2 Texans to Alaska (and back)... - Page 5

wmfleet2 · 03-23-2011, 12:48 PM

I am in going to Glacier N P this June,,,,Great RR

jmolsberg · 03-23-2011, 03:03 PM

not too much info and not too little... just right
and great pics!

ClearwaterBMW · 03-24-2011, 02:41 AM

still enjoying every word and image
thanks for taking us along on your journey

RockyNH · 03-24-2011, 03:06 AM

Great report so far... love the photos!!

I have subscribed to this one....

Pat in NH

Autocracy · 03-25-2011, 04:35 AM

I have a ride planned around the country this summer that has a stop in Vegas for a conference. I was thinking I'd continue on to Alaska via the coastal route, but you're making me seriously weigh going inland. Now give me more!

THogland · 03-25-2011, 09:47 AM

Amazing how many people came up last year and I missed them

Great RR - I'm lovin' it!

GoinPostal · 03-25-2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THogland

Amazing how many people came up last year and I missed them

Great RR - I'm lovin' it!

where are you located in Alaska?

THogland · 03-25-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoinPostal

where are you located in Alaska?

Huh - thought that was in my profile before

Guess I missed filling in a city-ish location.

Ah well, all fixed now

I actually grew up in Santa Rosa, CA and that area. Still have family doing grapes in the Alexander Valley.

GoinPostal · 03-25-2011, 03:17 PM

My buddy and I will probably be riding thru there after the Dalton on our way back south in June. I'll pm ya later

jglow · 03-25-2011, 07:37 PM

Banff NP, Alberta to Dawson Creek, BC

Day 8 - June 7, 2010
Mileage Today - 483
Total Trip Mileage - 3,351

We awoke to the pitter-patter of rain falling on the tent fly. It's bad enough that every morning you have to stuff all of your living/sleeping quarters into a couple of small stuff sacks, but when it's raining, it makes it that much worse. The motivation is gone at that point, and you try to sleep some more so that maybe when you wake back up, the sun has come out and everything is dry. This hasn't happened for me ever, and today would be no exception. So we pack up everything in the rain, roll the tent up (wet) and hope that wherever we are camping tonight will be sunny and the tent will have time to dry back out before we have to get in.

Hiding out from the rain, having our Canadian (Columbian) coffee:

The stretch of road between Banff and Jasper National Parks is known as "Ice Fields Parkway" or something similar to that. There are several glaciers that are viewable from the roadway during this stretch. Many have melted and retreated tremendously (argue amongst yourselves to determine reasons, i.e. global warming, smiting, friction). It was a truly beautiful ride, but it was also slightly miserable with a hint of numb extremities thrown in for good measure. Something about "Ice Fields Parkway" and 43 degrees does not mix well. At least it was raining and not snowing.

Ice Fields Parkway:

We took this crappy picture of our first Bald Eagle sighting:

Showing off my fancy rain gear gloves. I think I can also handle a fairly stiff concentration of sulfuric acid with them as well. Thank you Harbor Freight.

After about 3 hours we were finally heading East and descending from the Rockies into the foothills where we would again turn North and head for Dawson Creek, British Columbia.

We headed into the town of Hinton for gas. It was early afternoon, and we talked about potentially camping somewhere around there. It had been a pretty cold ride so far, but the weather seemed to be better in the direction we were headed, so we decided to push on and see if we could make Dawson Creek. A few weeks later, I found out that Hinton had a pretty gnarly hail storm later that day, so it was a good thing that we pushed on.

Backtracking a couple of miles after filling up. That would be our turn:

Almost to Dawson Creek:

Something about the BC sign has always bugged me. I have seen it a ton of times in other ride reports, and it just seems out of place. Looks more like a sign for a shopping mall or something

.

And so it begins...

Camping tonight was at a camp park on the edge of town.

The time changed again when we entered BC and we had no idea what time it was. Subsequently we missed the "last load" deadline at the camp laundry, so we sauntered into to town to waste away the remainder of our evening doing laundry.

Tomorrow is our first day on the Alcan - not quite what I was expecting

.

jordan

themobb · 03-25-2011, 08:03 PM

Super RR and pic's!

Since you are posting last summer's trip, I assume you made it home!

Waiting for More....

Lance

henpecked · 03-25-2011, 08:11 PM

Great ride report, thanks for sharing your adventure

tq r11s · 03-26-2011, 07:54 AM

Enjoying your report. Thanks for sharing it with us.

ClearwaterBMW · 03-26-2011, 11:18 AM

still enjoying every word and picture
love the ICE FIELD PARKWAY images.... just gorgeous
numbing cold? maybe
once-in-a-lifetime experience... DEFINITELY

thanks for the ride

HogFan · 03-26-2011, 02:15 PM

I'm in!! Great report so far!

03-23-2011, 12:48 PM	#61
wmfleet2 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2009 Location: york,pa Oddometer: 390	Great I am in going to Glacier N P this June,,,,Great RR

03-23-2011, 03:03 PM	#62
jmolsberg Adventurer Joined: Dec 2010 Location: fort worth, texas Oddometer: 15	excellent report not too much info and not too little... just right and great pics!

