Alaska ATV

Diehard ATV riders

2009-11-09T20:27:00.001-09:00

Okay, I thought I was a diehard lover of getting out on the ATV whenever I could with my using it as my transportation to the store when possible, but a couple days ago my dad and I were driving along and there were people out riding their ATVs along the side of the road in 30 degree F weather. Mind you, if I had a good warm snowsuit I would love to do that too, but it was still a bit surprising to see people out riding ATVs so late in the year.

Repair Pal

2009-10-04T19:11:00.002-08:00

RepairPal can help you find out more about Seattle auto repair including tune up and oil change for your car or truck.

They offer unbiased repair estimates by independent repairmen, as well as user ratings and reviews: check out the page for the 2005 Acura TL for an example of their reviews, which include star rating system and reviews by people that have had experience with the cars.

Also be sure to check out the MyCar section, where you can manage your car's repairs and maintenance online in a secure and safe record keeping location provided free to use by RepairPal. The MyCar section provides service reminders and safety recall alerts and lets you create separate pages for each car you own. The only drawback I have found - it starts at 1990, so does not help me with our older model Cadillac cars.

Winter nears, ATV put away

2009-10-04T19:08:00.002-08:00

Winter is closing in and the ATV is getting put away until spring. I will miss being able to ride the lovely little ATV, but it is too cold in the winter time to go cruising to the store on the ATV. So, I have started getting it ready for winter storage and will have it put away and delegated to occasional road plowing, but not for use in store runs or anything like that until at least next spring.

Time to store ATV

2009-09-15T06:31:00.002-08:00

It is that time of year... time to get my poor little ATV all bundled up and tucked away into the shed for the winter. I really don't want to do it, but the thing is not exactly warm to ride in the colder fall and winter months. Wish I could take it to the store and stuff still, but I'd definately freeze doing that. so... time to tuck it in for a long winter's nap.

ATVing in Alaska - need to look up the rules

2009-07-24T15:40:00.000-08:00

I rode my ATV out to Wal-Mart night before last to grab some things, not enough to warrant taking a car, but the low cost of gas in the ATV made it a good evening ride to take.

As I was getting ready to leave the store a couple and their kids paused to talk to me, wanting to find out more about my riding the ATV to the store. Apparently they have a couple of ATVs, but like most people they don't consider them transportation and only used them for fishing and hunting. They said that they had no idea what the rules were about riding ATVs around in Alaska, particularly to the store or something.

That encounter got me to thinking about just that thing, so I am going to start doing some more in-depth looking into it and get some official stuff posted here and at AlaskaATV.info for everyone. I'm fairly sure what the laws are, but want to have fully official information rather than just share my "this is what I've experienced" info with folks.

Near Collision

2009-07-16T01:05:00.002-08:00

Driving over to the DMV this afternoon to get the Caddie re-registered for my dad, me and him were almost to the DMV when a big red pickup came out of a side road almost directly in front of us and then, the moron, slowed down! He was not far enough ahead to turn out in front of us to begin with and I had to hit the brakes, then the dipshit hits his brakes right in front of me. I'm trying to get that big old Caddie to stop and checking the rear view mirror expecting to be rear ended, but all I can see behind me is the smoke of my own tires trying to stop me like the burn-off at a drag race. Attention back on the idiot ahead of me, who's still braking as if he's fishing for the Cad to rear end him, and I am looking at the ditch thinking "I could floor it and head out there...." Just then the Cad responds to my efforts and stops. About one and a half lengths of it from where I had started silently telling it "STOP STOP STOP!!!!!"

Neither me or my dad thought to check the license plate number of the truck, but I sure wish we had got it. Big old russet red one, pulled out of a side road about half a block out on the State Fairgrounds side of the DMV in Palmer. I still don't know how we avoided hitting the sucker, but I'm really glad we missed him.

Sitting here now I'm looking around the Collision Repair Experts website and the little video gal walks out in response to my search query and apologizes that there are no matches to my zip (no matter what Alaskan zip I have so far tried). I tried entering "Alaska" in their search, without a city prefex, and got a suggestion of "ALAKANUK,AK" LOL! I find it highly amusing that out of all the cities in Alaska, they would suggest Alakanuk, which is way out in the middle of nowhere. And even better, "Alakanuk" is, I've been told, a Yup'ik word meaning "wrong way". There weren't any collision repair places there though. Guess it was the wrong way.

