WM 100 unsupported overnighter (bike)

 Peter and I took advantage of great conditions to ride the loop in a CCW direction. We camped below the pass (north side) at mile ~48 or so. Lots of pushing the bike up the pass, but otherwise excellent conditions for pedaling the bikes.

It was such a treat to have some clear(ish) skies. This is the time of winter where we start to actually feel the direct sunlight, realize we haven't used sunglasses in months and have no idea where they are, and are shocked to see blue in the sky instead of just pink and purple.

Quite a bit of overflow. It was mostly the frozen, not slushy kind so we were able to just ride over most of it. Studded tires were a big plus on this ride.

I think of the interior as very flat, but the terrain around the windy gap area has a mountainous feel. Going scrambling up in them thar hills looks fun!

Peter was stoked the whole time.

As was I.

I haven't really done any filming here is AK, but made an attempt to get footage while moving down the trail.

White Mountain loop Skis/Pulk

 

Over X-mas break I was finally able to ski the White mountains loop. It was surprising to see the "back 50" was more beautiful than the "front 50" I'd traveled many times from the Wickersham Dome trailhead. We hadn't had much snow in a while so the trail was quite packed, but the Cache Mountain loop trial would have, I think, be un-ridable on a bike. Dragging a pulk with a harness behind xc skis is amazingly flexible in terms of the terrain one can cross and the weight one can carry. I'll be doing more of these trips in the future! The fatbike (as a mode of transportation) is very condition-dependent. 

Full Moon in the distance. I am falling in love with these purple dark skies.

Coming over the pass on the way down to Windy gap Cabin.

The view from Windy gap Cabin. I slept 3 nights in the tent and one wonderful night in this cabin.

Lunch brew-stop along the trail. Pull out the stove, melt two liters of water, eat some pasta and drink some coffee. Then keep marching! Room for at least another week or two of supplies in here.

It took 5 days to make this loop. An average of 3mph is fast for me when dragging a pulk.