Adventure Alaska ADA2401
Welcome to Anchorage, the place where our adventure begins. As we approached the airport, we already got an impression of how vast and pristine Alaska actually is. Over the next few days we will get to know more and more of it. Apart from that, there is not much to report today. We get to know our guides and in the afternoon we have a short briefing. Tomorrow we finally set off.
A first riding day is always extra exciting, and here in Alaska that is with good reason because right from the start we are being treated with beautiful sceneries and great roads! At our first stop at Baluga point, at turnaround arms, we have a great view on the snow capped mountains and blue skies. The next highlight is the Alaska wildlife center were we see bears, moose, elk and buffalos. In Hope we see how life in Alaska was 150 years ago. After several beautiful picture stops we and up at our cabines at the lake in Moose Pass were we congratulate Jörg as an Edelweiss Gold Member for doing 10 tours and Mary and Dwight as Silver Member for doing 5 tours
The mountains around us are bathed in the diffuse light of the still low sun. Hardly a sound can be heard. Good morning in Moose Pass. Driving day number two is on the program and our first adventure. After a short briefing, we head back to Anchorage along the Turnagein Arm along the route we already know. After finally finding a worthy coffee, we continue north on the highway. This is motorcycling the American way. Arriving in a small town called Palmer, we have lunch to give us enough energy for our upcoming adventure. Our route takes us over the Hatcher Pass. It's not particularly high but it's spectacularly beautiful..... and yes, it's not paved. Adventure Alaska. Unfortunately, we're not the only ones on this Saturday who have the idea of taking this route, so it's a tight squeeze at the top of the pass. But the spectacular view of the mountains is well worth it. Back in the valley and a coffee later, we continue our journey towards our destination. Talkeetna The gateway to Denali National Park. One of the must-sees in Alaska.
Dreams will come true today. Because we're going to take a little plane, fly over the Denali National Park and land on a glacier!
Another beautiful and sunny day! In this long riding day we will be going into the Denali National Park and will have good opportunities to see Mount Denali, the highest mountain in North America. Our destination is Fairbanks, wich was erected in 1901 ans has 32000 inhabitants. Along the way we get to feel the qild side of Alaskas. We also visited the famous railroad museum in Nenana and did several picture stops. Arrived safe and on time in Fairbanks and had a well deserved cold drink!
The next day of our Alaskan adventure is about to begin. But this morning there is literally something in the air. Smaller and larger forest fires are raging around us, the smell of burning is omnipresent and the sun has a hard time penetrating the smoke. This is unpleasant but not unusual for this time of year. After our briefing, we first drive into the center of Fairbanks, where we spend a lot of time ..... Because this city has a sight that is worth spending a little longer in. The Fountainhead Antique Car Museum. The collection and presentation of old vehicles is quite unique in the world and the museum even opens an hour early for us. After a look back at the automotive history of the USA, we continue on to Northpole, the home of Santa Claus ;-). There is not much civilization on our route through this part of Alaska. Most of the towns exist because, as was the case thousands of years ago, important trade and connecting roads meet here. Fairbanks, Delta Junction and Tok owe their development not only to the gold rush but also to their importance during the Second World War and/or for oil production. Along a mighty mountain range and through seemingly endless forests, the route leads along incredibly straight roads towards Tok. Our destination for today.
The sun is shining, snow is on the mountains and we are going to have perhaps one of the most beautiful riding days of the tour! First stop is at Mentasa Lake for nice pictures and at Sinona Creek Trading Post we enjoy a coffee and sweet roll. During the morning Mount Sanford, the 6th highest mountain of North America, hasbeen watching us. In the Afternoon it's the view on Mount Wrangel that we can enjoy. And then there is Worthington Glacier! Followed by the impressive Bridal Veil Falls. In the meantime the roads have been winding and curving thrue the valleys. To top off this perpect day we cross Thomson Pass at an altitude of 2678ft/816 mtr.
Today is our second rest day of the tour. And after enjoying the spectacular scenery to the full yesterday, it's time to set the controls to maximum. How about a boat trip in perfect weather through the beautiful Prince William Sound? Wouldn't it be cool to see whales and other sea creatures and marvel at a glacier? So put your caps on and get on board.
Good morning, on this glorious day. Even the weather in Valdez is kind to us...and that's not a matter of course. Our first stop of the day is a salmon breeding station. Not super spectacular but definitely interesting. And as ordered, our visit is observed by two eagles sitting on a tree not far away. Afterwards, we take a familiar route that takes us back over the Thomson Pass and through the Wrangel-St-Elias National Park. The landscape has not become any less spectacular since the day before yesterday. We also visit the park's visitor center to supplement our impressions with some knowledge to show off;-). After lunch we leave the Glenn Highway and drive to Lake Louise. This lake area has been used as a recreational area since the Second World War and what can we say, it's beautiful here. We stay for a while and enjoy the view. After a while, we continue our journey. We drive along untouched wilderness until we reach our hotel. Although hotel is the wrong word. It's more like a small village of individual huts, from whose terraces we have a view of the mountains of the Chugach National Forest. simply beautiful.
The last riding day is always a little bit sad, but we qill enjoy it big time! Throughout the tour the weather has been great and so is todays. With beautiful views on rivers and glaciers. we even saw a moose with a calf! At the Iditarod museum we watched an impressive film about this legendary race. And to top it off we got to ride with a sled pulled by 8 dogs! A worthy finish of an amazing tour!