Collision Repair Experts is a website dedicated to creating a network of collision repair experts from auto body shops all across the States. So say someone needs a bodyshop in california (rather than Alaska, which does not seem to have anything listed yet), you just go to the website and enter your zip, or the City, State you want to search - say "Los Angeles, CA", and you get a listing of suggested shops in the area.

The shop listing includes information on how to get to the shop, complete with map, distance from the city you searched for, ratings, reviews, and a deal for helping you in making an appointment with the shop.

Other than not having any repair shops in Alaska currently listed, the site looks like a great place for locating collision repair experts, I'm just glad that I didn't have to locate one myself after this afternoon.

The 2010 Honda ATV's Are Coming!

2009-07-15T20:40:00.003-08:00

American Honda has announced the 2010 ATV and MUV! Check out the article in ATV Rider Magazine on the new 2010 Honda ATVs and MUV products.

The one I have on my "ohhhh I waaaaaant!" list is the Big Red. Be able to seat my dad beside me, the dogs in the back cargo area, and go cruising the ATV trails together checking out the lovely backwoods of Alaska. But... I'm thinking I probably won't be able to get one of them, since the manufacturers suggested retail is over $11,500.

Rain damages Maine ATV trails / ATV Christmas in July Toy Run

2009-07-14T23:19:00.003-08:00

I was looking at an article on a Maine TV news website about rains eroding the ATV trails in Maine, and there was a small bit at the end about the local club, Roxbury ATV Riders, having an ATV Christmas in July Toy Run. This seemed much more interesting to me, since I do not live in Maine, so I went looking a bit.

More information on the trail damages, and the upcoming (July 18th) ATV Christmas in July Toy Run, can be found in an article Rains wreak havoc with ATV trails on the Sun Journal website.

Adventures in ATVing

2009-06-24T13:30:00.003-08:00

I got to go on a nice long ATV ride on the 16th, my birthday. Rode out to the DMV over in Palmer to renew my driver's license. It was not easy to sort out getting from Wasilla to Palmer on an ATV, at least not when following the Parks Hwy. The overpass out at the Palmer cutoff was the stumbling point, although there was this one hill just before Wal-Mart...

I was cruising along following the ATV trail when suddenly the little ATV realized it was no longer on a reasonably angled slope. I ended up shutting it down as I pondered what to do. I was committed, could not back up, could only go on down the hill, but the trail had been cut in a set of grooves and trying to let the bike go either way caused a worse tilting in the angle it was at (already had rear uphill facing tire hovering a few inches off the ground). So, I finally ended up kicking down to neutral and sitting back on the cargo rack and over to the left all the way, as far in the uphill direction as I could get. One foot balancing me, the other braced down on the foot peg. One hand holding in the front brake on the left handlebar (could not reach the right handlebar. Even with brakes full on the bike wanted to creep down the hill when I put it in neutral, so there I am, hanging off the side of the bike keeping it from rolling, and braced to leap back if it did, creeping it to where it would roll safely down the hill.

Took about five feet before it began to level out, then I got more firmly onto the bike and let it finish going down the hill using both the hand and foot brakes (much easier to control). When I finally reached the bottom and got it stopped it would not start. ARRRGH!!!!

It only took me a few minutes before I realize in the weird acrobatics I had done to keep it from rolling I had accidentally flicked the ignition kill switch. Flicked that back into the start position and ATV fired right up.

Other than that, and a few "not this way..." back-up and try again entanglements I made it to Palmer without much trouble and got my license renewed.

Not much more than a bit of time to ride

2009-05-23T16:50:00.003-08:00

I got out on the ATV a couple of times this past week without getting the chance to post about it here, life just seemed to get rather chaotic at the time I was trying to get the posts up, but the important thing - for me - is that I managed to get out and ride. Did not get much free time other than to ride, but I did get the chance to get out there and ride.

I've taken the ATV both up to Houston and down into Wasilla over the past week, both very nice and fun rides. The trucks had done a lot of tearing up on the trails, leaving some nasty spots where there were ditches left by truck tires half as deep as my ATV, but easily avoided for the most part.

