Professor Embarks on a Motorcycle Journey to Alaska’s Final Frontier

Last summer, Outdoor Recreation Economy professor and adventure motorcycle enthusiast Mark Gasta embarked on the trip of a lifetime. Gasta rode his bike Dora–named affectionately after the explorer–from Boulder, Colorado to Deadhorse, Alaska over 21 days with only his clothes, the gear in his packs and his friend Joe. Though no stranger to adventure, the trip presented its fair share of trials and weather, making for a story Gasta will recount fondly for years to come.  

From the outset, Gasta faced scorching temperatures and high winds crossing into Wyoming that quickly evolved into a rainstorm so fierce that cars were hydroplaning on the road. Thankfully, they found a motel in a small coal mining town just in time, settling in for a warm meal and rest before continuing on their journey.  

Their route through Montana was dotted with comforts from home–warm cups of coffee, lodge lunches and stops at friends' homes– along the way falling into what Gasta described as a “magical rhythm.”  

The pair crossed into Canada on July 4th, marking the end of the US portion of the trip until they would eventually cross into Alaska on Day 10.  

The Canadian portion of the trip comprised over half of the total distance Gasta would cover and offered viewpoints and vistas all along the way. From enjoying poutine on a sunny day in Canmore to enjoying countless remote miles on the Cassiar Highway in British Columbia, Gasta connected with scores of fellow travelers hailing from Germany to Atlanta, all with their own unique stories to tell.  

After exchanging pleasantries with locals in Whitehorse, it was time to cross back into the US and venture onwards through Alaska. This final stretch of gravel was rife with wildlands, wildlife and wildflowers to boot. Midway through the state, the notably smoother Alcan Highway merges with the Dalton, known for its rough roads and mud.  

Thankfully for the pair, they awoke to a morning out of a storybook–65 degrees and sunny, with a full view of Denali on the horizon. While not entirely uneventful thanks to vast construction operations going on as they ventured North, Gasta and his partner made it to Coldfoot unscathed. They were almost there!  

The final days of their trip brought them through the winding Brooks Range, which Gasta noted was “as green as Ireland, but with big mountains,” before dropping down into the Tundra on which they would stay for the remainder of their trip on their journey to Deadhorse.  

Arriving at the “end” of their trip–which was only the halfway point before turning around– was a time of reflection for Gasta, who thought of all the people he had met over the prior two weeks.  From Germans traveling in a Class A motorhome for over eight years, to a motorcyclist on a 24-month around-the-world trip who previously had never ridden a bike, his stories were endless.  

Some of Gasta’s biggest takeaways, though? First, don’t rest on your laurels and second, it is often better to be lucky than good. From weather to timing construction work, Gasta and Joe completed their trip successfully within the month, intact and ready to share their adventures with friends and family. Together, they experienced their first musk ox sighting, ate Mexican food in Alberta and waited out many a rainstorm in a teepee before returning home to Boulder where they could reflect on the experience and prepare for all their adventures that are sure to come.