Long Distance Riding – Alaska, Yukon & Northwest Territories

[JerryM100]

I thought I would split out Ken's updates on his trip from his long articles and packing lists. It made for a looooong scroll down to the bottom so I just started a new thread here.

- Jerry in KC

Ken asked me to post a photo of his bike all loaded up for his trip to Alaska. Here are two photos he sent to me.

Jerry

[JerryM100]

Ken also asked me to post his SPOT updates on the web site. HIs first SPOT report came in today (Monday, June 8) at 8:30 pm. He is presently in Aberdeen, SD. Here is the text of what SPOT sends:

We are Still OK. I Think we are still having fun!!
Latitude:45.4828
Longitude:-98.4822
Time:06/09/2009 01:29:09 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1

If you have not heard of SPOT before here is a little information about it.

"Spot is a personal satellite tracking device designed to get you help when you need it where ever in the world you are.

The difference of Spot from other live GPS tracking devices is that instead of relying on GSM networks it uses GEOS International Emergency Response Center. When you call for help your exact location determined by the GPS satellites will be sent on to this Response Center every five minutes until canceled.

Of course saving your life and getting you help comes with a yearly subscription price which is currently at $99/year. This basic service will get you alerts to 9-1-1, a check in function which can be used to let others know where you are and OK, and a function to ask help from family and friends.

Add an extra $50/year and you can send and save your location and allow others to track you down on Google Maps.

More info at http://www.navigadget.com/index.php/200 ... ing-device
or http://findmespot.com/en/

[JerryM100]

Here is an update from Ken's SPOT gps tracker.

We are Still OK. I Think we are still having fun!!
Latitude:46.397
Longitude:-105.8233
Time:06/09/2009 23:35:42 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1

Here is a Google Map of his route today. This is a guess on my part just looking at the map, I haven't actually heard from him.

From Google Maps it looks like his route was about 389 miles which should have taken him 7 hours and 17 minutes. Of course this is an estimate from Google Maps and does not include any stops.

[JerryM100]

Here is Ken's update from his SPOT tracker received at 8:06 pm:

We are Still OK. Heading for Inuvik NWT. Only 3000 miles to go!!
ESN:0-7459061
Latitude:48.4637
Longitude:-113.9801
Time:06/11/2009 01:05:47 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1

It looks like they are staying near West Glacier just outside Glacier Natl Park. I don't know if they took I-90 west thru Missoula and then 93 up thru Kalispell, or if they went thru Great Falls and thru the Glacier NP or maybe south of the park. My guess would be that they are trying to make some time and stayed on I-90, especially since Google Maps says that route would be 638 miles and take 9 hours and 37 minutes (again that is without any stops). These maps are just my guesses by typing in Ken's starting and ending locations and Google's best guess about the route. But it gives us an idea about the distance they covered. Damn, I wish I was there...

[JerryM100]

Here is Ken's SPOT report from Thursday evening, June 11, received at 10:24 pm:

We are Still OK. Heading for Inuvik NWT. Only 3000 miles to go!!
Latitude:53.0309
Longitude:-119.2352
Time:06/12/2009 03:24:25 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1

Here is a Google Map of his progress today:

Google Maps shows a distance of about 502 miles with a projected time of 9 hours and 21 minutes. They saw some amazing scenery today! Up in the Canadian Rockies in Jasper Natl Park!

Jerry in KC

[JerryM100]

Ken's SPOT report for today:

We are Still OK. Heading for Inuvik NWT. Only 3000 miles to go!!
Latitude:54.7842
Longitude:-127.1496
Time:06/13/2009 01:16:24 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1

Here is a map of his estimated route for today:

It looks like a distance of 409 miles today.

[JerryM100]

Ken and his riding buddy made it about 207 miles today to Stewart, BC, near Hyder, AK. Here is his SPOT report:

We are Still OK. Heading for Inuvik NWT. Only 3000 miles to go!!
Latitude:55.9115
Longitude:-130.0216
Time:06/13/2009 23:14:58 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1

With the Google Map it is not particularly useful to show the roads since there are so few up there, so I clicked on the 'terrain' view to show the mountains and valleys they drove thru. Wow, can't wait to see their pictures.

Remember, you can cllck on the picture to get a larger view of it.

[JerryM100]

Ken's SPOT report for today. Google Maps says it was 408 miles and it estimated the travel time at 10 hours and 51 minutes!

We are Still OK. Only 1500 more miles to Inuvik NWT.
Latitude:60.052
Longitude:-128.6533
Time:06/15/2009 02:26:45 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1

Other than looking at the terrain they drove thru today I realized the map wasn't the best for context, so I took another snapshot from a wider view to show where they are.

[JerryM100]

Ken's SPOT report for today. Google says it was 604 miles!

