Alaska Cruiser Trek 2010 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mark W
- Start date
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Pretty tough to get lost in between a trail boss and a tail gunner.
Mark...
Has to be easier than getting lost between the Pacific Ocean and the camping area. Water flooded a few parts of the camp area, or so I heard.
Wow, watching this Trek unfold...with me on the sidelines makes me sad.
But as monetary funds are unavailable for a repeat Trek until later, I guess this thread helps.
Mark, are you going to be taking the group across "Reality Flats" ?
Nothing reminds you that your body is still alive than a slow shakedown with manual steering and original seats in a 40 through that stretch of rock!
But as monetary funds are unavailable for a repeat Trek until later, I guess this thread helps.
Mark, are you going to be taking the group across "Reality Flats" ?
Nothing reminds you that your body is still alive than a slow shakedown with manual steering and original seats in a 40 through that stretch of rock!
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
- Thread starter
- #425
Rat, I TOLD you that I fell in swamp muck. It only smelled like I was dipped in s***!
Karol, we hope to be hundreds of miles from that particular spot. Most of the trails will be river bottom, alpine pass or soft muddy trail. There are a couple spots of rough rock but not mixed with mud like Reality Flats.
The Rock Pudding pits at the base of Glacier 13 are a different sort of mud/rock mix... but PLENTY nasty in their own right. I think Peter broke THREE axles at the same time in one of those.
I finally have my '40 setup to blast through Reailty Flats. 56 inch Chevy springs under both ends and articulated shackles and I float through there.
If you thought your '40 was rough... imagine doing it in an IFS minitruck with stock suspension
At least the mini has PS though I guess
I still remember getting ready to rip into you for ignoring the line I was trying to put you on in Yacko Creek... and then realizing that with your manual steering you simply could not make the turn. I felt bad... for about 10 seconds until "Grumpy a******" mode took over again
If we get the abnormal rainfall in the mountains of the Alaska Range like we did in 2008, then we will divert to the Eureka Highlands again like we did then.
Mark...
Karol, we hope to be hundreds of miles from that particular spot. Most of the trails will be river bottom, alpine pass or soft muddy trail. There are a couple spots of rough rock but not mixed with mud like Reality Flats.
The Rock Pudding pits at the base of Glacier 13 are a different sort of mud/rock mix... but PLENTY nasty in their own right. I think Peter broke THREE axles at the same time in one of those.
I finally have my '40 setup to blast through Reailty Flats. 56 inch Chevy springs under both ends and articulated shackles and I float through there.
If you thought your '40 was rough... imagine doing it in an IFS minitruck with stock suspension
At least the mini has PS though I guess
I still remember getting ready to rip into you for ignoring the line I was trying to put you on in Yacko Creek... and then realizing that with your manual steering you simply could not make the turn. I felt bad... for about 10 seconds until "Grumpy a******" mode took over again
If we get the abnormal rainfall in the mountains of the Alaska Range like we did in 2008, then we will divert to the Eureka Highlands again like we did then.
Mark...
Thanks Mark for posting the ACT blog - there is not a day go by that we don't think about that trip and your crew. 
What a killer trek that was
What a killer trek that was
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
- Thread starter
- #427
Pasquale, one of the things that sticks out in my mind is the grayling that you cooked up that evening at the airstrip with the fix den. Grayling is a fish that responds to the right culinary approach. And definitely suffers from the wrong. You were not overly fancy with it IIRC, but that was I think, the best grayling I have tasted.
BTW, the fox are still using that den. Last time I was there they had a nice collection of sun bleached bones from birds and small animals scattered around.
Mark...
BTW, the fox are still using that den. Last time I was there they had a nice collection of sun bleached bones from birds and small animals scattered around.
Mark...
I hadn't fished in many years - from fish-to-pan-to-mouth. The incredible hike back even farther up into the mountains, the plane flying in a fan part for [EDIT] Tim's 4 Runner... later that week we dug for razor calms at ninilchik thats living Alaska. The worst day we ever had was wonderful...
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We crossed more water in that week...
All that mud, all that rain, all that gasoline all the tugging and we're still smiling - We enjoyed every minute of it...