03-24-2011, 02:41 AM	#63
ClearwaterBMW The Examiner Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Clearwater, FL USA Oddometer: 4,744	still enjoying every word and image thanks for taking us along on your journey __________________ Greg '07 K1200 GT '11 R1200 GS Adventure with a DMC M72DX Sidecar live life like you mean it... but take your family and friends (and DOGS) along for the "ride"

03-24-2011, 03:06 AM	#64
RockyNH Older Than Dirt! Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Southern NH Oddometer: 1,057	Great report so far... love the photos!! I have subscribed to this one.... Pat in NH __________________ RockyNH Dualsport Corespondant for SideStandUp.com Radio Show 02 1800 Gold Wing - "Wing" 05 Ural Gear Up "Herbie" 07 F650GS - "Grasshopper" - Totaled July 2010 05 DR 650 - (?????) Purchased August 2010 Trip Report 2009 Trans Lab Highway Trip Report 2010 James Bay & North Road Quebec

03-25-2011, 04:35 AM	#65
Autocracy KLR = Trials bike? Joined: Mar 2010 Location: Redwood City, CA Oddometer: 531	I have a ride planned around the country this summer that has a stop in Vegas for a conference. I was thinking I'd continue on to Alaska via the coastal route, but you're making me seriously weigh going inland. Now give me more! __________________ Only have a Concours 14 after riding to California from Maine. Need to find a place to ride with knobbies. Need to get a bike with knobbies. SIG: HUP

03-25-2011, 09:47 AM	#66
THogland Back in Alaska! Joined: Mar 2011 Location: Wasilla-ish, Alaska Oddometer: 38	Sub'd! Amazing how many people came up last year and I missed them Great RR - I'm lovin' it!

03-25-2011, 03:17 PM	#69
GoinPostal Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Sonoma, CA Oddometer: 370	My buddy and I will probably be riding thru there after the Dalton on our way back south in June. I'll pm ya later __________________ Charter Member 'Group of Fools' Group Of Fools Mexico Adventure 2012 Dust 2 Dawson 2012 Group of Fools Central America Adventure 2013 2012 Triple Black GSA

03-25-2011, 07:37 PM	#70
jglow ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Lowry Crossing, TX Oddometer: 288	Banff NP, Alberta to Dawson Creek, BC Day 8 - June 7, 2010 Mileage Today - 483 Total Trip Mileage - 3,351 We awoke to the pitter-patter of rain falling on the tent fly. It's bad enough that every morning you have to stuff all of your living/sleeping quarters into a couple of small stuff sacks, but when it's raining, it makes it that much worse. The motivation is gone at that point, and you try to sleep some more so that maybe when you wake back up, the sun has come out and everything is dry. This hasn't happened for me ever, and today would be no exception. So we pack up everything in the rain, roll the tent up (wet) and hope that wherever we are camping tonight will be sunny and the tent will have time to dry back out before we have to get in. Hiding out from the rain, having our Canadian (Columbian) coffee: The stretch of road between Banff and Jasper National Parks is known as "Ice Fields Parkway" or something similar to that. There are several glaciers that are viewable from the roadway during this stretch. Many have melted and retreated tremendously (argue amongst yourselves to determine reasons, i.e. global warming, smiting, friction). It was a truly beautiful ride, but it was also slightly miserable with a hint of numb extremities thrown in for good measure. Something about "Ice Fields Parkway" and 43 degrees does not mix well. At least it was raining and not snowing. Ice Fields Parkway: We took this crappy picture of our first Bald Eagle sighting: Showing off my fancy rain gear gloves. I think I can also handle a fairly stiff concentration of sulfuric acid with them as well. Thank you Harbor Freight. After about 3 hours we were finally heading East and descending from the Rockies into the foothills where we would again turn North and head for Dawson Creek, British Columbia. We headed into the town of Hinton for gas. It was early afternoon, and we talked about potentially camping somewhere around there. It had been a pretty cold ride so far, but the weather seemed to be better in the direction we were headed, so we decided to push on and see if we could make Dawson Creek. A few weeks later, I found out that Hinton had a pretty gnarly hail storm later that day, so it was a good thing that we pushed on. Backtracking a couple of miles after filling up. That would be our turn: Almost to Dawson Creek: Something about the BC sign has always bugged me. I have seen it a ton of times in other ride reports, and it just seems out of place. Looks more like a sign for a shopping mall or something . And so it begins... Camping tonight was at a camp park on the edge of town. The time changed again when we entered BC and we had no idea what time it was. Subsequently we missed the "last load" deadline at the camp laundry, so we sauntered into to town to waste away the remainder of our evening doing laundry. Tomorrow is our first day on the Alcan - not quite what I was expecting . jordan __________________ 2 Texans to Alaska (and back)... 2 Texans Ride The TAT...

03-25-2011, 08:03 PM	#71
themobb Is this thing on??? Joined: Apr 2002 Location: Hooksett, NH Oddometer: 504	Super RR and pic's! Since you are posting last summer's trip, I assume you made it home! Waiting for More.... Lance __________________ 2010 BMW F800GS 2008 BMW R12GSA Pulling on that bike with all I have, I fear that I will pop a vein in my anus any second. - metaljockey

03-25-2011, 08:11 PM	#72
henpecked Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Denver, Colorado Oddometer: 198	Great ride report, thanks for sharing your adventure

03-26-2011, 07:54 AM	#73
tq r11s Adventurer Joined: May 2007 Location: Central Calif Oddometer: 24	Enjoying your report. Thanks for sharing it with us.

03-26-2011, 11:18 AM	#74
ClearwaterBMW The Examiner Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Clearwater, FL USA Oddometer: 4,744	still enjoying every word and picture love the ICE FIELD PARKWAY images.... just gorgeous numbing cold? maybe once-in-a-lifetime experience... DEFINITELY thanks for the ride __________________ Greg '07 K1200 GT '11 R1200 GS Adventure with a DMC M72DX Sidecar live life like you mean it... but take your family and friends (and DOGS) along for the "ride"

03-26-2011, 02:15 PM	#75
HogFan Adventurer Joined: Apr 2010 Oddometer: 27	I'm in!! Great report so far! __________________ HogFan Work sucks, let's go ride!

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