The following article is an example of the article that students are expected to write for the Cover Shots Magazine Project. This article will also serve as a revision and editing exercise as it has not been revised or proofread.
Traveling the Haul Road
by Mark Toci
P1
Completed in 1974, the Dalton Highway is one of the most isolated and dangerous roads in the world. Sometimes referred to as the Haul Road, the Dalton Highway is a primitive gravel road that begins in Fiarbanks, Alaska and ends at Deadhorse near the Arctic Ocean and Purdhoe Bay. The road was built to supply and support the Trans Alaska Pipeline. Along its 414 miles there are only three towns: Coldfoot, Wiseman, and Deadhorse. None of these towns have a permanent population of more than 25 people.
Completed in 1974, the Dalton Highway is one of the most isolated and dangerous roads in the world. Sometimes referred to as the Haul Road, the Dalton Highway is a primitive gravel road that begins in Fiarbanks, Alaska and ends at Deadhorse near the Arctic Ocean and Purdhoe Bay. The road was built to supply and support the Trans Alaska Pipeline. Along its 414 miles there are only three towns: Coldfoot, Wiseman, and Deadhorse. None of these towns have a permanent population of more than 25 people.
P2
My journey up the Dalton Highway would stat in Anchorage. This would add 138 miles to my trip before setting tire on the actual Dalton Highway. For this trip, I would be trading in my big BMW GS1200 for a much more nimble KLR650. After landing in Anchorage, I found my way to MotoQuest headquarters to pick up my bike. The people at MotoQuest were extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and quick. Within two hours, I was geared up, caffeened up, saddled up, and ready to ride.
P3
Pulling out of the MotoQuest parking lot, I point my bike north to my first waypoint, Denali National Park and Mount Mckinnley. A four hour ride would bring me to the base of one of the most majestic mountain in the World. The Denali National Park provides many things to do but my focus was riding, and I skirted the base of Denali and found my way to Camp Denali. Camp Denali would be my first and last luxury accommodation. I ate local foods for dinner paired with a great view of the mountain and slept in a rustic and comfortable cabin. After a comfortable night, I mounted up and left Denali behind. Next stop was Fairbanks and the Dalton Highway.
P4
The Dalton Highway begins just North of Fairbanks, and at mile 60 along the highway, you arrive at Pump Station 6. At one time there were ten pump stations along the highway. There are now 6, and Pump Station 6 is the southern most operating station. The station has a number of information placards that remind you that the Dalton Highway was built to serve the oil fields further north and provide access to the pipeline that moves oil south. You can also learn about the Pipeline Pigs. These are massive torpedo shaped tools that are used to clean the pipeline. Finally, you are also introduced to the swarms of mosquitos that will accompany you for the remainder of the trip. To protect from the constant barrage of mosquitos, I took to wearing something that looked not unlike a beekeepers hat, the kind that has netting that covers your face and neck.
P5
Milepost 115 is the point at which the sun can constantly stay above or below the horizon depending up on the time of year. I had reached the Arctic Circle. A large sign and a small parking lot highlight the fact that you are crossing into the Arctic. A few pictures and a short look around and I was back on the road. Next stop Coldfoot.
P6
Just shy of halfway up the Dalton Highway, at milepost 175, is Coldfoot. Originally a mining camp, Coldfoot is currently home to about ten people, a restaurant, a service station, and more than a lot of mosquitos t Back in 1902, it was home to seven saloons, a gambling house, a post office, and miners. Back to today, and most importantly for me, Coldfoot would be the last service station I would see until Deadhorse, 240 miles north.
P7
Back on the bike, I took a brief detour off of the highway to visit the town of Wiseman. Founded in 1908 by gold miners, Wiseman is about 3 miles off of the Dalton Highway. There are still gold miners in Wiseman and I was lucky enough to meet up with a miner that was willing to show me his operation. John was not a man panning for gold in a river. His operation involved large earthmovers and a considerable change of the landscape. Despite the big machinery, a visit to Wiseman will give you a real sense of what it was and is like to live on the frontier in Alaska.