Anyone who is even remotely thinking of going - do it
Anyone who is even remotely thinking of going - do it
Ratpuke
SILVER Star
Mark... here's a copy of that "After AK" thing I wrote in 2007. Pasquale's comment that he thinks of AK every day made me go looking for this. Perhaps he can relate a little 
:
I have gone a little nuts since I went wheeling in Alaska. Life will never be the same for me. An illness seeped into my soul this past summer and I didn’t even realize it at the time. I have been forever changed. It is now my obligation to spread the word before it is too late.
That Mark Whatley. I’m surprised he is not a world-renowned artist because he is an excellent painter. Through his tales of drowning rigs and driving on glaciers he portrays countless tales of a beautiful, remarkable place known as Alaska. But, he fails miserably at telling you the truth. I know better now. Before you jump into your Cruiser for the long drive north to Alaska you need to know something he conveniently forgets to mention in the information package he sends out… and it’s something you will not typically discover on your own until you have left the pavement far behind.
Ready? Gather round. It is something very simple. It is the truth - I cannot lie. You will change. It simply cannot be helped. Whether or not you can actually handle the change is another thing. Before you commit to such a life altering experience make sure that you are up for what is in store for you in the months, years and decades to come. The changes are indescribable. Essentially, the experience will wreak havoc on all your future adventures. Nothing will ever compare to this trip. You’ll dream about Alaska. You’ll think about Alaska. You will talk non-stop about Alaska - most sentences will start with “And one time, in Alaska….” Sadly, upon your return, every time you jump in your Cruiser to go out wheeling, a little bit of sadness will cast itself over the day as you’ll know that there is a place you would rather be…. Yes, Alaska. And most importantly, you need to know that there is no cure. Least, that’s what the doctors ‘round these parts tell me. All you can do is learn to cope with the illness.
For me, coping has been a very hard struggle. As it turns out, a little bit more of Alaska got into my veins every time I was bitten by one of those giant Alaskan mosquitoes. It has been over four months and not a day goes by that I do not feel restless. I’m ruined. I'm distraught.
I recently returned from a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. Prior to Alaska I would have been thrilled with the prospect of such a trip. Instead, I caught myself growing irritated with the worst kind of sensory overload. It felt a lot like a mall in the weeks before Christmas. I would trade a set of mouse ears for a handful of muddy Alaskan bog in a heartbeat. I’d trade the onslaught of tourists for the odd caribou herd and the man made ponds and artificial lawns for the glacial fed streams and wild flowers. Alaska is a spa for the senses; no annoying cell phone ring tones, bells, buzzers or people who talk too much to hear; no computer screens or urban ugliness to look at; only fresh fish and berries to taste, pure mountain water to drink and clean mountain air and blossoming flowers to smell. Oh, what memories I have!
But, all is not lost. Living in a post-Alaska state is not all bad. My friends find it odd that I now spend most of my time sitting in my Cruiser in the garage. I suspect they think it even odder that I have converted the garage into a mini Alaska sanctuary where I painted pictures of Alaska on the walls, a bright blue sky with billowing clouds on the ceiling and silhouetted monoliths and rose colored glaciers illuminated by a sun that never quite sets. Perhaps the weirdest is where I’ve replaced the concrete floor with a miniature muskeg bog. The floor was the hardest of all the changes I made to the garage and I doubt it will do much for my resale value but I am happy with the end result. I do not dare let my friends in on my best-kept secret though – they would have me committed if they knew. But, I know you can keep a secret. Sometimes I will deliberately break things on my rig just so that I can fix it up again without any of the proper tools. Yes, I would put MacGuyver to shame with my new found knowledge. I have taken to performing all my maintenance using only a Leatherman and an assortment of rocks. You can call me weird, a little possessed or unstable perhaps, but I am happy as can be given my inflicted circumstances.
Would I go to Alaska again if I knew how it would all turn out? You ask. Yes. Definitely. In a heartbeat. Unfortunately, after planning the trip for over six years it is hard to come to terms with the fact that that it is over… for now at least, anyway. Pardon me while I weep.
Wait! Before you go please know that I have spoken my peace. If you decide to forego my warnings or forget my plight do not be surprised when you end up like me. Sorry. I truly am, but someone had to let you know....as that Mark Whatley character never does!
:I have gone a little nuts since I went wheeling in Alaska. Life will never be the same for me. An illness seeped into my soul this past summer and I didn’t even realize it at the time. I have been forever changed. It is now my obligation to spread the word before it is too late.
