ALASKA

16 to 28 March 2024

TRIP OVERVIEW

“The first time I was there was 1999. Since that time I have turned my whole life upside down’.
Willy Mulonia.

There is a saying that goes: ‘Until you spend a winter in Alaska, you can’t say you really know it’.

We at PA-Cycling have experienced 14 winters there. And we have cycled its wilderness for over 10,000 miles (16,000 km).

Now we are ready to take you there. You read that right, we will finally take you to Alaska to ride on an endless blanket of snow, under heart-warming northern lights and on an adventure like no other.
The experience we have gained over the years and the human relationships we have built up, rubbing elbows with the locals, gives us a unique insight and knowledge of the area.

March is the perfect month to experience this: many hours of daylight, less aggressive temperatures and more compact and rideable trails.

The watchword will be: SAFETY!
But the promise will be: YOU WILL NOT COME BACK THE SAME.

This is your greatest opportunity to experience adventure as you have never conceived it before.
The adventure that will take you to the meeting with the best version of yourself.
Because it does not matter who you are. It will matter what you become after this experience.
What you will ride will be contained in a map, but what you will explore is a vast and unexplored territory: yourself!

Would you like to venture out with us?

Cancellation Policy

Refund and cancellation

Where, for whatever reason, one person is obliged to withdraw, the person must give written notice to Project Adventure Cycling.

Refund will be calculated with this penalty:

– Within 45 days from date of departure the penalty fare is 30% of the total cost of the trip.
– Within 30 days from departure the penalty fare is 40% of the total cost of the trip.
– Within 21 days from departure the penalty fare is 50% of the total cost of the trip.
– Within 14 days from departure the penalty fare is 75 % of the total cost of the trip.
– After this date no refund will be given.

There will be no refunds for those who do not show up at the start of the trip or withdraw during the course of the tour.
There will be no refunds for those who are unable to start or complete the tour due to a lack or inaccuracy of personal travel documents (i.e Visa or Passport).

The traveller understands that some destinations pose more of a risk than other destinations due to weather conditions, socio-political situations and the geography of the region. The traveller acknowledges that factors such as, but not limited to, weather conditions, landslides, floods, flight cancellations or delays, strikes, labour issues, power failures, restrictive governmental laws or regulations, riots, insurrection, war or other (hereinafter called “Force Majeure Event”) are not the fault of Project Adventure Cycling and may hinder, delay or even prevent the Traveller’s ability to make or complete the trip. The traveller acknowledges that the Project Adventure Cycling shall not be liable to the traveller for any delay or cancellation of the trip due to a Force Majeure Event. The traveler is neither entitled to a refund nor any other payment for damages from the Project Adventure Cycling in the event that the trip is cancelled or delayed due to a Force Majeure Event. Please note that we are never responsible for any airfare ticket expenses.

Included + Non Included

The price includes

– 2 FatBike guides from PA Cycling.

– 2/3 assistants and respective Snow Machines with trailers depending on the number of participants.

– Transfer from Anchorage to Big Lake.

– Transfer from Willow to Anchorage.

– All accommodation on a half-board basis as planned during the adventure.

– Luggage transfer between accommodations.

– 5-night stay in Hayat Hotel in Anchorage and welcome dinner.

– Airport transfers.

– Trip souvenir gadgets.

– Travel insurance coverage.

The price does not include

– Return airfare and baggage fees, bike equipment

— Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

– Excursions, extra activities

— Fat bike hire

– Additional costs in case of logistical changes (extra transfers etc.)

– Anything not included in “The price includes” section.

THE TRACK

THE STAGES

Stage 01 — ANC-Knick Lake + Butterfly Lake Cabin — 39 km | 150 m

Trust me, don’t worry about the ‘short’ distances. These 40 km could mean four to six hours of cycling. The pace will be slow because slowness is the main characteristic of this adventure. Depending on the temperature, the trail where we ride may be faster or slower.

