What to pack for the Alaska trip |
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| NOTES: | ||||||||
| * Explanations at bottom of page |
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| BASICS: | ||||||||
| Wallet Credit Card $200 - $500 cash Cell Phone Drivers License MC Registration & proof of insurance. Proof of Insurance for Canada (get this from your insurance company) US Passport (A must have today) Addresses and Phone Numbers Chapstick MAPS or GPS unit Sunscreen (30+ SPF) First Aid Kit Reading Glasses (2) Sunglasses Watch (?) Itinerary |
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| RIDING GEAR: | ||||||||
| Riding Suit - Complete with rain & thermal liner. Leather Boots -12/14" tall A full face helmet A half helmet Neck Warmer Zip Lock bags (Freezer bags are the strongest) 1 pair of gauntlet riding gloves 1 pair of fingerless gloves Spare Key for the bike (Keep on your person) Ear Plugs |
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| BIKE GEAR: | ||||||||
| Color photo of how everything is packed onto the bike SAC Bag - Large - My choice SAC Bag - Overnight - My choice Large stuff sack (for riding suit and waterproof boots) Small bag for misc items Luggage combination locks 4 tumbler style type (3) Leather saddle bags (2) Bungee Cords (At least 4 of 2 different sizes) Stretch netting w/ hooks (3) Kick stand plate 5" dia Red hand wipe rags (4) |
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| CLOTHES: | ||||||||
Shower Shoes |
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| CAMPING GEAR: | ||||||||
| Tent w/poles, ground cloth and 8" iron nail spikes |
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| COOKWARE: | ||||||||
| Liquid Soap small bottle Water - Bottled Magnesium Fire Starter block (use knife for striker) Plastic silverware/kitchen kit Plate Mug/cup Small Pot & pan kit (camping) Small firefly stove Fuel bottles with FUEL (for firefly stove) Dry Matches in waterproof container Freezer bags large & small |
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| HYGIENE KIT: | ||||||||
| Hygiene bag Tylenol/Advil (or similar headache relief) Soap Towel Hair Brush Comb Toothbrush Toothpaste Dental Floss Deodorant Mirror Shampoo Conditioner Small Scissors Razor Blade Shaving Cream After shave |
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| TOOLS: | ||||||||
| Owner's Manual Tool Kit, wrenches & socket set, w/ torx & allen wrenches US/mm Large crescent wrench to remove rear axle nut Tire Plug Kit w/2 sizes of plugs (for tubless tires) A tire repair kit for tube tires will require two spoons for removing the tire along with patches and fresh adhesive Small air pump, manual or battery operated or CO2 dispenser with extra cartridges (5) Small roll of mechanics wire Fuses Tail Lamp Bulbs (2) Turn Signal Bulbs 2) Air Gauge/tread depth gage Roll electrical tape Roll electrical wire (14 ga) Duct Tape Pocket Volt/ohm meter WD40 Spray Lubricant (small) Fuel tank repair kit for metal tank (the type for repairing with gas still in the tank) NAPA sells this Rope - 1/2" x 16' Nylon |
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| ELECTRONICS: | ||||||||
| Cell Phone with charger GPS Unit with map of US & Canada. Digital Camera with charger and memory sticks Laptop Computer (optional), with charger and 10' Ethernet cable & wireless card Short electrical cord, 3-6' with 3-4 outlets Carrying bag for above |
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| MISC: | ||||||||
| 1-1/2 gal gas containers 2 (Only used between Fairbanks & Prudhoe Bay, Alaska) Sewing Kit |
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EXPLANATIONS: |
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| Basics: - Pretty much what we carry with us every day when we ride. Maybe not as much cash but everything else is pretty much standard. Sure you can carry more cash but why? ATMs are everywhere if you need more. Credit card(s) are a Must in Canada. The banks will apply the daily exchange rate to your account for each transaction. Try not to convert much US Currency into Canadian currency. Twenty dollars a day is fine. You will find that US businesses along the Canadian border will not take Canadian currency, (Canadians will take US currency though). Don't forget your Passport. A must have item today. It will get you across the the border quickly in either direction. Chapstick and Sun Screen. Bring it and USE IT! You'll be glad you did later on in life. Can you say 'Basal Cell Carcinoma'. A small basic First Aid kit will always come in handy when it's least expected. Read the booklet that comes with the kit before you start the trip and it wouldn't hurt to brush up on performing First Aid. Don't forget the reading glasses if you are over forty. You know who you are. When you travel through Canada, you'll be required to show proof of insurance if you are stopped. Contact your insurance company and asked for a proof of insurance card recognized by Canada. Plan on stopping for at least two days once a week to give your body and mind a break, and to enjoy the local sights. If you're camping on this trip, go ahead and spend a night in a Hotel/Motel at least once a week. You've earned it! | ||||||||
