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:
I'm looking forward to the discussion. Thanks for everyone who takes time to comment.
Best regards,
W2
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:
I'm looking forward to the discussion. Thanks for everyone who takes time to comment.
Best regards,
W2