A CHALLENGE FOR NO OTHER WOMAN

 

100 DAYS

20,598 MILES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 9, 2005

 

The Haul Road.  It was tame at this point.  We were fooled and lulled, thinking that this was as bad as it was going to get. Ha.  Only one word comes to my mind to describe the Haul Rd.: BRUTAL!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 9, 2005

 

Record photo at the Arctic Circle.  As soon as the bikes stopped the mosquitoes attacked.  I inhaled my protein for the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 9, 2005

 

Coldfoot, Alaska

Last gas before Prudhoe as well as food and lodging.  We camped behind one of the white buildings in this photo.  The buildings seen here are the hotel.  Small rooms to the tune of $150 a night.  We chose the $15 grassy area next to the lake, complete with howling wolves and hordes of buzzing mosquitoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 10, 2005

 

Our new friend and riding companion, Erick.  We camped together behind the hotel at Coldfoot.  Shortly after this photo was taken, we were gassed up and ready for the assault on the rest of the Haul Road to Prudhoe Bay and the Arctic Ocean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 10, 2005

 

The Haul Road.  Approaching the Brooks Range.  Ralph in the distance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haul Road

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 10, 2005

At the top of Chandalar Pass approaching Atigan Pass.  The view from this stop surrounded us with mountains, tundra, vast blue sky and complete silence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the foot of Atigan Pass on the south side of the Brooks Range.  As we climbed the pass the road from which I took this photo looked like a tiny snake.  The guard rail, if you could call it that, was bent, battered and crumpled from falling debris, rocks and maybe a truck or two.  Not knowing what would come barreling out of the dust or around the curve on the pass, it was unwise to stop for pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the top of the pass we stopped to look around and take some photos.  The road descended into this cloud that came rushing up to meet us.  We could only see about ten yards in front of us going down the pass to the north side of the Brooks Range.  The earth was raw and prehistoric.  It felt like I took a giant step back in geologic time.  The air temperature immediately dropped from a balmy 70 degrees to the mid-forties and continued to get colder the further north we got.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 10, 2005

 

Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Mile 6804

 

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!

 

Frozen, cold, stiff and tired, and thoroughly beaten up by the Haul Road, the Ultimate Coast to Coast Challenge was in the record books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purdhoe Bay, Alaska

 

My wingman.