Thanks for all the tips Bill. I will definitely look at the Inuvik option too. I have to get some maps for North America yet, but was holding out until I reached the AAA, as I heard you could get good maps for free from them - is this true, or would you recommend others for better detail?

Cheers,

Honesy.

The maps are free if you are a member (or know one! ).

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Hi
Sue and I are flying in to Anchorage next July to do the AK to Tierra del fuego trip, we will be two up on a 1200gs so the question is: Is it worth the effort to ride to Deadhorse just to come back down again, or maybe see Denali and go as far as the arctic circle? before heading down?

Graham & Sue

My wife and I are on our way up to Deadhorse now. We didn't come all the way to Alaska to turn around before the road ends. . . . . .
Aparently there is nothing to see, but that is not why we go there is it?

We're in Dawson city now, will replace the cracked front wheel on the GS in Fairbanks before we will head north on the 'Haul road'

Thanks for the advise on camping and eating places

Johan and Charmaine

I'm planning to go up in July of 2009 and was wondering if you could call in advance to get clearance or if you had to be there in person. Thanks for the info and links BackroadExplorer.

Anyone care to share what tires they used on the Haul Road? Everything I have read says if it's dry just about anything will work, but if wet with all the Chloride you should probably have knobbies. I am considering taking a set along or maybe having some shipped somewhere. What do you all think?

We went up to Deadhorse in Aug 2007 two up on a R100GSPD I was running a set of Metzler Tourance that I had put on when we left Seattle so they had already done a few thousand km. It had been raining for some days before we left Fairbanks and continued all the way up to Deadhorse . And yes the mud is very slippery, before we left Fairbanks we met a guy who had just ridden back from Deadhorse and he described the mud as

"being like vaseline on glass". This did not inspire me.

It wasn't quite that bad but not far from it in some places.

I'm not a dirt rider and it was a bit of a struggle at times to keep it on track as even though the road was fairly flat it wanted to slide off to the side. We were able to keep up a reasonable pace and when it got deeper (4-6 inches) I dropped down the gears and took it slowly. I don't know if that was the correct technique but I didn't drop it so I was happy.

We met up with a couple of guys at Coldfoot one had a KLR650 with knobbies the other had an R1100R with road tyres and he made it up to Deadhorse ok, again he took it slower when it got difficult.

The big surprise was when we came back three days later. The sun had been out for a day and a bit and the road was hard as a rock. The sections I crawled through on the way up we flew past. I couldn't believe the change in such a short time.

It would have been easier if I did have more aggressive tread but it can be done. What sort of bike are you riding?

I do have a few suggestions for you.

- If you have the option stay at the Prudoe Bay hotel, the food was better and you can get a much better selection of food to take away the day you leave.

- If you do the refinery tour and have lost your sanity (as I had) you can go swimming (briefly) in artic. They have towels in the bus.

- If you stay at Coldfoot camp enjoy the there. You won't get one at Deadhorse the whole town/area is dry. Apparently alcohol and oil mining don't mix.

- If it is muddy when you go you will discover that it is incredibly sticky to remove and quite corrosive as well. I spent a long time (and quite a few dollars) at a pressure wash back in Fairbanks getting rid of it.

It was not an easy trip on the way up but well worth the effort. You'll have a great time.

Regards

Ian J

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IanJ, I will be riding a Suzuki 2005 DL650 V-Strom. I had considered buying a set of Tourances to take along with me and then mount them before I hit the Haul Road. I just bought this bike a few months ago and the previous owner had just put new tires on. I don't understand the combination he chose, (Dunlop 607 on the front, and a Bridgestone Battle Wing on the rear), must have been something he read on a forum somewhere, but it handles fine. I wanted to put on the Tourances before I started and take something like a set of TKC-80s or Karoos to mount when I got to Fairbanks but I am trying to stay on a budget if possible. I'm hoping that if I take the Tourances along and mount them up in Alaska I should have no problem getting home on the one set, as it's only going to be about 7,000 miles one way the route we are coming back.

I plan on taking the refinery tour, but I can't swim. I'll probably just wade in a little. I will be sure to grab that last at Coldfoot on the way up.

Thanks for the advise, I need all the help I can get!