P8
Pushing on, I came to the foot of Atigun Pass, made famous by the TV series Ice Road Truckers. Atigun Pass is a high mountain pass through the Brooks Range. With grades of up 12 percent, the Pass is a challenging ride on a good day. On a bad day, it can be terrifying. I hit the Pass on a good day and was rewarded with some incredible sites. As you climb the Pass you are riding parallel to the Arctic Natural Wildlife Reserve. This is the largest wildlife refuge in the county covering over 19 million acres.
P9
Having crossed the Atigun Pass, at milepost 334, I was greeted, to my surprise, with a sign that read Welcome to Happy Valley. My hometown, State College, PA, is affectionately known as Happy Valley. Happy Valley, PA is in the middle of Pennsylvania and is home to Penn State. It is also home to a lot of wildlife including Black Bears. Happy Valley, Alaska is also home to a lot of wildlife, including bears, Grizzly Bears.
P10
Coming up over a small rise in the road, I found myself face to face with a Grizzly Bear. Stopping my bike, I reached for my camera. Unfortunately, my bulky gloves would not allow me to easily dig the camera out of my pocket and work the camera, and taking the gloves off did not seem prudent given that I might need to make a quick getaway. By the time I finally got my camera out and was ready to take a picture, the Grizzly was wondering off into the tundra. I did get a picture of the Grizzly. It looks not unlike a picture of a groundhog.
P11
At milepost 414 I had arrived a Deadhorse, Alaska and the end of the Dalton Highway. After the emptiness of much of the Haul Road, Deadhorse seems like Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Deadhorse is made of the facilities, infrastructure, and people necessary to support the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay. Upon arrival in Deadhorse I made my way to the Arctic Ocean. Ignoring the very real threat of being eaten by a Polar Bear, I jumped out of my riding gear and jumped into the Arctic Ocean. Yes it is as cold as you think it is, but it was worth it to be able to say that I had swam in the Arctic Ocean.
P12
The Dalton Highway provided me with an amazing riding experience and a fantastic adventure, and there are many more stories to be told about my trip, but I am running out of time and words. Just know that for the advanced rider with a sense of adventure, the Dalton Highway is a destination that should be high on your list.
Completed in 1974, the Dalton Highway is one of the most isolated and dangerous roads in the world. Sometimes referred to as the Haul Road, the Dalton Highway is a primitive gravel road that begins in Fiarbanks, Alaska and ends at Deadhorse near the Arctic Ocean and Purdhoe Bay. The road was built to supply and support the Trans Alaska Pipeline. Along its 414 miles there are only three towns: Coldfoot, Wiseman, and Deadhorse. None of these towns have a permanent population of more than 25 people.
Completed in 1974, the Dalton Highway is one of the most isolated and dangerous roads in the world. Sometimes referred to as the Haul Road, the Dalton Highway is a primitive gravel road that begins in Fiarbanks, Alaska and ends at Deadhorse near the Arctic Ocean and Purdhoe Bay. The road was built to supply and support the Trans Alaska Pipeline. Along its 414 miles there are only three towns: Coldfoot, Wiseman, and Deadhorse. None of these towns have a permanent population of more than 25 people.
P2
My journey up the Dalton Highway would stat in Anchorage. This would add 138 miles to my trip before setting tire on the actual Dalton Highway. For this trip, I would be trading in my big BMW GS1200 for a much more nimble KLR650. After landing in Anchorage, I found my way to MotoQuest headquarters to pick up my bike. The people at MotoQuest were extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and quick. Within two hours, I was geared up, caffeened up, saddled up, and ready to ride.
P3
Pulling out of the MotoQuest parking lot, I point my bike north to my first waypoint, Denali National Park and Mount Mckinnley. A four hour ride would bring me to the base of one of the most majestic mountain in the World. The Denali National Park provides many things to do but my focus was riding, and I skirted the base of Denali and found my way to Camp Denali. Camp Denali would be my first and last luxury accommodation. I ate local foods for dinner paired with a great view of the mountain and slept in a rustic and comfortable cabin. After a comfortable night, I mounted up and left Denali behind. Next stop was Fairbanks and the Dalton Highway.
