June 24th, 2009 | 
Author: We start off on the Dalton Highway after our photos, and the road turns to a tree lined hard pack dirt road. Off to the right you can see the pipeline appear and disappear as we start to climb the hills. The weather starts to clear and the road is dry, making this just a great dirt road.
We end up crossing over the pipeline several times. We continue to climb and at the crest of the hills we get glimpse of the vista’s ahead of us. We past through several areas where you visible notice that the trees are smaller, or what look like trees. They are 2 to 5 feet tall sticks with what looks like some green fuzz/sticks growing from them, but they don’t really look healthy. We find out later they are evergreen trees that are growing on top of the permafrost, so they only have about 18″ to 24″ of dirt before they have to spread their roots sideways.
Alaska is vast and each vista shows it. This is the only road here! After about 35miles of dirt road, the road becomes paved with a chip seal surface. Although it is nice to have a smooth surface, the frost heaves on the road become somewhat of a challenge as you tend to “whoop” through them. My bike is stock,but Steve’s bike had been lowered by the previous owner and his “whoops” caused him more negotiating. This continues for a while, with us finding ourselves being launched from our seats from the frost heaves.
At this point, we have had only a few trucks pass us by, all going slowly enough when we past, and no one has over taken us from behind.
Back to dirt the road turns as we head towards our first milestone, the Yukon River Crossing. There should be gas here, which would mean we won’t be tapping into our reserves (gas cans strapped to our seats).
We approach the crossing, take some pics, then cross the wooden bridge and turn off at the camp located on the other side. We stop and get gas, check out the store and accommodations (these are just modular trailers put together) and then head out.
Yukon River Crossing
Yukon River Crossing from the Yukon Camp
Yukon Camp stop
Next sign indicates Arctic Circle is 60 miles, Coldfoot Camp 120. Thirty five miles later I come up to a crest on a hill and see this is a great place to stop – the sun is out and it is pretty clear out – should be a great ride into Coldfoot.
I wait for Steve at this crest (as he follows back further to not eat my dust) and as he approaches and stops next to me he mutters “I just lost some power on that last dip on coming up the hill”
to be continued….
Posted in Day 12
Another cliff hanger…or should I say crest-hanger. Great pics! Thanks for all the details on the Dalton Highway portion of the ride. After reading all Dean's notes, comments, links, those few days were pretty scary for this armchair traveler, and now we're getting all the "dirt". Not so scary now that we know the positive outcome.
Thanks for sharing your adventure! I know it takes time to update the blog and you could be out riding, eating, drinking, picking up women….just keep writing the blog 🙂 !!
Dirt roads, dips and hills and the scenery that just looks like a road to heaven! What a great experience you guys! I love the five start resort with the bear's ass too! That will always stay with me! Thanks : ) hahahahahha~!
yup, i too like the going back and catching up on the first hand stuff we missed while you were without internet …. love the pics and love the dialogue
talked to a die hard golfer today….he refused to meet during daylight hours thinking he would miss a swing or two….. i told him to move to alaska golfing 24/7 he liked the idea….
great place to golf I've seen a couple of courses and that are nice only draw back it you will have a good chance of getting wet (rain no sprinkler systems need up here).