PAGE 12
www. FavoriteRidesAndDestinations. com | ridermagazine. com
SPRING 2017 ISSUE 01 / VOL. 02
An Alaskan Adventure How-To
STORY AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN M. GREEN
EVERY ADVENTUROUS motorcyclist dreams of riding to a far-off destination like Alaska on the spur of the moment; just drop everything and take off for a month or a year. If you’ re not going on an organized tour, though, the reality requires some serious planning. Especially if you have just returned to motorcycling after a lapse of 28 years as I had. From two years prior to leaving on a 10,276-mile, 10-week Alaska journey until returning home, here’ s a little of what I learned.
After taking a refresher MSF RiderCourse and test riding several bikes, I settled on a BMW R 1200 GS Adventure for the trip. It
Above, left: My waterfront campground in Skagway was a short walk to the downtown area and an excellent brewhouse. Above: For me, the ride really began when I crossed the border and became an International Moto Traveler. Visiting the Yukon had been a dream since childhood. Left: Thompson Pass, near Valdez, is draped in waterfalls from glacial melt. Below: Denali National Park is majestic beyond description. Although you must take a basic park service school bus into the park, it’ s worth it to view the pristine wilderness and abundant wildlife.