We want to do it in our UZJ100 pulling our "ruggedized" pop-up trailer. Do you see any issues with the trailer? The 100 is well set up for high speed gravel roads, we do trips that run into hundreds of miles of dirt and gravel road frequently.
Not at all. Let's see... what would you probably like to be aware of in advance?
On a motorcycle the biggest deal for me has always been conditions. In a truck that wouldn't really matter at all.
Atigun Pass can snow in the middle of the summer and once you get north of Atigun the weather can be dramatically different from one day to the next.
You'll find Atigun to be steep with a hard right at the top. If the weather has been bad so will that section of road. Especially at the top and in the corner.
If there's a big rig on the road he's working, not sightseeing, and it's best to give him a wide berth. There are random sections of pavement along that road but over 90% of it's gravel and you'll ding your windshield for sure.
I wouldn't take a trailer all the way myself. I'd plan on having something to eat at the Hill Top Cafe where the haul road sort of 'starts'. Stop at the river just to look around and know that they might have fuel but that's a really loose place and there might be somebody there or there might not. Door will probably be open though. Don't be tempted if you find that to be the case. Alaskans are open hearted and trusting for the most part but they're also not inclined toward leniency in a crisis. Particularly out in the boonies.
Hill Top for fuel and something to eat. If you're bringing a camp trailer there's a campground just on the other side of the bridge (just north of Coldfoot) but you'll want to fuel up in Coldfoot for sure and check the mileage from there to PBay. I don't recall what it is but it's a ways and the next fuel is in Deadhorse (you can't drive to Prudhoe really as it's all privately leased oilfield property). There's almost nothing to do in Deadhorse so grab something to eat right after you fuel up and then head back out.
Best if you had left the camp trailer back at the campground, too.
It's pretty common for a grader to be working the road somewhere along the line. Where they're at the roadbed will be torn up. Several inches deep of very soft gravel. They often have an 18" high berm in the middle of the road when they're working it so if you get on the wrong side of it and a rig comes around the corner ahead of you... you're in a world of hurt.
It's pretty much a walk in the park. You'll want to get your pic against the sign at the Arctic Circle and maybe another one up high on the ridge at Finger Mountain (and use the head there). Blows like a Banshee through that section.
Watch for Pingos. Caribou, bear, musk ox, and the rest. If you're a connected bird of prey type person you may have a couple buddies that could clue you in regarding a pretty unusual mating pair along the road toward Deadhorse.
There's at least one brown bear there that is definitely not afraid of humans at all. A buddy and I were along the side of the road when you could see that bear running down the mountainside toward us. Looked like he was just goofing around but by the same token, I'm not a big fan of huge unpredictable carnivores so I strapped my stuff on, fired up the bike and motored.
My buddy is a huge and unpredictable carnivore and waited way longer than I ever would have. So long that at the last minute he didn't have time to put a lense on the bike before leaving. The bear picked it up in his mouth and slobbered the thing really bad but didn't bite down on it. Dorked around, spit it out and took off running again.
You'll see a lot. You'll be absolutely filthy. When you get back to Squarebanks be sure to wash the truck off, first. That calcium chloride stuff they use on the road is highly HIGHLY chorosive and welds itself onto any surface but particularly heated bits under your truck. Get it off for sure.
Me, KTM950, fireweed:
Finger Mountain:
Coldfoot is a dump but nobody ever said it wasn't.
Middle of Nowhere:
Plan on low visibility in stretches:
Prudhoe Bay Hotel:
Weather changes fast:
Unusual scenery everywhere:
