Quesnel BC to Dempster Highway and back - June 2009
Winter 2008: Time to start planning a trip - I was going to go from Hamburg Germany to Nordkapp Norway in June 2009 but the cost of bikes in Germany is more than it is in Canada plus the Euro is $1.65 now when six months ago it was $1.40 - just too expensive. So... now what to do... why head North in your own back yard!
June 2009
The trip started off on my 1997 BMW R1100 GS and I got 30 km from my mum's place outside of Buick Creek BC when the universal on my drive shaft went boom... so few days of getting me and the bike back home and I tried the trip again on my 2006 BMW F650 GS and this time made it! Original plan was to go to Dead Horse in Alaska, but I also wanted to see the D2D event in Dawson City. With my trip pushed ahead for a week Dead Horse was no longer possible due to other obligations.
Stuff for the R1100 (died on first attempt of trip):
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1997 BMW R1100 GS
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Hepco Becker Engine and Tank guards
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Tool box lock
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Touratech dual headlights - cause their cool, not 'cause it will ever be dark when I am riding!
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Garmin 60cx GPS and Touratech alu GPS holder
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Tool set, tire repair set with small air compressor and work gloves
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2x 5L fuel can and 1L oil container
Stuff for the F650 (made the whole trip!):
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1997 BMW R1100 GS
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Ammo box panniers
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Touratech Engine and Tank guards
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Garmin 60cx GPS and Touratech alu GPS holder
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Skid plate mounted tool set, tire repair set with small air compressor and work gloves
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2x 5L fuel can and 1L oil container
Stuff for the rider
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Motor cycle gear - Joe Rocket jacket and pants / Arai helmet / Fox Tech 5 mx boots / German Army Goretex rain gear.
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Hiking shoes
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Small supply of street cloths including fleece jacket and fleece lined pants for riding in the cold.
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Weeks worth of socks, underwear and t-shirts
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Leather outback adventure hat!
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Bug hat and bug spray
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Level one first aid kit
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SPOT device
Stuff for living
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MEC Tarn 2 Tent / -5C Sleeping Bag and a +5C fleece sleeping bag / Therm-a-rest inside a 50L dry bag
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MSR Wisperlite International Stove with two fuel bottles (used as a back up for bike)
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MSR water purifier (pump)
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Coleman Peak One pot and pan set, eating stuff
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Fiskars lightweight hatchet and Swiss Tool
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Camera with spare memory cards
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8GB MP3 player and Sirius Satellite Radio (useless above 60N)
Stuff I would do differently
Next trip like this I am taking either a smaller tent or get a bivy sack. The tent, sleeping bag, mattress and rain gear took up a 60L dry bag. The dry bag went sideways on the rear seat impeding getting into the panniers. With a bivy sack there is no tent to put up and basically when it comes to setting up camp it would be a 5 minute affairs. The return trip in the rain was not so happy as I spent more time looking for a motel than actually being safe and just pulling over and getting sleep. With the bivy sack it is a matter of rolling the sack out and crawling in and going to sleep and remain dry and bug free.
My F650 GS had no front fender. Never ever again! I got so much mud thrown up on my on the Dempster I had a miserable time. Now I have a Touratech rallye mud guard and now I stay clean.
Sirius Radio, pretty much useless above 60N
Photos from my Yukon / NWT trip.