Arctic Circle via Motorcycle - arcticmoto

Even though motorcyclists make this trek all the time (albeit an excessively small percentage), there are risks involved and it's not an easy journey. I'm just trying to get a feel for if anyone even has any interest in such a trip, if you're capable, and willing. I need at least one rider to join me, but two or three would be even better. I'm not Ewan McGregor, I do not have the resources for a full support crew, nor do I have an abundant surplus of cash to throw at whatever problems may arise. I need to keep this trip budget minded. Multiple riders help share the expense, and support each other when things go wrong (and something will go wrong, trust me).

Back in the Fall/Winter of 2004, I got a crazy idea and decided that I wanted to ride North of the Arctic Circle on a motorcycle. It was originally my intent to do this through Nunavut Canada as I felt this was the shortest distance to accomplish the task. After doing some research though, I quickly discovered that this was not a good idea as the roads virtually melt away in the Spring. So, the only real way to ride North of the Arctic Circle, is through Alaska. The only trouble with that, is that it's an 8000 mile round trip and that's if you make a bee-line across Canada there and back (but who is gonna do that?). Realistically, if you're doing any real travels, it's more like a 10k trip or more. I mentioned this trip to a few of my travel buddies. They all thought I was insane.

So in 2005, I tried to make it happen but it just didn't work out. I honestly thought that I could do it in 17 days (two weeks, three weekends, and the July 4th holiday). The more planning I did and the closer time came, the more I realized that I was going to need more time. Not to mention that the trip was becoming more and more complex (ie: a set of tires would not make it though the whole trip), and I could not convince any of my friends into making the trip with me.

In 2006, I decided to take my employer up on an offer they had been extending to me for several years, that if I ever needed more time than what I had in vacation, that I could take it off without pay. I asked, and it was approved. I began planning my trip, again. Then my employer caught wind of what I was planning to do on my time off. I was called into a meeting and informed that a "Motorcycle Trip" was not what they had intended, and I was denied the time. So another year, down the drain. None of my friends wanted to go with me anyway.

In 2007, I looked into making this trip again using what vacation time I had available to me. It was my plan to strategically take vacation time around the 4th of July holiday, to stretch out the time I needed. It was also my plan to call in to my employer if I was unable to make it back within the time that I had. Another employee had done it recently while on vacation, so I figured I could get away with it too (better to ask for forgiveness than permission, right?). In the end, I decided against it. I decided to play ball, walk the straight line, and wait until my 10th Anniversary with my employer so that I could obtain an extra week of vacation. I knew that it would not happen before that.

In 2008, I found myself without a job. Now I had all the time in the world, but without a steady income and a host of other uncertainties, I was very reserved with any attempts in making the trip. I was was still open to the possibility though, and even bought a 2008 edition of "The Milepost" (Alaskan travel guide). I had a couple travel companions lined up, but as time approached, no one was willing to go through with it. Probably just as well. The lack of income, not to mention that fuel was $4/gal, would not have been a wise "Investment" of my time. Another year, gone.

The Spring of 2009, I said "Why bother?". In fact, I pretty much decided that this trip just wasn't going to happen. Ever. Too complex, too expensive, and quite frankly... I just wasn't sure if I was even up to it myself anymore. I didn't even bother trying to recruit friends to go. As the window of opportunity came and went this past Summer, I vaguely looked at the possibility but made no sincere attempts at it. I was just too busy with family activities anyway.

Five years after I originally said I wanted to make this trip and I'm nowhere closer to making it than what I was in 2004. So this came up in conversation with my wife a few weeks ago. We were talking about the fact that I'm turning 40 later this month (she likes to continually remind me of this). I had mentioned that I had hoped (and expected) to make it to Alaska (and the Arctic Circle) before this event, but now found it very unlikely that I would ever make it. She disagreed, and suggested that I take all of July and just do it.

So here I am. It is still a complicated and potentially expensive trip, but with my wife's encouragement, I'm considering it again. I'm not only considering it, I'm planning on it. I believe that I can do this trip in 3 weeks, but am leaving the 4th week open as a possibility (willing to take the whole month of July) if needed. My friends still think I'm insane. Many of my riding friends do not believe it can be done in three weeks and most say that they just can't be gone that long.

I would need to change tires somewhere along the way. I have connections in Edson, Alberta (tools, support, a meal and place to sleep) which I would use on my return route, and probably on the way up too. I would want to camp as much as I could (or sleep on a Rest Area bench, or whatever I need to do) in order to keep lodging expenses to a minimum (every night in a hotel would be very expensive). Would still need to get a cheap hotel periodically though, as I just don't think I could camp every night. There are LOTS of details to be worked out, and preparations to be made.