Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

[DK Custom Products]

We stopped at this little rest stop and ate some sandwiches Mary had fixed.

Read about avalanches. The mountain pictured on the sign is the same mountain as in the following pic.



Little less snow when we were there. Not as cold either!



It was chilly though. Had on long johns, jeans, and rain suit for the rain AND the cold. Also, you can see I had put the soft lowers on.



Going over another metal grate bridge. Marys view to the left of the bike.



Marys view to the right and down.



There were two bears on the side of the road. We watched them for about 10 minutes. One ignored us, this one kept looking over at us.



Fantastic riding. Makes the gravel/construction worth it!




We turn off the 37 onto the 37A heading west toward Stewart!



Instead of the stories we had heard of this particular part of the road being the worst, it is the opposite. Great road, fantastic land!



These glaciers are huge, the pictures just don't convey how large they are.



More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

This glacier comes right down to the road, only thing between the road and the glacier is the river. It is possible to hike over to it. In this picture, IF there was anyone there, they would just be a little speck. That is how big this thing is.



Here's another one that is even closer. There is just a stream between us and it. But it is just a fraction of the size.



The road into Stewart is a BLAST to ride. Lots of curves and towering mountains on either side of the road.



Then I made a mistake. I was at the front of the line, right behind the Pilot truck for the last few km's into Stewart.



This was by far the dustiest we and the bike have gotten on the entire trip.



We hosed the bike off, and we used some towels to wipe down our leather jackets, rain suit pants, boots, gloves and helmets. They started out white and looked muddy at the end.



The main drag in Stewart.



That car/tank/snowmobile looks like a lot of fun in the snow!




We saw some larger stores further north...but none in a town literally surrounded by glaciers!



This was our home the night we stayed in Stewart.

[DK Custom Products]

Still following avidly along with your posts and Mary's pictures, and enjoying every moment of it!

Cool! Thank you for the feedback!

[DK Custom Products]

Sidetracked and delayed.

We are leaving out of Stewart, headed for Prince George. It was not to be.

Packing up.



This is a very cool little town. Amazing sights, every where you look.



Stewart is right next to Hyder, Alaska...just a few km away. The only way to get to Hyder is by going thru Stewart, Canada.

We figure a 30-45 minute ride over & back, and then we'll be on our way to PG.

Nice little putt over, enjoying the view.



We arrive in Hyder. Even though it is an International border, there was no stop or checkpoint going into the USA here.




Here's the main drag in Hyder. Less than 150 people live here.




Mary says there is a place set up right outside of town by the US Park Service where we might see some bears. She read about it in the Milepost book.

Ok, let's go.

Wow, the road is so nice. Better than anything we have ridden on in thousands of miles!



Amazing scenery too!




More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

We get to the place.

It is a long, elevated walkway that was built right along a stream.

When the salmon are running the bears come out and fish and you can watch them from above on the walkway.

Park Ranger lets us know they are not running right now, but we are welcome to walk down it.

They have a few educational signs up-










On the walkway.




We did not see any bears. Saw some bear poop.

Imagined what the stream would look like with the salmon running.



It is a nice view, on both sides of the walkway. Got to stretch our legs in prep for the anticipated 700 km ride to PG.



When we get back to the end of the walkway, the Park Ranger asks if we are going to ride up to the glacier?

Says it is absolutely amazing, best glacier view anywhere. Says it is definitely worth it if our bike can make it. It is 17 miles of gravel road and you end up ABOVE the glacier.

Ok...we did the Haul Road to the Arctic Circle, we can do 17 miles.

Off we go.

[87Trike1200]

Thank you for sharing your ride with us. The pictures are great!

[slick rick]

Loving every minute of it ,,,gonna miss it when you get back home but wish you the best of luck ....BE SAFE

[RdKnB]

I can not begin to tell you how much I am enjoying your adventure. Ride safe

[DK Custom Products]

Before heading up the road....

I found a few more pics at Fish Creek, where the elevated walkway is.




Before walking out on it, I asked the Ranger, "don't the bears ever come up on the walkway?".

His answer was, "that has happened only a couple of times". :blink:

Right before the walkway started there was this display.




Even though there were no bears there...notice how Mary does not have her hand even on the rail? lol







We walked to the end...there was this sign. ROFL... The only emergency I could think of is a bear coming up on the walkway. Not sure how this exit, which led down to the woods near the creek, would serve any benefit. lol




Pic of Salmon Glacier coming up next...taking awhile, there are more than 400 pics to choose from.

[DK Custom Products]

Thank you for sharing your ride with us. The pictures are great!

Thank you!

Loving every minute of it ,,,gonna miss it when you get back home but wish you the best of luck ....BE SAFE

Cool! Still got a way to go to get back to Mississippi!

I can not begin to tell you how much I am enjoying your adventure. Ride safe

Cool! Thank You, we will!

[DK Custom Products]

Ok, now we are headed up to Salmon Glacier.

Road looks good...relatively speaking.



