Atigun Pass
Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 3:38AM July 1
This is part of the country is surreal and very hard to describe. Picture the most remote untouched wilderness that you can, and then slap a 800 mile pipeline smack dab in the middle of it. Oil or money, I should say, has changed this land. But it is also the reason that it is accessible. If it weren’t for the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay the Dalton Highway wouldn’t exist. I really can’t describe it, I guess it is just one of those things that is best experienced for yourself. I highly suggest it; there are some of the most amazing landscapes that I have ever seen in my life. I suspect that they will remain that, because I’m not sure there is any place such as this anywhere else on earth.
So yesterday I took it pretty easy, and it paid off. My knee felt much better today; actually it really didn’t hurt at all. I guess the e-stim that I did on it yesterday really helped (yes I have my own TENS unit, and yes I brought it with us).
The road conditions were slightly better today, still very rough but it was solid until I reached the pass. Atigun pass is intimidating in a car much less on a bike. After about 30 miles I met up with Azure at the base and took a break. I need to rest a bit since I had spent most of the morning climbing to reach the base of the pass. After a half hour or so I headed up the road, my only thought, ride as far as you can and walk it if you have to but get to the top. I actually got much farther up it than I expected and would have been able to ride all the way but on the steepest section the gravel was too loose to climb out of the saddle. Even worse if when I stayed in the seated position I almost flipped the bike every time I pedaled (it was really, really steep). I walked for about a half mile and then was able to get back on the bike and ride the rest of the way to the top. It was an amazing feeling. There was a semi waiting at the top of the pass and as I reached the summit he blew his horn several times. An idiot on a bike reaching the summit of Atigun pass probably isn’t something these drivers see every day.
The climb was the grueling part the decent however, that’s the dangerous part. The gravel was loose and the road was rough. I was on the brakes so hard that I could smell them smoking. By the time I reached the bottom my fingers were cramping from squeezing the brakes so tightly, and I was able to safely descend the pass.
(This picture doesn't even come close to what your looking at in reality, and its just the part you can see from the bottom it continues to go up and up into the mountains)
I covered about 10 miles after the pass but it was pouring rain, and really cold so I decided to call it. We are just chilling in the van and my plan is to lay some miles down tomorrow to try and make up for the ground I should have covered yesterday.
40 miles
11.3mph average
38mph max speed (while holding the brakes)
3:30 minutes ride time
Reader Comments (5)
Pat and Azure... Been tracking you daily using google earth. Find me spot is an awesome tool. Love your posts and the blog. Keep it up! You guys are amazing.
Love you both...
Joe
Hey guys! I am so thrilled to hear from you online! Cannot wait to talk to you in person. Keep going Patrick-- make it through this part and the rest is going to get easier. I can't believe you changed out the derailer. That is awesome. Stay SAFE!!!!
Azure is the best! Do not insult her cooking! I'm missing it already!! ;-) Stay safe bro.
So happy to see the updates-- great job, you guys!
Hi guys! Really enjoying reading about your adventures so far, Jon is thrilled that you ran into someone from Wisconsin, proof that is the best state in the union haha! You are in our thoughts and prayers and we have fingers crossed for safe travels, and a thrilling and fulfilling adventure. We love you both!