Got my ATV insured

2009-05-04T23:59:00.000-08:00

I called up Geico a couple of days ago was told that my ATV insurance would cost me $275 a year for full insurance that includes theft insurance. I decided that I needed to look over my finances and determine if I can afford it, but had forgot to ask her if I had to have all the stuff, since my main concern is theft protection.

Went back online and checked into it - I didn't need all the stuff she had on there. It whittled down to only about $100 a year. Talking to the guy today I got everything i wanted for $23 to get started and $17 a month for the next 8 months. That's not bad at all in my opinion, and I've got a good percent of that already in my advertising payments account. Rest will be there next week, so I already have a full year's insurance on my ATV from my advertising work. And the piece of mind I get having that is well worth it to me.

Springtime ride & trail report Big Lake Rd

2009-04-20T14:27:00.002-08:00

I just got back from riding my ATV up to the store and back. The trails look fairly good, few very deep puddles, particularly up just before Big Lake where the trail splits off to head up the hill behind Big Lake and goes on ahead toward Fisher's Y.

I did not try the lake in the trail at that point, I did do some exploratory creeping into the water but then decided it was just too deep to risk when I knew it got deeper over where the trails all converge and I was only halfway there at the point I backed out of the water.

Since I was backing up anyway, I went back to the gravel pit across from the post office and dug out the camera, videotaping the trail about halfway back to the Parks Highway, stopping when I hit a section where trucks had torn up the trail at some deep puddles and I needed to put the camera away so I could use both hands on the handlebars. I will try to get that video uploaded to YouTube when I get the time and share it over at AlaskaATV.info I'll post a link here when I get that done.

Cold ride, trail report, and early morning discoveries

2009-04-16T13:55:00.002-08:00

Yes, that was me on the Wyvern that you saw out cruising down the trails around nine in the morning yesterday. I had to meet up with someone, so took my ATV out for a run. it was very nice to be able to get out and ride, but I will be making sure that the next time I do that I have better leggings on. My legs got really cold since all I have to wear is a pair of jeans and a thin cotton long-john type PJs deal.

Still, I can't complain too much about getting out to ride some. Was a really good ride even with the cold. I also found that the bike path is getting to be fairly clear. There is still some snow in places, and there was one point where there was a really deep puddle, but won't be long before the bicycles can be broke out and taken for rides. I think I'd wait a bit longer on the roller blades, since there is still a lot of gravel all over the paved trails.

I also found something along the bike trail that goes along the Parks Hwy - if anyone can identify what it was I found then I'll take that as proof they were the ones that lost it and will get it back to you. I will say that it's not worth a lot, not a diamond ring or a suitcase full of money - drat it.

Can't go riding today

2009-04-07T14:29:00.003-08:00

As much as I want to get out and ride today, and oh is it a lovely day for riding the ATV, I'm afraid that I am going to need to stay home. I don't want to send my dad down to my sister's place, since he got too tired out being down there last night (until after 1 in the morning), and after a night of sleeping good he's spent all day asleep so far as well. He's sleeping good, but definitely too tired out to be going back down to the garage and hanging out again today. Might not make me popular, but I'm going to keep him home today and I am going to work rather than go riding on the ATV.

Finally got the ATV out and about this year

2009-04-06T18:15:00.004-08:00

I got my ATV out on the trail today. It was good to get out and ride after all winter trapped indoors. I strongly suggest that if you have a machine you stop reading this and get out and ride! I took a few pictures, but won't get them loaded onto the computer until later, so I'll share them later on tonight. For now I'll just say that the trails are lovely and clear from the bit of riding I did earlier and it is time to get out there and enjoy the ATV weather while we have it.

Search resumed for missing snowmachiner

2009-04-03T16:21:00.002-08:00

Alaska State Troopers resumed their search for the body of a snowmachiner who went missing last Saturday when he was trapped in an avalanche near the confluences of Divide and Center creeks east of the Johnson Pass Trail.

Troopers advise that the search would potentially continue through today and request that people please avoid the area while the search is underway. Sufficient searchers are already on hand, the Troopers report no need for additional volunteers.

A statement issued by the Troopers stresses: "It is imperative that no one is in or near the area during the recovery efforts. The area is still exhibiting a high avalanche potential, especially in the aftermath of additional snow and higher temperatures added to the steep terrain."

My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the missing snowmachiner.

