Alaska Motorcycle Tours by Alaska Rider Tours

Alaska Woman Rider Tour

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Dates:
June 1 - 8, 2003
8 days (6 riding days)

Join adventuresome women from all over, as we ride Alaska! We have chosen the Prince William Sound Tour Route for its varied scenery and riding options. Cross over and through three distinct mountains ranges, explore the ghost town of Kennicott in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (Alaska's most beautiful, I think), and cross pristine Prince William Sound by ferry.....truly a week well spent in Alaska!! This tour is exclusively for women, and we are proud to present Cheryl Westfall as our guide for this tour. This is the first year we have done this, and it should be a blast! We will be mixing up the itinerary: with 6 nights B&B and two nights camping. We are also making a special price, and offering the Yamaha XT 225 as one of our motorcycles for this trip at a discounted rate.

The Prince William Sound Tour Route

This is an eight day/ seven night tour starting and ending in Girdwood (40 miles south of Anchorage). Six nights of the tour will be spent in a comfortable B&B (or equivalent) with the remaining 2 nights spent camping along the tour route. This is our most popular tour which includes an entire day crossing Prince William Sound on the M/V Bartlett (Alaska Marine Highway Ferry) past glaciers, mountains, pristine forests, and abundant marine wildlife. We also spend a day and night in Wrangell-St.Elias National Park (America's Largest) visiting the copper mining ruins of Kennicott. Other highlights include beautiful Thompson Pass outside of Valdez, a chance to touch various glaciers, and a ride along the Alaska Range on the Denali Highway. During the six days of the tour we cover a total of 820 miles, 600 miles of that being paved, and 220 miles of dirt.

About our guide

Cheryl Westfall has been teaching street and dirt motorcycle riders safety since 1986. As a certified California Motorcycle Safety Instructor, she has been teaching the guidelines structured by the state of California and the California Highway Patrol both in the classroom and in a parking lot setting, maintaining motorcycle safety standards. She has also worked in conjunction with Motoventures, Inc and American Honda Corp. as a dirt bike coach. Whether on the sealed roads, or off the beaten track, Cheryl just loves to ride. Alaska Rider Tours is proud to have her on staff for the Alaska Woman Rider Tour this summer!

Itinerary

Day 1: Sunday, June 1
Arrival in Anchorage, Alaska. Transportation provided to Girdwood. Short familiarization ride and welcome dinner.Stay in Girdwood at a Bed and Breakfast. (3 star)

Day 2: Monday, June 2
Ride winding coastline highway to Anchorage, and on to Trapper Creek Area. View of Mt McKinley possible this day.Overnight in a Bed & Breakfast (3star). (200mi)

Day 3: Tuesday, June 3
Ride Broad Pass with breathtaking alpine scenery. Enjoy the Denali Highway with sweeping views of the Alaska Range. Overnight mid-way on the Denali Highway at a family-run roadhouse called Gracious House (3 star). (180mi/52mi gravel)

Day 4: Wednesday, June 4
Ride above the tree line and enjoy the peaks and glaciers of the Alaska Range and Wrangell Mountains. Camp in the Kenny Lake/Chitina area. (192mi/83mi dirt)

Day 5: Thursday, June 5
Ride to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, featuring 9 of the 16 tallest peaks in North America. Sweeping views of wild rivers and mountains. Visit Kennicott copper mine and former ghost town, overlooking the spectacular Kennicott glacier. Hike around the buildings and glacier. Return to Kenny Lake/Chitina area. Dinner TBD. Camp at Kenny Lake. (120mi gravel/30mi paved)

Day 6: Friday, June 6
Ride to Valdez through Thompson Pass (elev. 2,678 ft.) with jagged mountains, winding road, and massive glaciers. Explore Worthington Glacier. Wind through narrow Keystone Canyon with cascading waterfalls, rock walls, and sharp turns. Salmon fish or explore Valdez. Dinner TBD. Overnight at Bed & Breakfast (3 star). (97mi)

Day 7: Saturday, June 7th
Cross Prince William Sound via ferry to Whittier. Enjoy the gorgeous Chugach National Forest. Pass the Columbia Glacier, one of the largest tide water glaciers in the world. Ride to Girdwood. Drop off bikes. Farewell Dinner at the finest restaurant in Alaska. Overnight at Bed & Breakfast (3 star). (TBDmi)

Day 8: Sunday, June 8th
Transportation to airport or hotel in Anchorage. (40mi)

Estimated tour distance: 820 mi.

Tour notes

Price:
Rider: $2,800 with Yamaha XT 225, $2,900 with Kawasaki KLR 650 or Suzuki DR 650;

Private Room Upgrade:
$200

Motorcycle Fleet:
Kawasaki KLR 650,Suzuki DR 650 and Yamaha XT 225 (basic, included in price)

Upgrades include:
BMW F650GS - $240

Price includes:
2 tour guides, basic motorcycle (upgrades possible), airport transfers, hotels (delightfully comfortable lodgings with Alaskan charm; double occupancy), all camp equipment, all breakfasts, picnic lunches, 7 dinners, support/luggage vehicle and driver, maps, $120pp ferry passage, permit fee for Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and trip garment.

Not Included:
airfare, wine/beer/mixed drinks, tips, motorcycle fuel and pre-/post-trip hotel accommodations and dinners.