Alaska Riding/Camping Trip

[AkLiz]

Thanks AkLiz...I appreciate all of the advice.

I'm assuming I can find the bug spray at REI in Anchorage, then?

I'm used to riding at temps as low as 40 degrees, and I do plan to prepare for that.  I'm more worried about rain than cold, though...It can rain alot up there in June, can't it?  I can stay dry riding, and I can stay mostly dry camping...but riding AND camping can sometimes be a problem...(i.e. keeping the inside of the tent dry is a challenge if I like to keep my gear in there, etc).

We've gotten the full range of advice about bears...everything from "Better bring a big gun" to "You aren't going to even know they're there".  At this point, none of us plan to bring a gun.

Our final day is basically going to be an 'around Anchorage' day.  Any advice on fun things to do close to or in the city?

Thanks,
Mike

You'll be able to get bug spray at REI, Target, Fred Meyer, Walmart, the gas station....it's everywhere (and for good reason)   Since you're coming up in June, you hopefully won't see too much rain.  June tends to be a drier month and usually August is pretty soggy.  But it is Alaska, and strange things do happen weather-wise.  I'm a sicko....I like riding in the rain (although that's for the BMW F 650 GS, not the Duc).  If you do get stuck in some rain, try to avoid the tire wheel ruts - that's a little unpleasant, because they fill with water.  Camping in the rain....I will admit it.  I will try to find a motel rather than camp in the rain.  I just don't like getting sogged on first thing in the morning   I've camped in the rain out of necessity, but yeah....I don't enjoy it.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for lots of dry this summer

Ooooh an around Anchorage day.  If you hadn't had time to do it earlier, I'd recommend a ride to Whittier to get fish and chips at Varley's Swiftwater Cafe.  Whittier itself is not super cool, but you do get to ride through a 2 mile long railroad tunnel to get there.  That is worth it, and the fish and chips is worth it.  The tunnel does stick to a tight schedule, so the run takes some planning.  Here's a link to the schedule...http://www.dot.state.ak.us/creg/whittiertunnel/index.shtml.  If you were thinking you wanted to stay in Anchorage proper, there's earthquake park, the coastal trail, being a total tourist downtown....and more.  If you wanted to meet up for any food, let me know   The husband and I like to be hospitable to traveling motorbikers

[akmnstr]

My Monster is the furthest bike from a sportbike that I've ever really ridden (and from my experience on it so far it might as well just be a sportbike, albeit much more comfortable)...so I'm not sure what to expect with the 800GS...Thoughts?

I've never ridden the 800 but I have an older BMW 650 single.  On the road it should be no problem.  You might at first feel that because of its greater height that it will not corner well and be a bit conservative.  No problem with that, but the bike is nearly as capable in the corners as a monster.  On the gravel roads you will be riding you will realize that you have exactly the right machine for the job.  Don't go too slow.  These bikes actually feel more in control if your doing over 45 than slow speeds at which the bike tends to be knocked around.  Also if you go too slow on the haul road you will be overtaken by trucks.  Too many close encounters with trucks on gravel roads can have a bad outcome.  If it rains a lot the gravel roads can turn into slick snot. 

By the way, on ADVrider there is a section in the forum on Alaska.  A place to meet more locals before you head up. 

What to do in Anchorage.  What Liz said plus a ride to Girdwood and a meal at the Double Musky if you have $$.  A night at Chilkoot Charlies if your young and like the loud, crazy, rock and roll bar scene.  The famous Bush Company if you are a bunch of dirty old men.  The Alaska museum if you are a little more sophisticated and like natural history, art, and Native American culture.   

[Buckethead]

Bear spray can buy you some piece of mind and the stuff does work most of the time if you need it.  Better to carry than a gun.

A word of advice on this: it may SEEM like a good idea to use bear spray (which is a more concentrated version of commercially available self-defense pepper spray) as a "preventive measure," to spray it around the area where you're going to be with the intention of keeping the bears away.

This is a bad idea.

Bears (who have no natural predators to be wary of) have been known to "catch a whiff" of the stuff on the breeze and come over to investigate what smells so delicious, or at least out of the ordinary ("That smells an AWFUL lot like a rotting moose carcas, but with just a touch of garlic..."). They come over to the rocks you've just sprayed (around your campsite) and get a snootful of Oleoresin Capsicum. This proceeds to make them angry. Having been pepper sprayed myself, I can empathize. By this time, they're snorting and grunting like crazy trying (in vain) to clear their sinuses and have awakened anyone nearby. Even if you remain, uneaten, in your tent, you've now succeeded in DRAWING the bears to you.

Rather, as akmonster has said, it's best to take precautions to keep from attracting them to you needlessly (separate cook site/food storage), but if they should happen to show up, try to stay upwind and aim for the face.

http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/courses/zool224/?Page=699

[Buckethead]

That said, I hope you have a great time and take a bajillion pictures. So jealous... 

[Outlaw1100]

Thanks again everyone for your replies.  They will all be very useful.

Mike

[ab]

Do please report back about your trip.

I wish I could do that trip.  It's one of my riding wishes.

Enjoy!