That Mark Whatley. I’m surprised he is not a world-renowned artist because he is an excellent painter. Through his tales of drowning rigs and driving on glaciers he portrays countless tales of a beautiful, remarkable place known as Alaska. But, he fails miserably at telling you the truth. I know better now. Before you jump into your Cruiser for the long drive north to Alaska you need to know something he conveniently forgets to mention in the information package he sends out… and it’s something you will not typically discover on your own until you have left the pavement far behind.
Ready? Gather round. It is something very simple. It is the truth - I cannot lie. You will change. It simply cannot be helped. Whether or not you can actually handle the change is another thing. Before you commit to such a life altering experience make sure that you are up for what is in store for you in the months, years and decades to come. The changes are indescribable. Essentially, the experience will wreak havoc on all your future adventures. Nothing will ever compare to this trip. You’ll dream about Alaska. You’ll think about Alaska. You will talk non-stop about Alaska - most sentences will start with “And one time, in Alaska….” Sadly, upon your return, every time you jump in your Cruiser to go out wheeling, a little bit of sadness will cast itself over the day as you’ll know that there is a place you would rather be…. Yes, Alaska. And most importantly, you need to know that there is no cure. Least, that’s what the doctors ‘round these parts tell me. All you can do is learn to cope with the illness.
For me, coping has been a very hard struggle. As it turns out, a little bit more of Alaska got into my veins every time I was bitten by one of those giant Alaskan mosquitoes. It has been over four months and not a day goes by that I do not feel restless. I’m ruined. I'm distraught.
I recently returned from a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. Prior to Alaska I would have been thrilled with the prospect of such a trip. Instead, I caught myself growing irritated with the worst kind of sensory overload. It felt a lot like a mall in the weeks before Christmas. I would trade a set of mouse ears for a handful of muddy Alaskan bog in a heartbeat. I’d trade the onslaught of tourists for the odd caribou herd and the man made ponds and artificial lawns for the glacial fed streams and wild flowers. Alaska is a spa for the senses; no annoying cell phone ring tones, bells, buzzers or people who talk too much to hear; no computer screens or urban ugliness to look at; only fresh fish and berries to taste, pure mountain water to drink and clean mountain air and blossoming flowers to smell. Oh, what memories I have!
But, all is not lost. Living in a post-Alaska state is not all bad. My friends find it odd that I now spend most of my time sitting in my Cruiser in the garage. I suspect they think it even odder that I have converted the garage into a mini Alaska sanctuary where I painted pictures of Alaska on the walls, a bright blue sky with billowing clouds on the ceiling and silhouetted monoliths and rose colored glaciers illuminated by a sun that never quite sets. Perhaps the weirdest is where I’ve replaced the concrete floor with a miniature muskeg bog. The floor was the hardest of all the changes I made to the garage and I doubt it will do much for my resale value but I am happy with the end result. I do not dare let my friends in on my best-kept secret though – they would have me committed if they knew. But, I know you can keep a secret. Sometimes I will deliberately break things on my rig just so that I can fix it up again without any of the proper tools. Yes, I would put MacGuyver to shame with my new found knowledge. I have taken to performing all my maintenance using only a Leatherman and an assortment of rocks. You can call me weird, a little possessed or unstable perhaps, but I am happy as can be given my inflicted circumstances.
Would I go to Alaska again if I knew how it would all turn out? You ask. Yes. Definitely. In a heartbeat. Unfortunately, after planning the trip for over six years it is hard to come to terms with the fact that that it is over… for now at least, anyway. Pardon me while I weep.
Wait! Before you go please know that I have spoken my peace. If you decide to forego my warnings or forget my plight do not be surprised when you end up like me. Sorry. I truly am, but someone had to let you know....as that Mark Whatley character never does!
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Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
- Thread starter
- #433
Wow... I had forgotten this piece.. Alaska caught me the same way 25 years ago. And I never left.
This summer will be the The Rat's third visit. Third of many I suspect. Too may trails to follow, ridges to hike, valleys to explore, pictures to take and places to simply BE. She is right.... be careful. For some of us it is an addictive place.
Oh Yeah... another warning... her thoughts on repairing with leatherman tools and rocks... sometimes rocks are really really not the right tool...
She tells the story a bit more harshly than I do.... so I will leave it to her to entertain you with it.
