Cycling southward across British Columbia, we entered another region of vast and sparsely populated wilderness. With only a couple of small towns, this 550 mile route is known for its abundant salmon and bears. We were lucky enough to see both, as well as watching the landscape slowly transition from boreal forest to habitats more familiar in the lower 48 states - while the dramatic, ice-covered peaks of the coastal mountain range provided stunning views to the west.

We began this segment of our trip by cycling across the Southern Lakes district of the Yukon Territory - an area of long, narrow, picturesque lakes that feed the upper reaches of the Yukon River. The few towns we passed were small, with extended stretches of wild forests in between. But before reaching the village of Watson Lake, we crossed a continental divide that left the Yukon River behind.

Our first couple of weeks in Canada were full of adventure. Cycling along an ancient fault line between snow-capped peaks and Yukon’s rugged, central plateau, we enjoyed some of the most breathtaking scenery we had seen so far on our trip. Numerous encounters with wild creatures, plus intermittent battles with wind and rain ensured that our days were never dull. And a float down the fabled Yukon River provided the perfect finale for this leg of our bicycle tour.

Our bicycle tour through western Canada was full of surprises. But none were more thrilling than these three close encounters with wild bears. It is moments like these that make wilderness cycling such an amazing experience.