Alaska Trip

My friend Chris and blogger of "Everyday Riding" has just made the announcement of his trip for this summer.  Chris did a great trip in 2011, a loop around the east coast with a night spent at my house.  I blogged the day trip we took together, you can read it here and his blog here.  For 2012, he is planning a 7 week trip from Minneapolis to San Diego by way of Fairbanks, Alaska. He's spending 50 days on the road, it's going to be a great trip.

It's time for me to divulge my summer plans for this year, something I have been planning for a long time and the reason I bought my Yamaha Super Ténéré.  I still don't have a job but just like him I plan on selling my Kawasaki Concours to fund this trip.  I can't hold it any longer, I'm not getting younger and every day going by is a lost opportunity.  I have made up my mind and have started making plans for my trip to Alaska and all the way to the top of the continent, to the town of Deadhorse, also known as Prudhoe Bay.

During my planning stages and while browsing through the Yamaha Super Ténéré forum I find out a group of guys are putting together the First North American Super Ténéré Gathering being held in Whitehorse, Yukon Canada from July 1st through the 5th.  The plan is to be there to celebrate Canada's day, July 1st and US day, July 4th.  This event just happens to be in my time frame and in the direction I was planning to ride.  With my head in overdrive, now that I know that 40 other Ténéré riders are either confirmed or planning to attend, I started making my plans and selecting my route.

The route is still in the planning stages but I plan on crossing into Canada at Niagara Falls and then continue along the north side of Lake Huron crossing back into the US in Sault Ste. Marie, continue through Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and then cross back into Canada in North Dakota.  I will continue to Dawson Creek, British Columbia to get to the start of the Alaska Highway, the road I will take all the way to Alaska with a stop in Whitehorse, Yukon for the Ténéré gathering.  After the event I will continue north through Fairbanks and then all the way as far north as one can go to Deadhorse, Alaska.  Here's my planned route up to Alaska, a little over 5000 miles.

Click to see larger map

On the way back I plan on stopping by Juneau, Alaska, then make my way to Prince George, British Columbia and then visit the two parks I have been dreaming of visiting for a long time, Jasper and Banff National Parks in Alberta.  I will cross back into the US in Montana and head to Columbia Falls and then cross Glacier National Park and stop in Shelby.  I missed Glacier NP on my cross country trip in 2010, not enough time then, but this time I'm putting it into my route.  Next I will head east with stops in Bismark, then Fargo and finally Minneapolis.  After Minneapolis I will continue straight home.
Here's my planned route back home, almost 5200 miles.

Click to see larger map

I know it's a long trip, it's going to be difficult riding my Ténéré with the current seat, I might have to buy a new seat or just tough it out.  I will need knobbies when I get to Alaska and will have to change the oil a couple of times but it's going to be worth it.

There are so many places I would like to go by, it's impossible to see everything, if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to comment.