126 replies to this topic

[Old Crow]

Love your maps and photos, Bob.  Thanks! 

 

A couple of questions if you don't mind....

 

- what do you think broke the window?

 

- can you tell us a bit more about the tire punctures, i.e., do you think they were related to road surface, bad luck picking up debris, tire condition, etc....  

[DYNOBOB]

Our best guess is a rock bounced off the trailer and hit the window?  It was safety glass and I think the plexi is prob tougher.

 

All three punctures occurred on gravel when Dad was keeping up with the dual-sport.  One was for sure a stone puncture because I had to work to get it out.  We think the pace contributed but who knows?  These were new 10ply/E tires in Feb.  My feeling is the Firestones are a soft road tire and maybe a poor choice.  Wheels/tires were cheap though - take offs from a 2015 Ram for $550.  Tires are 2/3 worn at this point.

 

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[Old Crow]

Thanks for the explanations, Bob.   

[Dughlas Stiubhart]

Wow, thanks for all the great photos.  They bring back great memories.  I did a similar drive one summer back in 1973 in a red and white Dodge Polara.  Most of the roads weren't paved then so I had many broken headlights, a broken windshield plus I ripped off the dual exhaust trying to drive to Denali (McKinley then) NP.  The fabulous scenery hasn't changed, though, as your photos show so well!

[mitch h]

Great trip and pics. Thanks  

[DYNOBOB]

Wow, thanks for all the great photos.  They bring back great memories.  I did a similar drive one summer back in 1973 in a red and white Dodge Polara.  Most of the roads weren't paved then so I had many broken headlights, a broken windshield plus I ripped off the dual exhaust trying to drive to Denali (McKinley then) NP.  The fabulous scenery hasn't changed, though, as your photos show so well!

 

Alaska claimed the exhaust system on my truck also...     I'm envious of you guys who made the trip back in the day.  They've pretty much paved the adventure of it now.

 

 

Great trip and pics. Thanks  

 

Thanks you!  Lots more to come.

 

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[DYNOBOB]

Sat Aug 27.  Fairbanks to Galbraith Lakes.  370 miles.

 

 

Without a doubt, this is the segment of the trip that has me the most nervous.  1000 miles thru wilderness to Prudhoe Bay and back with no towns and only two small outposts with fuel.  A catastrophic mechanical or tire failure up here likely means a very expensive tow bill (thousands) and multiple days to resolve.  Beyond that, you hear horror stories of flying rocks from semis, broken windshields, broken headlights, tire eating holes in the road, cement like mud covering your vehicle, dense clouds of mosquitoes, alien abductions, etc.  When you mention you're riding the Dalton to most 49th State residents they look at you like you're an alien, why would you even want to ride up there?  If you're reading this though, you know why.  Without a doubt, this is my favorite day of the trip! 

 

By the time I had the bikes/truck/trailer sorted Sat morning, we got away much later than I wanted to (11am).  Knowing the distance faced the next couple days this was frustrating, I also forgot my throttle rocker on the Wing and box of spare Husky parts.  Grrrr...  Gotta put that out of your mind though - remind yourself of where you are - and be thankful for the stunning conditions.  Get ready for a lot of pics... 90% of our Dalton pics were taken northbound.  For a couple reasons there were very few taken southbound.

 

So north we go... and very quickly you spot the pipeline/reason this road exists.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approaching the Yukon River

 

 

 

 

 

Gas is over $5/gal anywhere on the Dalton.  If you have at least 260 mile fuel range you can skip this stop and hit Coldfoot.  Or...you can "never pass up a gas up".

 

Finger Mountain area

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by DYNOBOB, 14 October 2016 - 02:22 AM.

[DYNOBOB]

Nearing Coldfoot

 

 

 

 

 

This is Coldfoot.  There are about 4 buildings and seemed to be about 10 people working at the complex.  The restaurant serves pretty good food and showers are $14.  Tomorrow we'll find out how much tire repairs are...

 

 

 

Just north of Coldfoot you're getting into the Brooks Range.  Why would anyone want to drive this road...?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shortly before the climb to Atigun Pass the road returns to gravel.  If you've been confused by the pavement, roughly 50 miles on either side of Coldfoot is nicely paved.  It's a nice break from the gravel and is especially welcome on the return from Prudhoe.

 

 

 

 

[DYNOBOB]

The climb to Atigun.

 

 

 

Looking back south from the pass.

 

The north side of Atigun - if you squint you can see me in the lower right.

 

 

The truck gives scale to the immensity of the view here.  They were shot at 45mm which is how your eyes see it standing here.

 

 

Taken from where the truck was in the last shot.

Dad in the distance.

 

 

 

On the north side of the Brooks Range now, looking back south at Galbraith Lakes.

 

 

Now approaching 8pm, we pull over a little ways up the road to make some dinner.  After eating, we decide this is where we'll camp for the evening.  One thing we've been doing every night after dinner is watching a dvd on the laptop.  Tonight we watch the final episode of "Long Way Around" where they're traveling thru Alaska.  It's beyond surreal to be camped on the North Slope tundra...

 

 

 

A couple critters have met their demise 100ft from the truck, that's something to keep in mind if you have to leave the camper in the dark..

 

 

 

370 miles covered today with lots of picture stops so I'm happy.  130 miles left to Prudhoe.

 

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[Dughlas Stiubhart]

Alaska claimed the exhaust system on my truck also...     I'm envious of you guys who made the trip back in the day.  They've pretty much paved the adventure of it now.

 

 

 

 

 

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Bob, it looks to me like you are having plenty of adventures!!  Keep the photos coming.