Cycling For A Cause - Alaska to Panama by Bike

[Muttsta]

As many of you do not know, this summer I will be biking from Alaska to Panama, a distance of well over 12,000 kilometers. The primary reason I am doing it is to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, others reason include that I may possibly crazy and that I think it sounds really damn cool.

I am currently in Alaska, about 130 miles away from Anchorage. I will be keeping you guys updated with cool stories and well as great pictures from my trip. You can also check out my website at www.CyclingForACause.com, where I?ll be posting even more photos. If you?re feeling extra generous you can even donate something

Either way, I?d appreciate it if you let your co-workers/friends/family know about this so I can spread the word.

Thanks guys, and wish me luck!

Btw, if anyone lives along the route I plan to take, let me know, I?ll drop by!)

 

[Muttsta]

Day 1 - A Day Riddled With Mishaps - 126.19 km
The day begins simply enough. Last night I took a cab to a friends house in Anchorage (who I actually just met thanks to CouchSurfing). I am still not sure how I ended up paying $25 to drive a distance of about 3 miles... No matter. Meghan and her house guests were great people, as pretty much all couch surfers are! I awake and finish assembling what is left of my bicycle, then disaster strikes. Well, not really, but it was not exactly the best thing that could have happened. In preparing my bicycle for the plane I had to turn the handlebars, remove the front wheel, as well as unscrew both pedals. The handlebar and wheel were trivial, as was one pedal. When I got to the other I realized that the thread was stripped and I could not screw the pedal in! Needless to say, what this meant was that I had to pay a visit to the nearest bicycle shop, which happened to be about four miles away. Let me tell you, riding four miles with one pedal and a bike loaded with gear is NOT fun. I sincerely hope it never happens to you. But wait, that's not all! On the way to the bike shop, my handlebar bag mounts begin to loosen and fall on my wheel. I miraculously arrive at the bike shop which at the time seemed like an oasis. I was luckily saved by a skilled mechanic with both problems. Now in good spirits, I grab a quick lunch as well as a few supplies then hit the road! Today I manage to make it all the way to Chickaloon Alaska. Had a minor fall due to a small shoulder with a tight drop off, luckily wasn't going too fast. Magnificent views, although otherwise a fairly uneventful ride. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing...

FOR PICTURES VISIT THE GALLERY ON MY WEBSITE

 

[cliftonite]

sounds good

 

[Muttsta]

Day 2 - Hills, Wind, and Freezing Cold - 90.18 km
Today it was absolutely freezing, I'm not sure how much more plainly to word it. I guess I am heading into higher elevations as I now see snow much more often, especially along the road way. The views are much nicer here, but I guess the cost is my comfort (my fingers are still thawing out). Eventually I ended up wearing not only all my regular cold gear, but as well put on my rain jacket, which conveniently doubles as a wind jacket. The cold would have been good enough, but no. Today's road was filled with a never ending series of ups and downs. The stretches of down are great, expect for two facts. The first being that going 55 km/h downhill makes you even colder, the second being that eventually you have to climb back up. All in all it was a fairly painful day. Oh, I also forgot to mention that I'm sore all over. I figure that eventually I'll just grow used to it.

Oh, also saw Alpacas/Lamas today (I can never tell the difference). I figure that's kind of cool since they seemed very out of place.

FOR PICTURES VISIT THE GALLERY ON MY WEBSITE

 

[Muttsta]

Day 3 - A Day Full Of Surprises - 94.05 km
Today was a day that was quite simply full of surprises. In the morning when I woke up, I was kind of cold. I look outside, blink a few times, then shake my head in disbelief. It seems that over night I was snowed in! There were about 2 or 3 inches of snow surrounding my tent. After seeing this, I decided to go to sleep for another few hours, hoping that it would warm up. Luckily it did, so then I went to breakfast. When I asked the locals about this snowfall in May, they laughed at me and told me they get snow all the way into June!

But wait, it gets better! In the morning I suited up in all my rain gear expecting the worst. For the next two hours I didn't see a flake of snow or drop of rain. After those two hours I was pretty hot and decided to take that rain gear off. As my luck would have it, about five minutes later it began to start raining, meaning I had to rush to get all that stuff back on again! For the next while I was absolutely drenched (luckily only my rain gear and not me!) and freezing cold.

In the middle of what seemed to be nothingness I saw a godsend, it was a liquor store. I of course hurried inside where it was warm. Now this is where it gets really interesting. As I'm not 21 I of course can't buy alcohol in the United States, so I grab some junk food and head to the counter. The guy asks me for ID. I respond with a blank look and say "Huh? I'm just buying chips?" According to some new Alaskan law you have to be 21 to buy ANYTHING in a liquor store. Needless to say, I was denied buying a bag of chips. I never thought that would happen, unless it was my mom who would be the one saying no.

Anyway, I am currently in some town called Glenallen, Alaska. I think that I'm probably going to camp out here tonight since there is nothing for the next 120 miles. I talked to a trapper today who cautioned me against black bears. He said at this time of year they are especially dangerous, and if you meet one, you can basically kiss your behind goodbye.