| Riding Gear: - Everyone will have their own preferences on what to wear. Nothing beats a good riding suit, either a one or two piece suit. Especially one that states it is 100% Waterproof! Accept nothing else! I purchased a two piece suit with liners from Cycle Port out of California. It performed flawlessly. They are durable, waterproof and will keep you warm in cold, wet weather. Yeah, I hear you. Talk to me after you’ve been riding through British Columbia, the Yukon, or Alaska with 125-150 miles between towns or 50 miles to the next town on a slick muddy road at 25 miles an hour in a driving rain. You’ll be glad you spent the money. Besides a good hosing will wash off the dirt and bugs, or throw it in a washing machine. Can’t do that with a leather jacket and chaps. Zip Lock bags (Freezer Style) for storing items that you just can't afford to get wet. Reciepts, matches, cell phone, etc. And a must have somewhere on your person is a 'Spare Key' for the bike. Full face helmet can't be beat for maintaining riding speed in the rain. Half helmet for those hot days. Ear plugs are a big plus too. | ||||||||
| Bike Gear - Before starting out on a long trip, pack up the bike and re-pack it again two or three times. You’ll need to pack it the same each time. And remember you’re doing this in a comfortable environment at home, not out in the rain at a remote campground. Do yourself a favor. When you have the packing down to a science, take a color picture and bring it along with you. In case you forget where everything goes. I used two different sized SAC bags (my choice), along with two saddle bags and two stuff sacks. Each one was waterproof and if water was an issue, the item was placed in plastic bags to keep it dry. Extra bungee cords, stretch netting and a few straps were also brought along. Three-'four' tumbler luggage style combination locks, (3 tumbler combination locks can be figured out in twenty or so minutes if you forget the combination), to keep the honest people honest. Red service rags stored in various pockets of the bags in case I needed to clean my hands quickly. The locks and bags can be purchased at Wal-Mart. I also brought along a 5" diameter plate for use as a stable base for supporting the bike's kick stand while on soft ground. ($5.00 at HD). Get the bike all packed up, then it sinks into the ground and tips over. Now try picking up the bike fully loaded. Get the plate. | ||||||||
| Clothes - Jeans, socks, underwear, four of each. Three T-shirts and one long sleeve shirt. With this quantity you’re good for three/four days and then it’s off to a laundromat, laundry bag in tow. A second pair of shoes to wear around the campground or a walk into town will help the feet to relax. Shower tongs for those questionable shower stalls. And a good hat just to keep the midnight sun out of your eyes. A nice watch cap will fit on your head comfortably while sleeping and can be adjusted to cover your eyes to keep out the sunlight. And if the occasion requires it, it will, a bathing suit. | ||||||||
| Camping Gear - I brought along my trusty tent, sleeping bag and Therm-a-Rest pad for a dry, warm and comfortable nights sleep after a long day on the road. The sleeping bag was rated for 0 deg. Yes it may have been too warm on cool nights but I don’t like to be caught off guard and get caught in a cold snap. If it’s too warm I can always peel it off, but if it’s cold and I don’t have the right stuff. . . You get the picture. My tent stakes are 8" nail spikes and are good anywhere but on rock. Try driving in the standard tent stakes supplied with the tent in the Florida Keys or somplace that has hard dirt. My nail spikes have never let me down. A waterproof stuff bag for sleeping bag is a must. Yes my sleeping bag will still keep me warm if it’s wet, but who wants to sleep in a wet bag? I had four stuff sacks of various sizes with me. A good set of maps for the route you are taking is a must. Rand McNally has the Truckers Map book (Found at Truck Stops), with individually laminated pages. I only brought along the pages of the states or provinces that I traveled through. Much easier and it takes less space and weight. Update: GPS units and cell phones with internet access have access to maps and provide directions. Provided of course that you can get a cell phone signal. A good one piece steel hatchet with a hammer head on the opposite end is a good tool to have along for obvious reasons, along with a good solid blade knife. Both require a good sheath. Optional is the small metal folding shovel. Flashlights are a must. A large one stored in an easily accessible area in the event of a night time breakdown. A small pocket size to carry in your clothing to locate other items including the large flashlight. And don’t forget spare batteries. I carry a small tent candle holder along with extra candles. I hang it inside the tent and it gives off a perfect amount of light and is always there if I need to locate and change out batteries. Easily lit with the compact butane lighters. I also brought along a small portable combination clock/calendar/thermometer. It wasn't a must needed but it was nice to have along. A small magnifying glass is a must in case I break my reading glasses or in the event that I’ll need to start a fire in the daytime. (try it and see if you can start a fire like you did when you were a kid). I always wear my Leatherman on my belt. I prefer the Super Leatherman because all of the items will lock in place when fully extended. A couple of small and large trash bags always come in handy on wet days. I like to carry a small monocular with me on trips You can look at a mountainside and see nothing until you start to look through the monocular. A pen and notepad helps to quickly jot down information. |
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| Cookware - Although I did use it in the early mornings and out in the middle of Alaska, heating up water for the instant soup cups, some may feel this may be an unnecessary item to bring along. I’m glad I brought mine with me. Heating water and mixing it with freezed dried food hits the spot. As for bringing water along, do it! Each time you stop for gas, bottled water is always available. One or two quart bottles or smaller with a nice screw cap on top. And in a pinch you can dry out the bottle and use it to transfer gas. Cut off the bottom and you have a funnel. | ||||||||
