First river ride of the year

[Ak Yammy]

Decent day on our local rivers (section of the Alaska Iron Dog race runs through here). Definately need more snow as you can see by the large jumble ice in the second photo and there's still a bit of open water. All in all not a bad early season ride put on about 80 miles and pulled 118 on dremo .

Last photo are of some tour paddlewheel boats frozen in for the year.

 

[Irv]

Decent day on our local rivers (section of the Alaska Iron Dog race runs through here). Definately need more snow as you can see by the large jumble ice in the second photo and there's still a bit of open water. All in all not a bad early season ride put on about 80 miles and pulled 118 on dremo .

Last photo are of some tour paddlewheel boats frozen in for the year.

Must be nice!

 

[charlie]

thats amazing i would love to see that in november

 

[YamahaFreak]

Nothing beats river riding!! Absolutely jealous by the way!

 

[Ak Yammy]

Thanks guys and nothing to be too jealous about this year. We have half the snowpack we should so the season is off to a slow start and my hyfax are taking a beating. The river riding here is definately a blast and about 3hrs' down the road we have some pretty awesome Mountain riding as well.

 

[yamaha1973]

Thanks guys and nothing to be too jealous about this year. We have half the snowpack we should so the season is off to a slow start and my hyfax are taking a beating. The river riding here is definately a blast and about 3hrs' down the road we have some pretty awesome Mountain riding as well.

you have snow that makes me jealous

 

[Indy]

I always thought river riding would be a blast, but I've done it twice, once in the UP and once local. The ice was very rough. I assume that it is much smoother up in your neck of the woods.

 

[Ak Yammy]

I always thought river riding would be a blast, but I've done it twice, once in the UP and once local. The ice was very rough. I assume that it is much smoother up in your neck of the woods.

Depends what river you are on and the snowpack. The first two shots are on the Tanana which is a much wider swifter river with sandbars and different braids. The ice will freeze while it is still moving and cause the "jumble" ice seen in the second picture. So between the jumble ice and sandbar crossings you have to be on your guard as these sections can be very rough (in some sections will be 4-6ft. high jumps or drops on/off of sandbars/ice). Snow will help smooth out the jumble ice but will also cause some wicked moguls once the trail is run a bit (especially after the Iron Dog race). Mixed in are perfectly flat sections where my RTX is like a purpose built machine I love it!!
Last picture with the boats is on the Chena. It is a much narrower river and will freeze up very smooth. The only thing is it will get rough once the snowpack gets churned up a bit as the year wears on.
Iron Doggers will also run on the Yukon which I have never been on but am told is very smooth and fast.
Link to race:http://www.irondograce.org/