P4
The Dalton Highway begins just North of Fairbanks, and at mile 60 along the highway, you arrive at Pump Station 6. At one time there were ten pump stations along the highway. There are now 6, and Pump Station 6 is the southern most operating station. The station has a number of information placards that remind you that the Dalton Highway was built to serve the oil fields further north and provide access to the pipeline that moves oil south. You can also learn about the Pipeline Pigs. These are massive torpedo shaped tools that are used to clean the pipeline. Finally, you are also introduced to the swarms of mosquitos that will accompany you for the remainder of the trip. To protect from the constant barrage of mosquitos, I took to wearing something that looked not unlike a beekeepers hat, the kind that has netting that covers your face and neck.
P5
Milepost 115 is the point at which the sun can constantly stay above or below the horizon depending up on the time of year. I had reached the Arctic Circle. A large sign and a small parking lot highlight the fact that you are crossing into the Arctic. A few pictures and a short look around and I was back on the road. Next stop Coldfoot.
P6
Just shy of halfway up the Dalton Highway, at milepost 175, is Coldfoot. Originally a mining camp, Coldfoot is currently home to about ten people, a restaurant, a service station, and more than a lot of mosquitos t Back in 1902, it was home to seven saloons, a gambling house, a post office, and miners. Back to today, and most importantly for me, Coldfoot would be the last service station I would see until Deadhorse, 240 miles north.
P7
Back on the bike, I took a brief detour off of the highway to visit the town of Wiseman. Founded in 1908 by gold miners, Wiseman is about 3 miles off of the Dalton Highway. There are still gold miners in Wiseman and I was lucky enough to meet up with a miner that was willing to show me his operation. John was not a man panning for gold in a river. His operation involved large earthmovers and a considerable change of the landscape. Despite the big machinery, a visit to Wiseman will give you a real sense of what it was and is like to live on the frontier in Alaska.
P8
Pushing on, I came to the foot of Atigun Pass, made famous by the TV series Ice Road Truckers. Atigun Pass is a high mountain pass through the Brooks Range. With grades of up 12 percent, the Pass is a challenging ride on a good day. On a bad day, it can be terrifying. I hit the Pass on a good day and was rewarded with some incredible sites. As you climb the Pass you are riding parallel to the Arctic Natural Wildlife Reserve. This is the largest wildlife refuge in the county covering over 19 million acres.
P9
Having crossed the Atigun Pass, at milepost 334, I was greeted, to my surprise, with a sign that read Welcome to Happy Valley. My hometown, State College, PA, is affectionately known as Happy Valley. Happy Valley, PA is in the middle of Pennsylvania and is home to Penn State. It is also home to a lot of wildlife including Black Bears. Happy Valley, Alaska is also home to a lot of wildlife, including bears, Grizzly Bears.
P10
Coming up over a small rise in the road, I found myself face to face with a Grizzly Bear. Stopping my bike, I reached for my camera. Unfortunately, my bulky gloves would not allow me to easily dig the camera out of my pocket and work the camera, and taking the gloves off did not seem prudent given that I might need to make a quick getaway. By the time I finally got my camera out and was ready to take a picture, the Grizzly was wondering off into the tundra. I did get a picture of the Grizzly. It looks not unlike a picture of a groundhog.
P11
At milepost 414 I had arrived a Deadhorse, Alaska and the end of the Dalton Highway. After the emptiness of much of the Haul Road, Deadhorse seems like Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Deadhorse is made of the facilities, infrastructure, and people necessary to support the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay. Upon arrival in Deadhorse I made my way to the Arctic Ocean. Ignoring the very real threat of being eaten by a Polar Bear, I jumped out of my riding gear and jumped into the Arctic Ocean. Yes it is as cold as you think it is, but it was worth it to be able to say that I had swam in the Arctic Ocean.
P12
The Dalton Highway provided me with an amazing riding experience and a fantastic adventure, and there are many more stories to be told about my trip, but I am running out of time and words. Just know that for the advanced rider with a sense of adventure, the Dalton Highway is a destination that should be high on your list.