Picto Diary - 10 June 2017 - Top of the World Highway
Above: Free ferry across Yukon River from Dawson to west bank. 10 June 2017.
That's my way, this AM, to get to YT 9, Top of the World Highway, from Dawson 65 miles to the AK state line. From there I'll ride 48 miles on AK5, the Taylor Highway, to Chicken, AK for gas and a break. There's a music festival, "Chickenstock," going on in Chicken this weekend. From Chicken, it is 80 miles to Tok, AK, today's riding destination. Half of the day's ride will be on gravel. — in Dawson, Yukon Territory.
Above: "Top of the World Highway," YT 9. West of Dawson City. Yukon. 10 June 2017.
A way driving/riding from Canada to Alaska NOT using the Alaska Highway!
Above: Poker Creek Alaska sign. Poker Creek, AK. 10 June 2017.
No doubt about it. I'm up there (north, I mean).
I have ridden a motorcycle further north than this point. Circa 2010 I rode a Kawasaki KLR motorcycle from Anchorage to Dead Horse, (Prudhoe Bay), with MotoQuest, Phil Freeman's group.
Still, this point has a bit of the iconic in it as well.
I wonder if the US Immigration officials at the border (where the bike, here, is parked) like this assignment? Or, is it like a sentence to outer darkness? Chicken, is 50 miles from here... and, well, Chicken isn't exactly "civilization" itself.
Above: Bishop takes a break at Chicken, AK. 10 June 2017.
"Chickenstock Music Festival" in progress. Lots of campers. Most festival goers come from Fairbanks.
Old gold mining area. A lot of amateur prospectors were panning for gold in the creek along the Taylor Highway, between the Canadian border and Chicken.
Chatted with festival goer Dave. My age. Retired math professor from University of Alaska at Fairbanks. He one upped me on travel stories. I said that recently I had motorcycled from Russia into Georgia, across the Caucasus mountains, on the Georgia Military highway. "Yes," he said, "beautiful road. In the mid '70's my wife and I rented a car in Moscow and drive over the Georgia Military highway to Tbilisi."
Chicken, AK. A good place to be when the mud hits the fan.
Above: My BMW F800 GS motorcycle at Young's Motel, Tok, AK. 10 June 2017.
My little house in Tok.
Plan was to stay in Tok for a couple of nights, then ride to Haines, where I would also stay for a couple of nights before catching the Inside Passage ferry to Prince Rupert.
Big rain in the forecast. I don't mind riding in the rain... but, the views along the route south from Tok of Wrangell-St Elias National Park (US) and Kluane National Park (Canada) are spectacular. If by delaying the ride a day I can catch the views... I might do that. Good time to catch up on reading, diary, walking etc.
Above: Fast Eddies Restaurant. Tok, AK. 10 June 2017.
Enjoyed Fast Eddies last year... enjoyed it this year. Steaks, chops and pizza type of place.
Iconic. A must stop along the Alaska Highway.
Addendum:
Keep up the great reports. Ironically it snowed a foot today at Tahoe. Fluke storm.
Hideneau,
Reno, NV
A wonderful adventure, certainly understand taking the BMW; not sure why you didn't take a larger one ! Enjoy and most importantly be safe.
MR Z3,
Ojai, CA