You can see from the plants on the side of the road that it can be dusty...but for the entire 17 miles up we only saw several other vehicles, so for us the dust was not an issue, and the road was pretty smooth. There were a few rough spots, but Mary had gotten so used to them...she did not even take any pics. lol




Somewhere around this part of the road we had learned two things:

1. We were back in Canada
2. This was not a public road...it is a private road for a gold mining company. They maintain it, and allow the public to travel on it, but its' primary purpose is to enable the company to travel to their different mine sites.



We do know that we are on the right road though!



The vastness and beauty here is the same as what we have seen in the rest of BC.



The road is fun in a lot of spots too.



We stopped about halfway up, took a few pics, ate a sandwich, and just enjoyed the amazing creation all around us.



Still snow on the sides of the road in places.



We saw well over a dozen waterfalls in the 17 miles up.




If the road looks steep and winding...it was. We climbed 3700 feet in the 17 miles...probably 3000 of them in the last 8 miles.



More in the next post.

[DK Custom Products]

We made it to the summit. Small parking area, restrooms, and amazing views everywhere you turn.




Just sittin, trying to take it all in.




After just looking for 15-20 minutes, we walk across the road to look around, and for a better view.



Made it up...not much of a climb for most, but with my leg and foot...I'm just glad I could get up there to share the views with Mary.



A few panoramic shots. No need to say much...pics speak for themselves.









In this shot, the narrowest point across the glacier is a little over 1 kilometer...just to give a bit of an idea of how big this is!



More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

As much as I liked this place, Mary liked it even more!



We explored quite a bit.



Took lots of pics.




Then she realized that this is bear country, and we were up there alone, no bear spray. I told her to head on down I will take some pics and follow her.



The two German guys we met a few days ago arrive.



We met and talked with Keith Scott, "The Bear Man". He live up here at the summit during the summer. Has a tent set up near the restrooms.

He goes down the hill once a week for groceries. The rest of the week he is up here selling his DVD's, pictures and book.

He has been down to the glacier many times. He had some pictures of where he had set up his tent UNDERNEATH the glacier in a cavern. Crazy guy!



Well, our 30-45 minutes to Hyder before heading to Prince George turned into over 5 hours. We will not make Prince George today...but the sidetrack was WELL WORTH IT!

Will cover the ride down, and on to New Hazelton tomorrow.

[DK Custom Products]

Leaving the Salmon Glacier, headed back to Stewart/Hyder.




We see a lot more vehicles on the way down than we did up. Little bit of dust, but not bad.




We are not pulled over to the side. This is the view Mary had on the ride down....looking back at the Glacier...and down the side of the road.




Another shot looking back. We had gone at least a mile and it still looks massive!



Looking forward. BC never fails to amaze.






Back close to the base mining camp...reminder that this is not a public road.



Another reminder...view off the right side of the bike as we are headed back...that is a LONG ways down.



Mining company 18 wheeler hauling ass up the hill.




At the bottom, still in Canada, getting close to Hyder.




More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

Back on pavement in the US for a few minutes before crossing back into Canada.




Back in Hyder. Recognize those bikes?




While there was no Customs station or checkpoint going from Canada into the US at Hyder, there is a Customs checkpoint going from Hyder, USA back into Canada. Showed our passports, answered a few questions and we were on our way.



Back at the "Largest Supermarket in the North" in Stewart, picking up some groceries for the rest of the day.

We left Stewart 5-6 hours earlier, we still have a ways to go.



Back at the dusty construction zone right outside of Stewart.

Yep, I'm in the front of the line. But I re-learned my lesson coming into town.




When the pilot truck arrived, I let everyone go in front of me, then hung way back and stayed out of their dust.




Looking back at our little dust trail.





Back on the pavement making time!



37A, the road from Stewart to the Cassiar hwy is a lot of fun!



We stop at the glacier and have a sandwich. This looked so big (and it is BIG) on the way in. After seeing Salmon Glacier it does not seem so big.



More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

We're back on the Cassiar now. Not going to make PG today, but we're shooting for Smithers.




Making good time. Running close to 80 mph and eating up the miles.



We've been traveling thru some beautiful country. Decide to stop at one of the dozens of streams we have crossed today.



Just messing around, testing out my new waterproof boots.



Oh yeah, that feels good to clean away a bit of the dust.



Ready? 1-2-3 click.



Back on the Cassiar.



Mary's getting some great pics, I'm starting to think about gas. It has been close to 150 miles since I've seen a gas station that's been open. (it's around 8:30 pm, and the two I've seen in the last 70 miles were already closed for the day)



Here we go!

Started in Stewart about 9 hours ago...lol



More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

We're both a bit tired, decide to see if there is a place to stay in New Hazelton instead of pushing on to Smithers.



BC is definitely a place we want to spend more time in.




This is what happens sometimes when taking pics rolling down the road.



There, that's better without the trees in front of it.



Made it to New Hazelton a little after 9pm.

[slick rick]

Still loving every pic ,,,ride safe

[DK Custom Products]

Still loving every pic ,,,ride safe

Thanks man!

[Blondie Gal]

We're having SUCH a good time riding along with you and Mary! Thanks to you both for the great pictures!