| Hygiene Kit - What can I say on this. Pack what will suit your needs. And don’t forget a small stainless mirror. (Glass will break) | ||||||||
Tools - I may have overkill on my tool list but trust me, nothing is more aggravating while broke down on the side of the road, knowing you could have made a repair and been on your way within the hour, if you only had a basic tool kit and some misc parts. Remember, you'll be traveling along some of the most remote highways in the world. I don’t think you want to pay an outrages fee just to have the bike brought into the next town because you didn’t bring any tools. You don't need to bring all of the tools, just the ones that will make your life easier if you encounter a breakdown. At the very least, tools to replace headlight and tail light and a crescent wrench (adjustable) to remove the large nut from the axel when removing tires for repair. Check it first to make certain the wrench is large enough to fit the nut. Basic parts: light bulbs, fuses, electrical tape, duct tape and some mechanics wire. Tire repair kit along with tire spoons, tire repair patches and adhesive. (make sure it's fresh adhesive). If you have tubless tires, tire repair kits are available at the local auto parts store. Check out the local bike shop and purchase a good Co2 dispenser kit and pick up a few extra Co2 cartridges as well (these cartridges are cheaper at Wal-Mart), to refill the tires. A small bicycle hand pump will work but it may take a while. I’m not a big advocate on the spare tire in a can. But hey, that’s just me. Out in the wilds of Canada and Alaska, go for it. However this isn't necessary in the lower 48 if you have Road side assistance. Check out the companies that provide roadside assistance for a low yearly fee. If you're a Harley owner take advantage of the H.O.G. Group roadside assistance program. At $29.00 a year it will cover two bikes and reimbursment for hotels if you are over one hundred miles from home. For non-Harley owners, check out AMA 's MC Road Side Assistance program. You'll need to be a memeber for either group before you can purchase the program. |
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| Electronics - On a trip like this you’ll want to record as much as you can. Taking pictures with a quality digital camera is a plus. You’ll want to share these pictures with friends, so having a lightweight laptop along will allow you to download the pictures and e-mail them at the next local Internet Café along the way. A small fabric carrying bag, similar to a shoping bag, is what I use. It's easier to pack than the back pack style. Use it when you go into an Internet Café. Make sure the batteries are fully charged on all the electronics and to do that you’ll need to bring along the chargers. Using the short electrical cord, charge everything at once while at the Café, a campground with electricty or while doing laundry. Today it seems everyone has a cell phone so bring yours along too. It will come in handy in the event of an emergency. Calling cards are sold everywhere, even at the U.S. Post Office. Have at least one with 100 minutes or more on your person. AT&T calling cards are accepted everywhere, including Canada. Sprint is not accepted in Canada. (as of 7/04 it wasn't). A 100 minute calling card in the US may only last 20 minutes in Canada. Connections fees, international fees, etc. | ||||||||
| MISC -
Extra gas tank(s). Not really needed while traveling in the United States. If you run out of gas while in the lower 48 you’re just not paying attention. I purchased these tanks in Fairbanks, Alaska to use on the ride up to Prudhoe Bay. The last gas stop before Prudhoe Bay was 219 miles away. I may not have needed two but I wasn’t taking any chances on the Dalton Road. After the return trip from Prudhoe Bay, I gave them to the proprietor of the Chicken Café for use with their ATV’s. Know at the very least, basic repair skills for your bike. Bring along an owners manual in case you forget where the fuses are, how to change the headlight or tail light, how to access the battery or remove the tires. By chance if someone comes along who has these skills and you don't, the book may help them. A small sewing kit can come in handy when you least expect it. Small and lite enough to store. (Just remember where you store it.) |
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| NOTES: | ||||||||
| When preparing for a trip of this magnitude, I strongly recommend that you pack and repack the bike a few times at home to get the feel of where everthing needs to be placed and a resonable time frame in which you can accomplish it. The same goes for setting up the tent and tearing down. In my case the last items off of the bike and first items on were the tent and Therm-a-Rest matress. These items set the base for all other items placed on top. Tires. Start the trip out on new tires. (Less than 300 miles) You know where the best prices are at home. You are at their mercy when you are on the road in an unfamiliar location and need a tire replacement. Riding through Canada the speed limit signs are posted in Km/h. If your speedometer does not have both Mph and Kmh use this quick tip given to me by a local Canadian. Multiply the Kmh by 6 and drop the last number on the right. Ex 1: 100 Kmh / 6 x 100 = 600, drop the 0 = 60 mph. Ex 2: 70 Kmh / 6 x 70 =420, drop the 0 = 42 Mph. Not totally exact, but it's within 2-3 Kmh. Using this method will keep you out of trouble. You can use the same formula to figure out the distances too. 420 Kilometers to the next town, 6 x 420 = 2520, drop the 0 = 252 miles. |
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