ATVs and Dogs

2009-03-30T11:53:00.002-08:00

I got to ride my ATV yesterday... had to chase two moron dogs around the block. Let them off the chains to bring them back into the house, they immediately made a run for the end of the driveway. Bear and Shy came racing back when I called them, good puppies, but Lucky and BeBe ignored me (not surprising since they're actually my nephew's dogs, not mine). They went tumbling down the street and I had to run after them. Realizing they were not going to come back when called, I dashed back home and got the ATV and a chain. No gloves, so hands got *COLD* and it was all for nothing.

I ran down the road to where they had last been seen, followed the prints in snow down side road, lost them when they went into woods where the ATV would not fit. Okay, it was at least pointed back toward house so I went around again and there was moron in the driveway, his sister was out back tearing up some trash she had found. Sometimes I think it's a shame you can't spank a dog and tell them not to do something again, but that never gets anything but a cowardly animal, so I'm moving to stage two. They get on leash between here and their tieout until they learn to behave as nicely as Bear and Shy do.

At least I got to ride the ATV though, which made me very happy all things considered.

Stanley Bostitch Pneumatic tools

2009-03-27T16:41:00.002-08:00

I suppose I am lucky to have grown up with parents that had no fear diving straight into the task of building their own home when needed. I have helped in the building of several homes over the years, as well as a good number of sheds and other building projects.

I've found that many people look at power tools in an uneasy manner, but I look at power tools and think how cool they are. The range of Pneumatic tools from Stanley Bostitch only emphasizes this. From a wide range of Nailers to staplers, box closers, specialty Pneumatic tools... if you have a spring construction or remolding project, then chances are there is a Stanley Bostitch Pneumatic tool that can help you get the job done.

Not just for construction, Stanley Bostitch also has tools for industrial and home improvement use. Stop by the website above, www.bostitch.co.uk, and explore all of the various Stanley Bostitch Pneumatic tools they have to offer.

Lots of things to get done around here this summer

2009-03-27T16:35:00.002-08:00

As I sit here watching the snow melt off the work shop out in the yard, I think of all the work that needs to be done around the place this summer. There was a lot of things that got neglected the past few years, weather or taking care of family getting in the way of taking care of things around here. That needs to change this year, so I'm making a list of things I want to get done, and what I need to get them things done.

Eager to get out there and ride the ATV again

2009-03-27T16:32:00.003-08:00

I came very close to riding the ATV up to check the mail today, but decided that without a snowsuit it is just too cold to take off riding around even in the spring time. The temperature outside right now is 37 degrees F and dropping, but it is still warm enough that the snow is melting off the roof of the workshop for what I think is the first time this year. Not much longer, then I will be able to ride my ATV all over the place once again - and oh gawd I can not wait for that.

"Hey, bub, wanna buy your own snowmachine?"

2009-03-25T13:34:00.002-08:00

Okay, so maybe that's not how it went exactly, but I really did have to wonder how the conversation went when I read the Daily News this morning and reached the small article on page A-4, where the Alaska Digest section reported on a Sterling lad that allegedly tried to sell a man's stolen snow machine back to the owner.

The blurb was not exactly detailed, at least not detailed enough for me, so I went looking for more information. I found the report of the theft buried in the Trooper Dispatches for March 22, 2009.

According to the report, the 2003 Polaris Pro-X 700, with an estimated value of around $4,000, was hotwired sometime during the night of March 17 or early morning of the 18th while it was in the owner's yard at his residence near Sterling.

Additional digging through the dispatches uncovered some details of the arrest that the Daily News had failed to note. Such as the detail that the kid who was arrested on Monday under charges that he tried to sell the snow machine, valued at $4,000, back to the owner was asking for $100.

No, that's not missing a zero, not unless the Trooper's lost one too. The kid was asking the owner for a hundred bucks. ::shaking head::

Motorcycle Community: Cruisers

2009-03-07T14:07:00.003-09:00

I'm sure that I am not the only one that slows down to take a nice admiring look at those pretty cruisers that we all see in the summer. The sleek motorcycles with the raked out springer front end. Paint that catches the eye with stylish designs and artwork that ranges from flames to eagles and everywhere in between.

