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.

We wanted to savor the experience of bicycle travel in the Far North, so we took seven days to cycle from Coldfoot to Fairbanks, Alaska. Multiple mountain ridges, clouds of mosquitos, forest fires, and a few missteps in procuring water all presented challenges. But the wildlife, landscapes, and sheer scope of the wilderness along the Dalton Highway were spectacular - a true cycling adventure.

Our Americas cycling adventure began with the 240 mile ride down the northernmost road in Alaska, the Dalton Highway (a.k.a., the Haul Road). With no traveler’s services, it’s considered one of the most remote roads in the world. We cycled across stormy tundra, the magnificent Brooks Range Mountains, and finally saw our first tree on our fourth day of cycling. Surrounded by incredible wildlife, we reveled in the vast expanses and solitude of the journey.