There will NEVER be a shortage of moments where you will have to push the bike. Don’t worry about this either, we will be there with you to show you the difference between pushing and walking alongside your FAT.

We will sleep with our sleeping bag inside a bunk house. The stove will always be lit and during the night we will take turns feeding it. Dinner will be served as well as breakfast the next morning. Welcome to one of our favourite cabins. First Check Point of the Iditarod Trail Invitational (ITI).

Stage 02 — Butterfly Lake Cabin Loop and survival techniques — 46 km | 230 m

After breakfast, we set off on a loop of around 40 km on the Happy Trails. Once the ride is over, it will be time to learn how to build a fire and choose the best place to set up an overnight bivouac.

Those who come with a bag of at least 40º below zero will be able to experience a night in the open. Otherwise there will be our Bunk House.

Stage 03 — Butterfly Lake Cabin – Yetna Station— 47 km | 140 m

We leave the lakeshore and enter the heart of the world-famous Iditarod Trail. First the Susitna River and then the Yetna River.

The eponymous Road House will be our roof for the night. And for those of us who accompany you, the meeting with friends of many years being the second ITI check-point.

Atmosphere of the Great North and relaxation assured.

Stage 04 — Yetna Station – Bentalit Lodge— 32 km | 40 m

The Yetna River will still be the backdrop of our day. We travel up the river to reach our lodge where Chandal is waiting for us. She is one of the best Trail Angels during the ITI. A very comfortable lodge and a very homely atmosphere.

During the day we will also have a chance to stop and visit some other friends who live year-round on the riverbank and in close contact with the wilderness and the long Alaskan winter.

Stage 05 — Yetna Station – Bentalit Lodge — 16 km | 50 m

A loop to savour little-trodden trails. Or to rest peacefully in the warmth of our lodge, which will also be our home for this evening.

Stage 06 — Bentalit Lodge – Talvista Lodge — 36 km | 130 m

We continue into the wild.

Today we head towards the Skwentna River before reaching the next Lodge. Talvista is a very cosy place in the heart of Alaska. Beyond the Skwentna Roadhouse the Shell Hills begin. Here one begins to climb towards the Alaska Range, which one crosses at Rainy Pass, at times being able to admire Denali (Mount McKinley), the highest mountain in North America. But this is the section that those who venture along the Iditarod Trail every winter during the ITI face. That will be for next time, for us.

Just writing these lines, for us, is like being there. We know what we will show you. We imagine, your amazement, that it will also be ours, but completely renewed.

Stage 07 — Talvista Lodge – Yetna Station — 51 km | 110 m

An adventurous stage in a unique environment. We leave Talvista Lodge to head back to the Yetna River and spend the night at the Yetna Roadhouse. We will ride over a plateau until, towards the end of the day, we descend back to the river to ride the big loop that brings us ‘home’. Cindy will be waiting for us as cosy as ever.

Stage 08 — Yetna Station – Willow — 51 km | 120 m

Last day, direction Willow. And it’s Yetna and Susitna River again. The last 50 km of this extraordinary experience. Again a flat route that hides its difficulties.

And transfer back to Anchorage

YOUR GUIDE

Willy Mulonia

Founder & President

Willy Mulonia, expert lonely traveler and cyclist for more than 30 years. He made several solo expeditions, but the most important is without a doubt the 28,640 bike trip from Ushuaia (Patagonia) to Prudhoe Bay (Alaska). He raced in the Crocodile Trophy (Australia) in ’98 and the famous Iditarod Trail Invitational (ITI) in Alaska in 1999, 2000, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 & 2023 as well as many other mountain bike stage races all over the world. In 2003 he founded the bike travel agency Progetto Avventura, now renamed Project Adventure Cycling. In 2010, with the help of all the team of PA-Cycling he created the Mongolia Bike Challenge, one of the most important MTB stage race in the world. Today you can find him guiding most the tour offered by Project Adventure Cycling.

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