Mark...
This summer will be the The Rat's third visit. Third of many I suspect. Too may trails to follow, ridges to hike, valleys to explore, pictures to take and places to simply BE. She is right.... be careful. For some of us it is an addictive place.
Oh Yeah... another warning... her thoughts on repairing with leatherman tools and rocks... sometimes rocks are really really not the right tool...
She tells the story a bit more harshly than I do.... so I will leave it to her to entertain you with it.
Mark...
matt.mcinnes
2F-ETI
Looking at this point like my empty set will be taken, my dad's considering flying into LA from the UK. He retires at 65 next March, mum's defiantly flying into Oz to mind my 16 year old daughter while I'm away.
Must start work on my rear bar too
Must start work on my rear bar too
As a supplement to my post 343, please let me know if anybody is interested in driving the Haul Road, North to Deadhorse. Commercial truckers can make the approx 500 mile trip from Fairbanks to Deadhorse in 14 hours. Obviously recreational travelers will want to take significantly longer.
An affiliate ,of an affiliate, of an affiliate, of a sister company, of the company I work for . . . sells fuel, runs the only "hotel" in Deadhorse, and operates the bus that takes visitors the final distance to the Arctic Ocean. (private vehicles cannot drive the last few miles through the oilfields)
I probably cannot get any special deals, but I can at least make sure there are warm sheets and welcoming arms to fall into @ the end of the Haul Road.
This is not really a tourist destination, just an industrial park. Probably only of interest to those that have the tip of North America, or a swim in the Arctic Ocean on their "bucket list". (or if you want a spiffy certificate to the Polar Bear Club for swimming in the Artic Ocean, or a certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle)
As with any of the suggested side trips, much more research should be done before any of the trips are undertaken.
An affiliate ,of an affiliate, of an affiliate, of a sister company, of the company I work for . . . sells fuel, runs the only "hotel" in Deadhorse, and operates the bus that takes visitors the final distance to the Arctic Ocean. (private vehicles cannot drive the last few miles through the oilfields)
I probably cannot get any special deals, but I can at least make sure there are warm sheets and welcoming arms to fall into @ the end of the Haul Road.
This is not really a tourist destination, just an industrial park. Probably only of interest to those that have the tip of North America, or a swim in the Arctic Ocean on their "bucket list". (or if you want a spiffy certificate to the Polar Bear Club for swimming in the Artic Ocean, or a certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle)
As with any of the suggested side trips, much more research should be done before any of the trips are undertaken.
wow. i'm not weeping, but i literally have tears falling from my eyes and an empty, sick feeling in my belly at the thought of not being able to experience such an epic adventure... i have only dreamed of such places.Mark... here's a copy of that "After AK" thing I wrote in 2007. Pasquale's comment that he thinks of AK every day made me go looking for this. Perhaps he can relate a little
I have gone a little nuts since I went wheeling in Alaska. Life will never be the same for me. An illness seeped into my soul this past summer and I didn’t even realize it at the time. I have been forever changed. It is now my obligation to spread the word before it is too late.
That Mark Whatley. I’m surprised he is not a world-renowned artist because he is an excellent painter. Through his tales of drowning rigs and driving on glaciers he portrays countless tales of a beautiful, remarkable place known as Alaska. But, he fails miserably at telling you the truth. I know better now. Before you jump into your Cruiser for the long drive north to Alaska you need to know something he conveniently forgets to mention in the information package he sends out… and it’s something you will not typically discover on your own until you have left the pavement far behind.
Ready? Gather round. It is something very simple. It is the truth - I cannot lie. You will change. It simply cannot be helped. Whether or not you can actually handle the change is another thing. Before you commit to such a life altering experience make sure that you are up for what is in store for you in the months, years and decades to come. The changes are indescribable. Essentially, the experience will wreak havoc on all your future adventures. Nothing will ever compare to this trip. You’ll dream about Alaska. You’ll think about Alaska. You will talk non-stop about Alaska - most sentences will start with “And one time, in Alaska….” Sadly, upon your return, every time you jump in your Cruiser to go out wheeling, a little bit of sadness will cast itself over the day as you’ll know that there is a place you would rather be…. Yes, Alaska. And most importantly, you need to know that there is no cure. Least, that’s what the doctors ‘round these parts tell me. All you can do is learn to cope with the illness.
