[ThinkingOfOne]

hello...in june of 2014 Im planning on doing the ride from seattle to ketchikan on my vstrom...any suggestions,tips,words of wisdom from my fellow stromers? happy and health holiday to all of you-Mitch

 

[Oly]

I'm assuming you are probably riding the largely inland route.
Maybe consider doing that on the way down.
On the way up, if you want a break from riding (if you are riding from NYC) consider taking the ferry from Port Hardy on the northern part of Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert in BC. As beautiful as Vancouver Island is, the real treat will be seeing the whales going north from Hawaii to the Arctic.
A longer boat ride is the Alaska State Ferry from Bellingham, but it means less riding.
Have fun!

 

[Vinegarjoe]

Seattle to Ketchikan

I went out via icefields pkwy to yellowhead hwy to prince rupert, alaskan maritime hwy (ferry) to ketchikan. Ketchikan has a honda and yamaha shop but mostly marine oriented, a rent a .. harley tour business ( I swear, for all 30-40 paved miles) and you can get a Wee strom battery (in stock) @ the NAPA there. great restaurant up the funicular to cape fox. AMH ferry back to prince rupert (take your own tie-down for AMH, and Wash. state ferries, BC ferries provides 'em). took BC ferry from prince rupert to port hardy, concur on nice break from riding and scenery and whales phenomenal.:thumbup:

 

[Mudbutt]

Ketchikan never stops raining !!!!!!! :yikes: unless your going there to go fishing, don't go!!!!! Stay on the mainland.

KETCHIKAN, ALASKA - Climate Summary

 

[ventureman]

Mitch, what's your departure date and route? Just asking, because it appears a lot of V -strom folks are heading up North this June. My brother and I also.

 

[ThinkingOfOne]

seattle to ketchikan **UPDATE**

after checking the ferry schedule it seems I have to change my plans about going to ketchikan...still going to Alaska but will be riding from Bellingham,WA to Hyder,AK..riding in/to Alaska has always been on my bucket list and this seems to be the only way Im going to it as of now,in the yrs to come who knows maybe Ill be there again.going to be doing this first week in june and then from Hyder riding down to Sturgis,SD where I will meet up with 4 friends and from there riding back to NYC.should be a fun 10 days .here is my route more or less

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bellingham,+WA/Hyder,+AK/Sturgis,+SD/New+York,+NY/@47.0817489,-119.6011425,4z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m26!4m25!1m5!1m1!1s0x5485962ef2458717:0xd57a9ca9cd39e0f0!2m2!1d-122.4882249!2d48.7595529!1m5!1m1!1s0x540bd186e33733f7:0x25548d29885a70c!2m2!1d-130.02768!2d55.9177254!1m5!1m1!1s0x532d5b912e3b4203:0x2474459a3442ef6f!2m2!1d-103.5090786!2d44.4097069!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c24fa5d33f083b:0xc80b8f06e177fe62!2m2!1d-74.0059731!2d40.7143528!3e0

 

[Vinegarjoe]

sea/ketch

met Canadian riders in PR who had ridden Stewart/Cassiar hwy to Hyder, sounded like an awesome ride. Did you check temp's/avg rainfall for that time of year ? weather is better last of July/EarlyAug. very competent raingear and heated equipment a must, that time of year.:beatnik: