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Books
 The
Milepost is the universally acclaimed tour guide for Alaska and the Alaska
Highway. My family had one in 1958 and I have the 2007 edition for this trip. It
began as a description of the ALCAN highway, mile by mile (the highway has
mileposts along the entire route from Dawson Creek, BC to Fairbanks, AK). Today
it includes descriptions of all of the highways in Alaska and the Yukon
Territory, and the major routes through Alberta and British Columbia. It also
includes many ads for accommodations and things to see.
This book, written by Erik Molvar, a wildlife biologist
and Alaska resident, describes in detail all of the roads included in
the Milepost, providing in addition rich historical background and geological information that
brings the environs to life. It gives me a good preview of what I will be
seeing and helps me plan what stops I may want to make. Molvar also recommends side trips along the way, some
of which I just may try.
 Michener
wrote Alaska in 1988. A whopper of a book, and my first Michener. Its a
fictionalized historical account of the earliest evolutionary development of
Alaska, the introduction of animal and human life, conquests by the Russians and
Americans, the Gold Rush, and many other topics. I found his description of the
Gold Rush particularly interesting, especially the challenges presented by the
Chilkoot Pass, the 30 mile route from Skagway to the lakes and rivers that would
eventually take prospectors to Dawson City far up in the Yukon. Prospectors had
to carry enough provisions to last them a year, and the Pass was so steep and
difficult that the most they could take in one trip was 35-50 pounds. At 40-50
trips, at 2 trips per day, it would take them a month just to get up and over
this section of several thousand feet. I wanted to see the Pass myself, but the
only access today is over a 30 mile trail that requires a minimum 3-day rugged
hike. Next time perhaps...
Maps
The
best large map is the one that comes with the Milepost. It shows the entire
route from southern Alberta and British Columbia up through the Yukon and
Alaska. Of course it doesn't have a lot of detail, but it gives you the large
picture and allows you to see the relative distances, etc. It also shows the
topography
I also ordered maps of Alaska, Saskatchewan & Alberta, and
British Columbia from MapArt, the Canadian company. They provide more detail,
including the major cities. I like detailed maps when I'm riding.
To plan my trip, mileages, etc., I will use Garmin's City
Navigator North America v.8 and Microsoft's Streets and Trips, 2006. Streets and
Trips is particularly easy to use, and it's the one that I use to produce the
maps on my site.Great
Links
-
The Great
White North - This is the Alaska forum of the Adventure Rider web site,
and provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date information about
motorcycling to and from, and in Alaska.
- Alaska Road
Conditions - The State of Alaska's site for road conditions and web cams
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Dalton Highway Guide - the 414 mile "Haul Road," that was constructed to
build and support the trans-Alaska oil pipeline; reputed to be one of
America's most remote and spectacular roads
- Dan's
Alaska Links - web cams; informational links organized by city, road and
attractions (e.g., national parks)
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