We are Still OK. Only 1500 more miles to Inuvik NWT.
Latitude:64.0643
Longitude:-139.4259
Time:06/16/2009 03:02:04 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1

The big picture view:

[JerryM100]

It is now almost 10:00 pm and I have not received a SPOT report from Ken's GPS tracker. This will be the second day I have not received one. Maybe his batteries ran out, or they they took a right when they should have taken a left and they ended up at Hudson Bay, and don't want to send us a SPOT report to show that. At any right I hope they are alright.


Jerry in KC

[JerryM100]

I received this SPOT report from Ken at 1:00 am last night. It looks like they have stayed in Dawson City for the last 2 days. I don't know if they are taking a break or are having problems. I can't imagine them taking a break for 2 days though.

We are Still OK. Only 1500 more miles to Inuvik NWT.
Latitude:64.0623
Longitude:-139.4334
Time:06/18/2009 06:00:01 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1

No map picture since they haven't moved much.

Jerry in KC

[JerryM100]

Well I received this SPOT report on Thursday at 11:03 pm and just posting it now. Good news! They haven't been sitting in Dawson City - they have been traveling and the problem was with the SPOT system so they couldn't send reports. But they made it all the way to Inuvik!

Here is his report from last night:

We are Still OK. We made it to Inuvik but spot did not work very good. We are on the second half of our journey.
Latitude:64.0625
Longitude:-139.4333
Time:06/19/2009 04:03:25 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1

[JerryM100]

They are making good progress on their return trip now. They left Dawson City yesterday and camped last night at the edge of a lake that I can't get the name of. Google Maps says they went 393 miles.

We are Still OK. We made it to Inuvik but spot did not work very good. We are on the second half of our journey.
Latitude:61.1525
Longitude:-138.5468
Time:06/20/2009 03:45:40 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... 68&ie=UTF8

[JerryM100]

Here is Ken's SPOT report from yesterday, received last night at 10:03. It looks like they made 422 miles.

We are Still OK. We made it to Inuvik but spot did not work very good. We are on the second half of our journey.
Latitude:60.0614
Longitude:-128.7045
Time:06/21/2009 03:02:44 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... 45&ie=UTF8

By my calculations this is Day 12 of his trip. I base that on his departure from Aberdeen, SD on June 9th, which of course does not count the couple of days it took him to get up there. I think he actually left his place in Manhattan, KS on Friday, June 5th, which would make it Day 16. Someone told me that his mother lives in Aberdeen so he and his riding partner stayed there for a couple of days. I'm sure he will give us a good ride report and clarify for us. Can't wait to hear about it.

[JerryM100]

Ken's SPOT report from last night, received at 10:47 pm, had them traveling 548 miles if Google Maps is right. Here is his SPOT report:

We are Still OK. Heading East on our way home. Friday or Saturday arrival.
Latitude:56.3057
Longitude:-121.0009
Time:06/22/2009 03:47:04 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... 09&ie=UTF8

Here is a view of the terrain they rode thru.

Don't you wish you could beam up there and ride around all day and then beam home for dinner??

[JerryM100]

Ken's SPOT report for the day has them traveling about 488 miles.

We are Still OK. Heading East on our way home. Friday or Saturday arrival.
Latitude:53.4994
Longitude:-112.0669
Time:06/23/2009 02:33:09 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... 69&ie=UTF8

The terrain view:

[JerryM100]

Looks like those guys rode about 570 miles today thru the great Canadian plains. They just crossed the border into North Dakota.

We are Still OK. Heading East on our way home. Friday or Saturday arrival.
Latitude:48.9972
Longitude:-102.5501
Time:06/24/2009 01:08:24 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... 01&ie=UTF8

[JerryM100]

Looks like they made it back to Aberdeen, SD, which I believe is where Ken's mother lives. They made 367 miles today and are probably ready for a break. Since they left on June 5th this would make it Day 20 of their trip. Here is Ken's SPOT report:

We are Still OK. Heading East on our way home. Friday or Saturday arrival.
Latitude:45.4827
Longitude:-98.4822
Time:06/25/2009 00:33:36 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... 22&ie=UTF8

[JerryM100]

Ken's SPOT report has them going more east into Wisconsin instead of heading south for home. I guess we will find out why when we get his ride report. Anyway, looks like they had a good ride today at 575 miles, depending on which route they took. Here is the report:

We are Still OK. Heading East on our way home. Friday or Saturday arrival.
Latitude:43.5029
Longitude:-88.804
Time:06/25/2009 21:49:13 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... 04&ie=UTF8

[Ken Krumm]

Thanks for a good account Jerry. I got back to Manhattan yesterday afternoon. My riding buddy from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin headed east at Sioux Fall, SD, while I continued south yesterday.

The spot report for Inuvik apparently did not work due to a lack of Satellites in that region of the world. That night, the sun never set. When we went to bed at midnight, the sun was in the northwest. When we woke up at 6:00 AM, the sun routed over to the east. From Dawson City, Yukon to Inuvik, Northwest Territories, the round trip mileage was 918 miles of dirt. About 60 miles through the Richardson Mountains was 2-3 inches of mud. Nonetheless, it was a lot of fun and a great ride.