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Off to Dead Horse in 2023--Looking for Advice, Ridicule, Condemnation or Support

4374 Views 76 Replies 19 Participants Last post by  Fuzzcat, 
WeeWilly
Well, I have a good Army buddy who lives in North Pole, AK (yes, there really is such a place...Google it) who shames me today because I have promised for a couple of years to stop by to see him for a few days whenever I'm "in the area" and have yet to do so. Two years ago (2021) Ol' Red & I rode the Colorado BDR...1,700 miles with most of it off road. This last year (2022) I attended the Get On ADV Fest in Sturgis, SD (won't be doing that one again). So this year I pledge to my buddy and to the Forum that I will ride Ol' Red to Dead Horse and back (OMG...did I just write that?).

Yes, I did! So here's the deal. I am going to plan a trip from my home in North Carolina to Dead Horse, Alaska. I may truck Ol' Red to a good line of departure or ride her all the way...TBD. I suspect I will be doing a lot of camping. I have all (or most of) the gear I think I will need for dry camping when needed in or out of AK. I plan to carry my 44 Mag which I think I can get through Canadian customs with the right paperwork unless the laws have become so stoopid up there that nothing gets through.

The bottom line is this: I'm not getting any younger! This is a trip I have wanted to take for a couple of years now, and the bike is capable...God willing. I have almost 60 years of riding experience. I'm an Iron Butt rider. I have been across the US (west-to-east and east-to-west) several times. I'm a US Army combat veteran: there are not too many things that worry me about long distance riding. So here's the call:

I have available almost anything I would need for camping, traveling, maintaining and surviving. What I'm looking for is good advice from folks who have ridden in areas like the Dalton Highway who might help me decide what to take and what to leave behind. Bike maintenance I'm good with. Camping in AK, I could use some help. You get the idea. Drop me a question if you're not sure how to help.

Check out this guy's instructive video about Dead Horse. Looks like I'll want to turn around ASAP:

motorcycle ride to dead horse at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.
tinyurl.com tinyurl.com

I'm looking forward to the discussion. Thanks for everyone who takes time to comment.

Best regards,

W2
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bobbenn27
WeeWilly said:
What kind of overboots? I live in NC. We don't use things like that down here.

Curious...
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Something the BILT Tornado Waterproof Overboots
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L
swimmer said:
It's not a misperception that the US has approximately 35-40X the deaths from guns per Capita than Canada or that one developed country routinely has mass casualty events involving a gun and none of the others do.
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35-40x is a crazy high number that certainly doesn't apply to every location in USA, like the state of Maine. The death rate with firearms is highly variable based on location here. Many areas are just as safe as Canada.

Obviously the right to be armed to the teeth has a price tag, but for murder's overall we're still far safer than many areas on the planet even with an ocean of firearms at our disposal.

That said I would not bring one through Canada as it's not the USA and should have it's laws respected without giving them a guilt trip. Plus you won't get attacked by a bear. It's far more likely to get into a traffic accident or hit a deer or moose. And bear spray is very effective, probably more than a pistol in many situations.
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jetsen
Tell him you'll meet him in the middle and ride to Dead Horse Point, Utah, instead. That would actually be a cool ride. :D
Dead Horse Point
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James T Kirk
WeeWilly said:
I am looking at that Jim. The only drawback is the cost. > $5k one way. And that is without a cabin, basically camping on deck. I haven't decided yet because I would love to see the sights. I just need to find the $$$. Still looking...
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WOW!!!! 5k!!!!

2001 was the last time I was on the ferry. It was around $1000 one way with a truck and cab-over camper. Sleeping on deck. February. But, I suppose it's much more in the Summer.

Here's some current research I did , travelling with a motorcycle one way, in February/March $1598.....Kirk Out

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WeeWilly
Thanks Jim. I had looked last year during the Covid lockdown hype. It's nice to see the cost has gone down. This is doable.
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AT-Dragon
I know people say there is no use in doing it, but..
Beat that dead horse a good one for me too, when you safely get there..
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Shunpiker
Rolling out from Cincinnati, July 14th, give a day or 2 either way. Were going to Tuk and possibly Dead Horse, depending on time. Coming back down to Homer and along the southern portion to Haines. Plan on the ferry to Skagway then down to Hyder. On our way back plan on crossing Bear Tooth (great ride) and then do part of the Wyoming BDR and home. Psyched and nervous all in one.
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WeeWilly
So, WTH is going on with the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) ability to crew its boats? Today (230320) I can't reserve a trip from Bellingham, WA any farther north than Skagway. This is 1/2 of the distance I need to travel to Whittier so I can move into Anchorage. Anyone have info I can use?

I've read that the AMHS is having trouble hiring people to crew the ships...any insight into this? I need these schedules to plan the trip with any precision. Miss a boat and you can wait for a week to catch the next one.

