henrik.nu

Hi!
I wonder, for your experience, what is the best time of the year to bicycle the Dalton Highway in Alaska, in respect to the weather conditon and bicycle conditions?
From north to south the Dalton Highway.
When does the turists starting coming?
and....is this a dangerous bike ride, regarding bears and wild animals?

Looking forward to read about your experience of the Dalton Highway and Alaska!!
Thanks!
/
Henrik

Carbonfiberboy 

Well . . . Let's see . . .I was born in '45, grew up of Fbx, graduated HS in '62 and left. Went back for my 50th reunion in '12. Things may have changed since then, but probably not. Not much changes up there, not really. It's not a "highway". it's a gravel road. Machinery and vehicles entering Fbx are covered with nasty-looking mud and grit. We were there on our tandem, so we met and talked to some local cyclists, of which there are very few. We met a tourist coming back from the North Slope. His question was, "Where can I find a bike shop?" His whole machine was full of grit. Everything that moved squeaked and sounded gritty. OTOH he was never attacked by local wildlife and survived the experience. So if you're looking for adventure, It's easy to find in the Great Land.

late

You're less likely to get eaten by a bear in Italy. The food is better, it's warmer, and the people there love cycling, it's a national pastime the way baseball is for us.

And they have bike shops...

zacster

I agree. And if you want to see mountains just head up into the Alps. He also forgot to include wine. Italian wine is much better than Alaskan wine.

henrik.nu

Thank you! Looks like one should be ready gravel and dirt!=)=)!!
Which month/month do you recommend for bicycling in Alaska? And when is the tourist peak season?

Seattle Forrest

Probably August for most reliable weather and conditions.

downtube42

https://bikehikesafari.com/cycling-t...-arctic-ocean/

henrik.nu

Thanks!! Very interesting to read!!!!
Woow, what I trip and these are some kind of conditions!! (...at least for me, due to my experience)
Very good reading!

henrik.nu

August, so that is the month with best and reliable weather conditions! Good to know! Thanks.

Is also August the month of most cars and bicyclists on the roads?
Most turists in august?

henrik.nu

How about the wild animals?....yes I am thinking about the bears?

CAT7RDR

I recall once watching a documentary on Reindeer in Alaska. The mosquitos and flies were so thick the Reindeer would submerge themselves in lakes and rivers for a respite from the insect bites.

Carbonfiberboy 

OTOH there's no other place anything like Alaska, except maybe Siberia. It's mind-boggling for those who've only been in long-civilized ordinary places. Sure the Alps are nice, but they are human-centric.

There's a poem by a native in the U of A Fbx museum, goes something like this. You may meet a bear and you may fight the bear. One of you will win, but it does not matter which one it is, for you and the bear are the same and will continue on. The mosquitoes are amazing. I've seen them make a donut around my head which was hard to see through. They're worst in late June. Head net. Yes, a liter of blood an hour from a caribou. Back in the gold rush days, people would walk in winter from Fairbanks to Haines, impossible in summer. Never camp near a gut pile.

Seattle Forrest

Watch Grizzly Man. 😳 😍

henrik.nu

Ok, so the bears are a daily actual threat or how is the situation?
What is your experience?