North to Alaska - Dawson City YT and "Dust to Dawson #29"

[fjrob]

https://ca.style.yahoo.com/major-canadi ... 27801.html This is what I saw. So maybe a little north of Dawson.

[wheatonFJR]

https://ca.style.yahoo.com/major-canadi ... 27801.html This is what I saw. So maybe a little north of Dawson.

Yeah, that's not too far north of there...

[Niehart]

Montana BQ & Bar, need a pic. JSNS! Okay maybe I'm stocking you. ;^)

[Panman]

That road they are running right now between Hinton and Grand Prairie can get damm wet! G man and I flooded a Micky D's in Hinton once. Good times!
Hinton is 70 degrees right now.

[bigjohnsd]

That road they are running right now between Hinton and Grand Prairie can get damm wet! G man and I flooded a Micky D's in Hinton once. Good times!
Hinton is 70 degrees right now.

The first time I rode between Hinton and Grand Csche, on the KLR in 2017 it rained the whole way except for the high parts where it snowed. Thankfully we followed a big truck which cleared a path through the 4-6"of slush. I've never been so cold! Today it was beautiful.

However, as I postedon Facebook at lunch from Jasper -
"The plan is only as good as the first stop sign. We looked at the weather this morning and it shows an "atmospheric river" is coming ashore in British Columbia. Forecast for Jasper, and our Campground was rain all night and 30 mph wind. We have decided to change directions and ride up the ALCAN instead of the Cassiar Hwy. Weax looks a little dryer going g this way. Headed for Grand Cache AB tonight. More later.

Icefield parkway was spectacular today. FILM AT 11'"

We are now in Grand Cache and revisiting our "Plan"

[escapefjrtist]

Good change of plan BigJohn. Nothing but rain here with the 'river' heading into BC as well.

That road they are running right now between Hinton and Grand Prairie can get damm wet! G man and I flooded a Micky D's in Hinton once. Good times!
Hinton is 70 degrees right now.

...just don't tell the story about me dressing you in Grand Cache Panman!

~G

[bigjohnsd]

We left the "Inn on Canyon" in Radium Hot Springs after a great cooked breakfast at 0900.



We headed towards Jasper via Kotenai National Park then the Icefield Parkway.

We stopped along the way to take a few photos but generally just sat there and enjoyed the majesty of the scenery.









Shooters FJR fit the scenery
















We had to be having more fun than this poor bastard!





We stopped for lunch at a little Greek place in Jasper. Great food and we were well taken care of by the owner.









It was while we were eating lunch that we discovered the Atmospheric River and its potential impact on our planned night of camping in Jasper. Pterodactyl's "Spousal Unit" was able to obtain a complete refund from our Campground Reservations and we set forth for Grande Cache AB.

We arrived in Grand Cache about 1700 and after an in room libation had dinner here in the Grand Cache Hotel which now goes by "The Johnny Canoe Hotel" . We are hitting the road at 0730 tomorrow morning bound for Tim Horton's in Grande Prairie, hopefully the rain will have passed over us by then.

More tomorrow, we aren't sure where we will end up tomorrow night. Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St John are all possibilities. Weather and ass condition dependent!

[Pterodactyl]

I feel compelled to expose the sordid underbelly of this trip. At the lodging in Radium Hotsprings the couple of BigJohn and SkooterG were placed in the Princess Suite. Not sure what’s going on here, but this was in response to the question, Who is the Princess and who is the Prince? You be the judge…..

[SkooterG]

Hey! What happens in Radium Hot Springs, STAYS in Radium Hot Springs!

[bigjohnsd]

Seen in the Jasper AB post office:


WANTED - DEAD OR ALIVE

[wheatonFJR]

Seen in the Jasper AB post office:


WANTED - DEAD OR ALIVE

The infamous Pterodactyl is OUTED!

Always wanted to meet the man that was the 4th person in THIS car (from 2020)...I presume he's raising a salute as well, but I can't tell.


Hopefully that will be accomplished in a few years after I retire and visit "the compound".

[Jalingo]

Magnifique !!!

[fontanaman]

Good to see some sun on your ride!

[bigjohnsd]

We hung around Grande Cache until 0830 to let the weather move past.



We then headed up AB 40 to Grande Prairie, AB for a date with Tim Horton.

Along the way in a terrible traffic jam, just South of Grande Prairi, my tank bag cover blew off and was run over by a nasty old lady

After coffee and Timbits we headed into a strong wind in the direction of Dawson Creek, the start of the ALCAN.

Pterodactyl, under the watchful eye of Spousal Unit, persuaded this nice young lady to preserve our image for oosterity, see above,



Shooter had to have his picture taken at the obelisk marking the "official" start of the ALCAN



We continued North Through fields of dandelion


Lots of miles of this



Before a stop for sustenance at mile 101 - Wonwon



There are a few curves but the Army built the ALCAN as straight as possible.




Annie (Spousal Unit)


Me


Pterodactyl

Why did the Bear cross the road?



Because he wanted to!


SkooterG photo


SkooterG cropped his photo to look brave?

We saw a Black Fox, Bald Eagke, Golden Eagle, Sand hill Crane, Moose, and several Black Bears today.

We are now safely ensconced in a nice motel in Fort Nelson BC. Our goal is to camp at Liard Hot Springs BC Regional Park tomorrow night. Next Update from Whitehouse YT on Sunday.