Any insight will be appreciated!
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WeeWilly
Shunpiker said:
Rolling out from Cincinnati, July 14th, give a day or 2 either way. Were going to Tuk and possibly Dead Horse, depending on time. Coming back down to Homer and along the southern portion to Haines. Plan on the ferry to Skagway then down to Hyder. On our way back plan on crossing Bear Tooth (great ride) and then do part of the Wyoming BDR and home. Psyched and nervous all in one.
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I've been told by a close friend who lives in North Pole, AK (right outside Fairbanks) that August is WET & COLD. An AK trip, he says, is best planned for July or late August/September. I'm aiming at late August/September though this is easily modified. It's a month-long trip if you ride up. Plus it's expensive if you ride the ferry. I'm planning a mid-August ride though my plans are squishy ATM. I'll PM you my plans if you're interested. Let me know if our itineraries sync.

I'd really rather ride with others. Today, I'm planning to ride alone.

Best,

W2
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Ruff rider
Skyway is perfect. I took the ferry from Haynes to Skyway, then rode over White Pass to Whitehorse. Then you ride to Tok, then down to Glenallen. Then over to Anchorage. Awesome ride.
If that was me, I would ride from Skyway onto Whitehorse then on to Dawson City. Cross the Yukon ferry and ride the Hyway on top of the World thru Chicken to Tok and onto Fairbanks. I enjoyed that ride more. This pic is looking towards the Yukon from the Hyway on top of the World
Tire Sky Wheel Vehicle Cloud

Enjoy the Ride
Ruff Rider
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L
WeeWilly said:
I've been told by a close friend who lives in North Pole, AK (right outside Fairbanks) that August is WET & COLD. An AK trip, he says, is best planned for July or late August/September. I'm aiming at late August/September though this is easily modified. It's a month-long trip if you ride up. Plus it's expensive if you ride the ferry. I'm planning a mid-August ride though my plans are squishy ATM. I'll PM you my plans if you're interested. Let me know if our itineraries sync.

I'd really rather ride with others. Today, I'm planning to ride alone.

Best,

W2
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I’d be cautious about going anytime in September. June/July/August.

I was in Fairbanks last September and it was much worse weather wise then when I rode up by bike in June.

As far as wet, it’s Alaska so it’s a dice roll. You’ll get wet for some of the days for sure. Just bring really good wet weather gear and embrace the rain. Gore-Tex has failed me in some way every single time so I bring Frog Toggs pilot top/bottom, Aerostich triple digit covers for the gloves and Seal Skinz waterproof socks for the boots now. Rain isn’t miserable with the right gear.

For camping, a fly first tent is worth its weight in gold when it’s pouring and you can’t get any lulls in the rain for setup, no wet tent makes all the difference. Tents like the Tarptent Moment DW or Snugpak Scorpion setup that way. The Moment is literally a 1 minute setup.

The mosquito’s/bugs were about the same as I grew up with in Maine so not a big deal. I use a Seattle sombrero with a bug neg over it and long sleeve/pants/shoes and some light gloves and honestly not much bug spray and they can’t get in. Just make sure the shirt/pants are super thin or they’ll bite through.
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WeeWilly
OK, here's some interesting information: The mainline Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) can't provide schedules from Bellingham WA to Whittier AK today. The current schedule goes from Bellingham up to Juneau. 1/2 of the way. Apparently Alaska is having trouble hiring certified crew and deckhands due to reported poor hiring and retention policies. Maybe before I buy tickets we'll get plans for travel all the way to Whittier.

An important note. If I miss a ferry date I'll wait 7 days until the next ferry...so don't miss it.

Also, the cost will be significant. At least ~$3,500 for moving a motorcycle and taping a tent down on the main deck vs. getting a cabin...one way. This will not be a cheap trip.

Anyway, I'm getting the maintenance started. Just bought two std AT air filters to replace the K&N I'm currently running...$92. Ouch. Brake pads next...then?

FYSA.

W2
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Shunpiker
DoubleThumper said:
$40 a piece? :oops:

How many cans can "do a job"? (assume mean ol' bear)
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Are Bear Bangers legal in Canada and if so do you know if they are legal to bring across the border?
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Shunpiker
DoubleThumper said:
View attachment 78982
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Sasquatch family just wanting some food......
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WeeWilly
Recently had an interesting discussion with my Army buddy living in North Pole, AK about fuel north of Fairbanks. He mentioned any rider on the Dalton DOES NOT want to run out of fuel on the Hwy. Why, might you ask? "Well," says he, "you're not top of the food chain out there."

:oops:

I also asked him if he carries bear spray when he's out. "No," says he, "I have a big gun."

Hmmm...
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Ruff rider
$3500 will buy a lot of gas. If you are going to Bellingham, British Columbia is beautiful. Vancouver, Whistler down to Frasier Valley and Lilloet is an awesome ride. I liked British Columbia as much as I did Alaska and the Yukon. Deese Lake and Telegraft Creek is a good ride. And you need to ride up Mt. Baker there at Bellingham. Screw the Boat!!! Here is a pic on top of it in July.

Enjoy the Ride
Ruff Rider
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Africa Twins are made to RIDE not ferry!!!
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Fuzzcat
This is a long-and-winding road thread so haven't read everything. As is stands, if you're departing from WNC I'd just go north and get into CN quickly as you can and go from there. And based upon your interest in having a piece of machinery I don't know that you'd do so well in Seattle anyway. I might look at as avoid the hassles and if a bear in gets you in AK what a way to go
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