I may not be the kind to hop on a cruiser for the weekend, preferring to explore the back trails on my nice muddy ATV, but that does not mean I don't admire the cruisers and daydream of riding a sleek Harley down the Alcan Highway.

For those of you who do have sleek cruisers waiting for spring, the motorcycle community at Cruiser Customizing offers a place where you can connect with other motorcycle riders who share your passion, upload unlimited videos and pictures, share your stories with a like-minded community and lots more.

Membership is free, so check out the Cruiser Customizing community while you wait for the snow to melt.

Su Valley Winter Trail: Big Lake to Denali National Park

2009-03-07T12:50:00.004-09:00

I'm sorry for the delay in getting this up, yesterday was a hectic and overly long day of sitting in the optometrist's office waiting for them to see my dad to try and get him some new glasses. By the time I stopped by Wal Mart and got home I did not even want to look at the computer, much less do research on it. I got my work done and went to bed.

But! I really want to look more into this Big Lake to Denali National Park snowmachine trail, so let's see what they have going there.

..... okay.... after much research I have come to a conclusion. Even the snowmachine websites are hush hush on this one. Or do not yet know about it. Hmmm...

Okay, not even the DNR website has anything on this trail yet, ::snickering:: So, back to the Frontiersman and Daily News Websites for more information on the Su Valley Winter Trail... okay, make that to the Frontiersman, since ADN only links to the article in the Frontiersman.

I'm nothing if not persistent. - aka: GOT IT!!!

Here we go folks, the origin of the information for the Susitna Corridor Trail Project can be found at the WACO AK website... look under "trail news". Unfortunately they tell you to "Check the State Parks web site for maps and information." Great advice, but in an hour of looking I am still missing this information, so...

Maybe I didn't get it. While the name keeps changing based on where I look, and there seems to be virtually no information out there on this trail, here is what I can compile...

Su Valley Winter Trail
AKA: Susitna Corridor Trail Project

Length: 120 miles
Location: Susitna Valley
Connecting: Big Lake to Denali National Park
Trail heads:
Big Lake North Shore Recreational Area
Mile 131 Parks Highway Parking Lot
Condition: Groomed, signed, mapped and marked trail
Open to: Snowmachines
Trail Open: March 14th (see below)
Trail map: Trail Map (I will work on a map for Google maps when I have more time, for now this one is only one I can find.)

The official opening for the Su Valley Winter Trail will be March 14th. Riders will gather at the trail heads in both Big Lake and at mile 131, for a 10 a.m. departure for the grand opening dedication ceremony. The dedication is scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. at Ron's Riverboat Lodge at the Susitna Landing.

Big Lake's Chamber of Commerce Secretary Dee Loesche told the Frontiersman that Gov. Sarah Palin is scheduled to be there to cut the ribbon, otherwise there is not much known about possible events that might be scheduled. Although it sounds like there will be vendor demonstrations and maybe maps to be passed out.

The trail has been made possible by funds given, as grants, to the area snowmachine groups and snow machine registration fees that go toward such projects.

Want to help dedicate the trail? Those interested in joining the fun are welcome, according to Loesche, to join in at any of the many access points along the trail.

I will not be on hand, however, I will hopefully be able to send a few spie... err... emmassaries that will let me know what they think of the trail. We'll see how the people with the snowmachines feel about taking a trip, and maybe a camera or two. Those of you that can participate, have fun and ride safe.

Big Lake to Denali snow machine trail

2009-03-06T13:55:00.002-09:00

The Big Lake to Denali National Park snow machine trail is set to be dedicated March 14th in a ride along that will start at each end of the 125-mile trail and meet up at the Ron's Riverboat Lodge at 2 p.m. for the official dedication.

I'm running late getting to a appointment right now, so will research this more in depth later tonight and post full details complete with a map of the proposed route so that anyone wishing to ride along for the trail dedication will know where they need to go. So check back this evening for more details.

Lovely day to go snowmachine riding

2009-02-21T15:20:00.001-09:00

Which is why I am at home writing on the computer. It’s not that I do not want to be out there riding through the snow on a snowmachine, but when my brother and our nephews all took off up into the mountains to play on the snowmachines with their kids while their wives went off shopping or just lounging about in their houses, I got the nephew that can’t go snowmachine riding. So here I am, at home with dad, babysitting my nephew, and thinking about getting to ride my ATV next summer.