ROUTES? British Columbia - Alaska

[shalbleib]

I have 2 weeks. The plan is to have my bike shipped to Billings, MT and then head north from there. I'd like to get to Alaska and back w/o 8-12 hr days every day. I'd like to obviously take a different route up and back. I'm sure there's numerous people who have done this. Do you have route suggestions??? Greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Scott

[markharf]

Alaska is a big place. Where are you hoping to go?

FWIW, three long days will bring you to Stewart/Hyder, and three back. Another three long days will bring you through the southern Yukon and into Alaska again, and another three back. There's your two weeks....but you had no time to actually see anything. Doesn't sound like much of a holiday to me, especially if you're trying to avoid long riding days.

There are only a couple of routes, and they're obvious on any map. Take a look: the ferry runs up the coast from Bellingham or Prince Rupert; the Alcan; the Cassiar Highway. Take one north, another south, and connect them to Billings in whatever way suits.

If you're trying to see the sights rather than just tag the state, take four weeks (minimum) instead of two. Or, find a way to start and end in Alaska itself, rather than spending all your time getting there and back.

$0.02

Mark

[Road Hog]

Scott
The wife and I did a 6000 mile run to Alaska couple of summers ago in two weeks and we rode hard everyday (from SW Washington and back). This was all the time we had and I did get to see a lot but would have been much better to take it easy and spend four weeks doing it. If all you have is two weeks would suggest the following: cut into Canada and head west to Vancouver (how ever you go do not miss the Kotananies SIC) then take the ferry up to Anchorage to save some time and be able to go a little slower coming back down.

If you ride up the Al-can from Dawson Creek, then back the costal route (Casier SIC I think) you will see a lot. Don't miss the "top of the world hiway", it was great. We were on big road bikes but had no problems with gravel streches (other than some paint chips). If you have time to drop down into Washington let me know.

Also plan on riding in the rain.

Road Hog (Bob)

[shalbleib]

Thanks Mark.

My initial hope was to make it to Denali NP. I wanted to hit Banf and Jasper in BC and then head up to Denali. Sounds like that's not possible. Unfortunately I'm only going to be able to get a couple weeks off this year. I'm trying to make the most of it, but don't want to force it. I did that last year (lot of 10-12hr days) and would have liked to cut 2-3 hours off of that. So I guess first and foremost it's going to be a BC trip or AK trip but not both. Sounds like I could clip AK but not really visit. Have you been to both? Which would you do if you could only do one? Shipping to AK seems a little more difficult and expensive than MT. I guess at that point I'd be best renting a bike in Ak and seeing it that way? I appreciate the info and the honesty... decisions decisions.