Today's Relive Video https://www.relive.cc/view/v36AP1VrBZO

[bigjohnsd]

From Fort Nelson, we rode Northwest. The day started out beautiful but as we progressed the "Atmospheric River" began to rear its ugly head. The weather forecast for Sunday started looking crappy.

Saturday - Fort Nelson - bound for Liard Hot Springs just past Mucho Lake.

Annie and Kevin hit the road before Skooter and I, they ride a bit slower and were going to stop at the grocery store on TBE way out of town. Skooter and I both had bike issues. My battery acted dead, but came back to life after a jump box start. Skooter's FJR just wouldn't respond to the jey, nothing, nada, zilch! Eventually we got it to start, the issue appears to be somehow related to the auxiliary lights on the bike, if the bike is shut off with the auxiliary lights on the key turn has no effect? To hard to figure out, he just turns off the lights before shutting down.





A great place to stay with a $99 CAD Motorcycle Rate. Nice restaurant and bar in the hotel, cute waitresses too.









Just about noon Skooter and I reached Toad River
.




Much improved facilities since my last trip in 2019.

Having breakfasted lightly it was time for lunch. I had a nice bowl of Split Pea with Ham soup, Skooter opted for the Beef Stew. Both were excellent!




As you can see, Skooter wolfed it down!

Great scenery and a great day to ride!






As we neared our destination we passed a very full, up-to-the road bank Muncho Lake. Note the float plane.

Skooter captured a great image alongside the lake!


As we approached Liars Hot Springs we ran across a small group of the native Woods Bison, they dwarf our American Bison. We didn't get to close as the mom ma's are quite protective of their very young calves.



At Liard Hot Springs provincial park we set up camp in the sun but were inundated by mosquitos! Head nets and long sleeves were the order of the day!



Mike, A friend of Annie &Kevin's joined us in camp, he is also headed to D2D.

Kevin supervised




Mike changed his socks.

Annie and Mike braved the "Blood sucking Bugs" to go to the Hot Springs, Kevin, Skooter and I guarded camp.


It rained on and off all afternoon but cleared up about 8:00pm.

We had a nice fire!

Sunday - We were all up early for coffee and pack up.
Temp at 0630 was 37F! Everything was wet!

Once in tbw road the first few miles were beautiful!



But before we made the 140 miles to Watson Lake the rain started and the temperature dropped. We gassed and fueled our selves before donning an extra layer and setting out for our new destination, the Yukon Lodge at Teslin, YT.
This is a $9.95 CAD breakfast burrito, and, A damn good one it was.


Just miserable riding and camping conditions, temps in the high 3O's and driving rain pre-empted our planned camping at Whitehorse. Plan, adjust, replan, adjust, rinse and repeat!













After cancelling our campsite in Whitehorse and staying in Teslin, it looks like we will ride 220 miles to Carmacks tomorrow assuming there isn't too much snow in the pass between here and Whitehorse. We meet to "examine the plan" At 0800!

[bigjohnsd]

WEAX continues to suck!

Periods of rain continues over parts of the southern Yukon and the northwest BC interior near the Yukon border.

Location: Whitehorse, Teslin and Atlin.

When: Today to Tuesday afternoon.

Remarks: A slow moving upper low centre over the southeastern Yukon will slowly move northward today and Tuesday. Moisture rotating around the low will give periods of rain to the above areas. Further rainfall amounts through Tuesday are expected to range from 15 to 25 mm.

Reports of snow at higher elevations between here ( Teslin) and Whitehorse.

[wheatonFJR]

WEAX continues to suck!

Periods of rain continues over parts of the southern Yukon and the northwest BC interior near the Yukon border.

Location: Whitehorse, Teslin and Atlin.

When: Today to Tuesday afternoon.

Remarks: A slow moving upper low centre over the southeastern Yukon will slowly move northward today and Tuesday. Moisture rotating around the low will give periods of rain to the above areas. Further rainfall amounts through Tuesday are expected to range from 15 to 25 mm.

Reports of snow at higher elevations between here ( Teslin) and Whitehorse.

You should be riding down here! It's going to be pleasantly warm tomorrow at 100F.

[bigjohnsd]

Teslin to Whitehorse, YT, Whitehorse, YT to Carmacks, YT

We left Teslin in the cold, 37F, and a driving rain. Saw,temps as low as 34F between Teslin and Whitehorse with some fresh snow along the road in the trees.








After a stop in Whitehorse for essential supplies at Wal-Mart we headed North on YT 2 towards Dawson City and our room for the evening in Carmacks YT.

As we moved North the temperature rose and the rain slackened then stopped.





We arrived at Carmacks about 1600 and spent the next hour checking out the electrical issues on Skooter's FJR. We discovered a corroded positive terminal on the Eastern Beaver fuse block and corrected that. Found unresolvable issues in the auxiliary light wiring. The bike starts and runs reliably, we have power to the GPS, Phone charger, and to Skooter's heated gear! All is well.

Just finished supper in the on-site cafe. Unremarkable and not photo worthy. Pterodactyl and Spousal Unit just called and reported "livestock" in their beds. Not certain how that is being resolved, Skooter and I checked our beds, no apparent livestock.

Dawson City tomorrow, hopefully we can ride the Top of the World Highway Wednesday or Thursday but the Yukon River is very high and the ferry may not be running and the road is reported to be too muddy. We shall see, one sunny day with some wind could change everything. More tomorrow night.

[Bugnatr]

Define livestock please....

[bigjohnsd]

Define livestock please....

"Little black things"