For me, coping has been a very hard struggle. As it turns out, a little bit more of Alaska got into my veins every time I was bitten by one of those giant Alaskan mosquitoes. It has been over four months and not a day goes by that I do not feel restless. I’m ruined. I'm distraught.
I recently returned from a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. Prior to Alaska I would have been thrilled with the prospect of such a trip. Instead, I caught myself growing irritated with the worst kind of sensory overload. It felt a lot like a mall in the weeks before Christmas. I would trade a set of mouse ears for a handful of muddy Alaskan bog in a heartbeat. I’d trade the onslaught of tourists for the odd caribou herd and the man made ponds and artificial lawns for the glacial fed streams and wild flowers. Alaska is a spa for the senses; no annoying cell phone ring tones, bells, buzzers or people who talk too much to hear; no computer screens or urban ugliness to look at; only fresh fish and berries to taste, pure mountain water to drink and clean mountain air and blossoming flowers to smell. Oh, what memories I have!
But, all is not lost. Living in a post-Alaska state is not all bad. My friends find it odd that I now spend most of my time sitting in my Cruiser in the garage. I suspect they think it even odder that I have converted the garage into a mini Alaska sanctuary where I painted pictures of Alaska on the walls, a bright blue sky with billowing clouds on the ceiling and silhouetted monoliths and rose colored glaciers illuminated by a sun that never quite sets. Perhaps the weirdest is where I’ve replaced the concrete floor with a miniature muskeg bog. The floor was the hardest of all the changes I made to the garage and I doubt it will do much for my resale value but I am happy with the end result. I do not dare let my friends in on my best-kept secret though – they would have me committed if they knew. But, I know you can keep a secret. Sometimes I will deliberately break things on my rig just so that I can fix it up again without any of the proper tools. Yes, I would put MacGuyver to shame with my new found knowledge. I have taken to performing all my maintenance using only a Leatherman and an assortment of rocks. You can call me weird, a little possessed or unstable perhaps, but I am happy as can be given my inflicted circumstances.
Would I go to Alaska again if I knew how it would all turn out? You ask. Yes. Definitely. In a heartbeat. Unfortunately, after planning the trip for over six years it is hard to come to terms with the fact that that it is over… for now at least, anyway. Pardon me while I weep.
Wait! Before you go please know that I have spoken my peace. If you decide to forego my warnings or forget my plight do not be surprised when you end up like me. Sorry. I truly am, but someone had to let you know....as that Mark Whatley character never does!
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Clutchee
I'm fun sized!
I still remember getting ready to rip into you for ignoring the line I was trying to put you on in Yacko Creek... and then realizing that with your manual steering you simply could not make the turn. I felt bad... for about 10 seconds until "Grumpy a******" mode took over again
Mark...
I thought I would show everyone those moments
Yeah I sure remember that river crossing...BTW for anyone else, make sure that you have "easy" tow points in the front. Something I failed to ensure before getting caught in that predicament. Yeah the lack of PS definitely made things a lot different.I still remember getting ready to rip into you for ignoring the line I was trying to put you on in Yacko Creek... and then realizing that with your manual steering you simply could not make the turn. I felt bad... for about 10 seconds until "Grumpy a******" mode took over again
I thought I would show everyone those moments
Clutchee, I am still waiting to see the rest of your collection...maybe a swap in Edmonton as you head up to Alaska?
pismojim
the Dude abides...
This is EXACTLY what I had hoped to expereince at ACT 2001 ! ! !
Sitting, er, standing on the seat, in my cruiser, deep in a mud hole, with James Brown singing 'I Feel Good' in my head.
Greg comes to the rescue - again.
Sitting, er, standing on the seat, in my cruiser, deep in a mud hole, with James Brown singing 'I Feel Good' in my head.
Greg comes to the rescue - again.
pismojim
the Dude abides...
Every cruiserhead loves a rescue mission but Alaskans (and some Canadians) passion for racing to rescue stuck or broken rigs is amazing.
I thought I'd try my hand at it and quickly became the third stuck rig. There were four stuck before it was over, all cabled and strapped with guitar string taught lines.
Does it get better than this?
I thought I'd try my hand at it and quickly became the third stuck rig. There were four stuck before it was over, all cabled and strapped with guitar string taught lines.
Does it get better than this?