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Dude! That rocks! Where are you, if 130 miles from Anchorage? Talkeetna perhaps? When do you "start" this trip? If you will be spending some time in Anchorage and want to hang out before you get on your way, let me know. I can also give you tons of advice on the Alaska Highway.

edit: Oh, I see you already started. Haha, Glenallen... that place is nuts. Watch the next 90 miles to Tok; the road was horrible last year but you'll see some really pretty scenes when you get near Slana.

 

[Muttsta]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Dude! That rocks! Where are you, if 130 miles from Anchorage? Talkeetna perhaps? When do you "start" this trip? If you will be spending some time in Anchorage and want to hang out before you get on your way, let me know. I can also give you tons of advice on the Alaska Highway.

Actually started three days ago, currently in Glenallen

 

[Excelsior]

Crazy! This is way cool though.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Awesome. Good luck, man.

 

[everman]

Good Luck.

 

[grohl]

Amazing tale; be safe out there and know you are in my thoughts!

 

[Sukhoi]

Wow man that is nuts, good luck!

 

[xanis]

That's freaking crazy. Good luck!

 

[amol]

Dude, tell me if/when you're anywhere near Pasadena, CA on that trip

I can't tell exactly from the map, but I guess you're going along PCH-1 when you're going down California?

 

[DaWhim]

hmm....shens! you get internet in your tent huh?

 

[aphex]

Are you planning on riding the Pan American Highway through central america? If so, good luck with those potholes and crazy drivers... i felt unsafe even in an SUV

 

[illusion88]

so I got to ask... how much is it costing you?

 

[Farang]

Hmm.. I think I'd rather buy a plane ticket.

 

[arrfep]

Awesome, Man. I went coast-to-coast (Virginia Beach to San Diego) in 2004, and I thought that was hardcore. North to South is on my List Of Things To Do...Anchorage to Ushuaia maybe. Good luck and Kudos to you. I will keep up with your adventures.

 

[ramuman]

I've done 100-150km a day over a weekend on charity rides, but that over 4 months is insane. Good luck and let's see if we can't help exceed your goal of $12k!

 

[George P Burdell]

Good luck man :thumbsup:

 

[czech09]

Amazing. Are you Czech btw? Your name suggests it...

P.S. If you want to do a similar thing in the future let me know I'm game - anywhere.

 

[Luthien]

Cool, and good luck. I am waiting for your next update.

 

[Muttsta]

Originally posted by: DaWhim
hmm....shens! you get internet in your tent huh?

In some places I do actually, like this campground i'm at now
The places they have hotspots amaze even me sometimes

Originally posted by: Amol
Dude, tell me if/when you're anywhere near Pasadena, CA on that trip

I can't tell exactly from the map, but I guess you're going along PCH-1 when you're going down California?

Yup, taking highway 1 all down the coast of California, will let you know if anything

Originally posted by: illusion88
so I got to ask... how much is it costing you?

Equipment and bike cost me about $3000, I am budgeting on spending about $15 a day or so, also have to include costs of plane tickets

Originally posted by: czech09
Amazing. Are you Czech btw? Your name suggests it...

P.S. If you want to do a similar thing in the future let me know I'm game - anywhere.

My last name is Czech, but my whole family is Polish
It's not too late to still join in on part of this ride

 

[Muttsta]

Day 4 - Better weather and less hills - 127.10 km
Yesterday evening I decided to camp out behind a post office right in the middle of town. I figured no one would really mind since it was already late Saturday, and well, post offices are always closed on Sundays. I guess I was right since I didn't get a knock from an officer at night. When I awoke I was once again cold. The last night it rained, and in the morning the left over droplets froze on my tent. Check my pictures to see the aftermath.

The weather up here is pretty crazy. In the morning you're absolutely freezing because the temperature drops below 0 degrees at night, but at midday you have to start taking off layers because you feel as if the sun is roasting you. Then once again you have to dress up in all your rain gear because you'll either get a few sprinkles or because it's so windy that it makes you cold again.

Today overall was a much better day, I only got about ten minutes of light rain. The road also had fewer hills than the day before, which was a real relief. From what the locals tell me though, the next two or three days down into Canada should be tough.

I also happened to cross paths with the strangest character today. He calls himself "Al Tokey". He says that he originally comes from Toronto, but that now he's been living in Alaska for over thirty years. He rides his bike from town to town, but the locals all know him so they give him lifts occasionally. He said that up here he actually mines for gold. Another thing I found absolutely crazy is that he wears eleven pairs of pants and seventeen shirts! I kid you not; check out my pictures if you must see it for your own eyes. He really does need them since he rides his bike in the winter as well. Even I'm not that crazy! He told me that back in 2002 he made the front page of the Anchorage news, being nicknamed the "Lance Armstrong of the North".

CHECK MY WEBSITE FOR PHOTOS