inside passage
 

anyone have any information on the "inner passage" which is a boat or ferry you can take from Portland or Vancouver to Alaska - due to time constraints i do not have enough time to ride from Texas to Alaska and back so I have decided I want to look at shipping bike to Portland and taking the "inside passage" to Alaska and then ride back to Texas - where in Alaska can you get to and anyone who has done this have any thoughts or where can I get
information on the cruise part of the trip

thanks

steve

Not Portland. Bellingham, Washington, about a mile from my house. Google Alaska Ferry.

The regular ferry runs to Haines and Skagway, not all the way up to Seward or Valdez. This needs to be taken into account, because Alaska is a big place. There are a few boats which go further. It's also worth knowing that even the regular, shorter route takes several days, and it's a fair bit of money. On the other hand, it's a good time in its own right, and you'll be riding on the return leg so you won't miss that much.

It's also possible to ride to the northern end of Vancouver Island, take the B.C. ferry to Prince Rupert, then switch over to the adjacent parking lot and pick up the Alaska ferry there. There's no advantage to this, however, and some time lost in the process.

Deck class has always worked for me: a whole little community forms on each trip.

Hope that helps.

Mark

Mark, Thanks so much for the information as that is exactly what I was looking for answers on. The trip taking several days is fine with me and the cost I'm sure will far out weigh the cost of shipping bike to Alaska instead
of Bellingham, Washington. In your opinion as I am assuming you have made this ride before what is the latest time of this year I can leave lets say Anchorage and head south before weather starts getting too cold ? And again thanks for the reply.

Steve

Lots of recent posts about this, and lots of riders doing it right now.

Personally, I like to arrive in Alaska late July/early August in order to miss the worst of the mosquitoes. I like to leave early or mid September to miss most of the snow, ice and cold. Others see it significantly differently.

enjoy,

Mark

You can also pick up the ferry at the main dock in Seattle. Stops in Ketchican, and Wrangle. Take lots of food. What they sell on the ferry is expensive. The two hour stop in Ketchican is enough to replenish your food. Make sure your batteries are up full because you will take a lot of photos. Last time I went digital cameras weren't even in anyone's imagination and i went through 4 rolls of film and wished I had more. Whales, dolphins, being buzzed by a red float plane and the scenery is stunning. You'll have your sleeping bag but buy an old quilt you can throw away because even in the summer the wind and all it is still cold on the sleeping deck. In Wrangle there is a place that carves totem poles and that's interesting and there is a house of ill repute that is decorated like the 1890's and the serving ladies dressed in same time period. enjoy the tirp

Thanks for the info guys, I am now trying to work out my schedule to figure out when I can leave (I am self employed) but thinking of arriving Washinton first week of August

Steve