Over the course of three days we would gain nearly 10,000 ft (3,050 m) in elevation as we cycled upwards into the Guatemalan Highlands. This rural and rugged region is home to the Mam Mayans, who maintain many customs that date back hundreds of years, including wearing their traditional, woven and embroidered garments. We were fortunate to pass through one town during their lively, annual Heritage Fair. From there we plunged out of the highlands into the big city of Huehue, in time for the celebration of All Souls Day among the tombs in the municipal cemetery.

Getting to the start of any long bicycle tour can be an adventure in itself, and our arrival in Deadhorse, Alaska, was no exception. But after several hair-raising moments, we finally landed in one of the northernmost towns in the world. With an allure similar to an industrial colony on another planet, Deadhorse’s unique character was fascinating to observe. A quick dip in the Arctic Ocean and the chance to wander out on the northern sea ice, followed by close-up views of spectacular arctic birds, set the stage for our next adventure - pedaling southward on the Dalton Highway.

If you are a bikepacker, bicycle tour enthusiast, or lightweight camping connoisseur, this post is for you. Starting from the base of equipment that we used to successfully complete the Western Wildlands Bikepacking Route (WWR), we delve into the updates and changes we’ve made to our cycling gear for the long ride from Alaska to Patagonia. We’ve included some commentary on aspects of our kit that we think worked particularly well on the WWR, as well as a few items we’re keeping for this trip with some caveats. With all the additions and subtractions from our gear, we even managed to shed a bit of weight!