Cheap Ryder

Good ride coming up eh? Do the campbell loop on the way up or down for a bit of pristine travel. Leaves north at watson lake and the next gas is 230 miles. If you come thru Helena Mt give me a shout. I can tell you stories about the old days when the dempster was dusty and had tire eating shale and cucachabras behine every bunch of fireweed.

[FotoTEX]

Just so you know-there are NO bad roads towards Alaska. Some just better than others. I liked every single mile from TX to Alaska and back. Main thing is take the time to really enjoy this epic ride. It all goes by FAST. Keep your eyes wide open, just like the smile you will be wearing the whole way.

[solorider]

...and I'm sure same holds true on the Canadian side

Originally Posted by FotoTEX

Just so you know-there are NO bad roads towards Alaska. Some just better than others. I liked every single mile from TX to Alaska and back. Main thing is take the time to really enjoy this epic ride. It all goes by FAST. Keep your eyes wide open, just like the smile you will be wearing the whole way.

[Benjava]

You need to have a tire strategy. There are not many tires that might make that whole trip.

[solorider]

I have been grappling with this. There are 5 of us at this point and most think we should not carry extra tires (so we don't look like gypsies...whatever). I'm almost thinking of somehow sneaking at least a rear tire with me.
I'd rather have an extra one and not need it. Have you made the trip with tire issues? I hear that thing they call shale? is killer on those roads.

I have custom side bags and I think I can stick a tire between left side bag and bike and it should be ok.

Originally Posted by Benjava

You need to have a tire strategy. There are not many tires that might make that whole trip.

[Benjava]

There where slices in my tires that looked like a razor blade or exacto knife made them. They were all in the tread blocks though. I used a new tire at the start of the Dempster so the tread was deep enough that the cuts were not in the sipes.

Here is a possible plan. Ride on a tire good enough to get you to Watson lake. Mount a new more agressive tire of your choice there right at the start of the fun stuff. Leave the now almost worn out tire there for the next really desperate person that comes along. If your second tire doesn't make it all the way home at least you'll probably be back in the lower
forty-eight by then. What you really don't want to do is have to buy a tire North of the Canandian border. The prices will make carrying a tire worth it.

If you decide not to ride the Campbell Highway and the Canol roads just make your tire change in Dawson.Or you can also ship one to the Downtown Dawson Hotel.

For the front, I have made it over ten thousand miles with a TKC 80 on the KLR.

[solorider]

Getting closer and closer, the plan is to head out last friday of the month, 26th of June. I still have some tread left on the tires so I'm thinking I'll probably change the tire/chain en-route, maybe near the border to Canada.

First day will probably be the longest as we plan on getting out of Texas first day.

Been sick last few days with some kind of cold bug, it's all breaking up now better to get it out of the way now and not have issues during the trip!

The most important thing on the list to purchase is a winter sleeping bag and maybe water tight boots, for some reason the right boot lets water in.

All the equipment on the KLR is working perfect without issues, Zumo works fine, HID headlight works great, battery tender connection is secure (hopefully won't need to use it as two other riders will have hand pumps.) LED tail light works with no issues. I haven't upgraded the fuses, hopefully won't be a problem getting the old style fuse if needed.

[Cheap Ryder]

Take along any wierd fuses you need and then take a few spare. If you have buddies that you are riding with and have same size tires take along extra tubes and at least one tire. I have carried a extra tire and used it. The only sharp shale I have run into was on the dempster and I glued the cuts up with super glue. If you are coming thru montana and want to install parts make sure the parts are available. Helena the state capital only has a reginal population of about 45 thousand so we are talking small town dealerships here with lots of parts that need to be ordered.

[solorider]

I'll be leaving Houston on the 28th (Sunday), I'll stay overnight in College Station and Monday morning four of us will head out at 7:00am.
First days goal is to reach Clovis, New Mexico and setup camp.

I'm waiting on a new tube for the rear tire and a rear wheel spoke, should have it by friday!