Day 11– Sunday, May 31, 2009
Start: Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
End: Watson Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada
Trip Miles Today: 333
Total Trip Miles: 4065
Today was a day that actually seemed like two entirely different days. Part I started with a 7:30 departure out of Fort Nelson under threatening, but dry skies. Those conditions held for about 40 miles before the misting and then steady drizzle started. This, plus the temperature hovering in the low 40s (F), was ominous as the first 100 miles from Fort Nelson is mostly an uphill ride to the pass at Summit Lake, the highest pass on the Alaska Highway at well over 5000 feet. As I climber the temperature fell and the rain increased. Then I arrived at the snow band where the temp went to freezing and the rain turned to a mix of snow/sleet/freezing rain. To make matters even more “adventurous” there was, in the midst of all this, even a construction zone which basically was a rutted muddy path for close to a mile. Plenty of opportunity to fall but somehow adrenalin kept me upright throughout. In better conditions this is one of the more scenic parts of the Alaska Highway. For me, today, there was little time to look at anything but that didn’t matter because visibility was a serious problem with visor and glasses fogging anyway. The good news is that immediately following the Summit Pass the road starts downhill again and the temperatures almost immediately got better. By the time I approached Toad River, and a much needed break after 120 miles of hell, it was actually back up to 50 degrees and the sky was clearing. This was the start of Part II of today’s ride which was a very pleasant Sunday afternoon ride. This part was warm, unencumbered by weather issues, and full of great scenery and especially wildlife sightings. I’ve already addressed the bear sightings (6 in all today) in my earlier “special edition” post. Also readily sighted today were a fair share of Bison and Stone Sheep, a sheep variant indigenous to this area and similar to Bighorn but slightly smaller and darker in color.)
The bike ran well throughout the day with no complaints. Absent the big headwinds of earlier in the week, and traveling at a more sedate speed (60 mph most of the time today) gas mileage can average close to 60 mpg and this leaves me feeling more comfortable about 200 + legs as needed, for example, if someone wanted to go to Coldfoot and the Arctic Circle.
No Arctic Circle tomorrow, however. It’s off to Whitehorse, about 300 miles distant and in anticipated excellent weather all day. Yahoo! Thanks for stopping by. More soon.
2 comments:
Wow! That picture says it all Jack. I don’t mind riding in the rain, it’s all part of long distance riding I guess, Plus you adjust to it after a few miles. However 120 miles in that stuff! Ouch! Plus the construction! What a day!
Jack, what is the longest stretch you’ve seen so far between gas station?
Yesterday, after leaving Ft Nelson there was a sign that said "no gas the next 200km" (ie about 120 miles). That was the stretch I described as Part I of the trip. Not only was it a nasty morning but there was not much for options to stop along the way.
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