Day 3: Five Mile Campground to Marion Creek Campground

June 24, 2025

Yesterday we had the dust, today we had the mud. The Dalton is living up to all the superlatives that people have given it. The light rain overnight and throughout the morning kept us cooler but mud and puddles were everywhere. The trucks that inhabit these roads are all oversized tankers and haulers. Most of them slow down and all are careful when passing, but we’re still getting rocks flung at our chests and mud splattered at us. Babyheads abound and it’s like we’re riding a horse at a full gallop for 100 miles who’s intent on bucking you off.

It was going to be a long day out, but this is typical for Jude. Jude again broke this day down into 6 major climbs with rollers in between. The definition of rollers, though, has expanded, and we would hit 10,000 feet of elevation gain over 120 miles. Early climbs were to 86-mile Overlook and Finger Mountain in damp drizzle.

Two and a half days in and the Dalton started to show the weakness in our equipment.

I realized too late that the weight on my rear rack was too much for the frame bolts. One bolt stripped and fell out and I cannibalized a bolt from my downtube to replace it. Then the other side sheered off, leaving the rest of the bolt stuck in the frame. I attempted to zip tie the rack to the frame but that only lasted so long. By mile 50 on the day, we had gone through 5 zip ties and three bolts, flagging down passing work trucks for extra zip ties and wires. Finally, we decided to both put our flashbacks on with the heaviest gear and transfer the rack to Jude’s bike which still had working frame bolts.

Jude’s bike, though, was faltering as well. His brake pads were quickly wearing away and he had little stopping power by the end of the second day. After a morning of rain and mud, the sand and grit made quick work of the rest of his pads and they were gone. Jude was now facing 300 miles of road with no brakes and the biggest descents still to come. We started problem solving and working through hypotheticals early in the day. As these scenarios became eventual realities, we had talked about hitching all the way to Deadhorse or scuttling some of our gear, or giving Jude my bike so he could make it to the end still under his own power. Eventually, after swapping my rack and putting it on his bike, we had two extra bungees, plus one that we had found on the side of the road and devised a system whereby I would bungee my stem to his saddle rails and brake for the two of us, descending each major decline and essentially rappelling him down the mountain. Smaller hills he would bomb and I would pray, but there were six major descents that were over 7% grade and we couldn’t see the bottom where we linked up and made our way slowly down. We were both highly aware of the danger and had multiple exit strategies on each descent if my brakes failed or a bungee snapped, but by the end of the day we had relaxed and become quite proficient at the set up.

We reached the Arctic Circle at mile 55 for the day and still had 65 miles to go. A father and son from Michigan took our picture at the sign as mosquitoes attacked us relentlessly. By 6:30pm, the sun came out and slightly dried the road, otherwise there was a climb up Beaver Slide I honestly don’t know how we could have gotten up it riding or even walking in the rain. Each climb looked impossible when it would first come into view and I was grateful I couldn’t see the top of them. I would start climbing, make it to the next turn, and then do it again. I was exceedingly grateful that Jude now had the heavier bike and it was amazing to see his fitness as he rode so strong up the mountains.

As we approached Coldfoot now close to 10pm after starting our day around 5:30am, we were treated to a nice valley, pavement and the first flat riding since leaving the bike paths of Fairbanks. Riding five miles past Coldfoot to Marion Creek Campground, we were so thankful for making it through the day, great is His faithfulness! Lamentations 3:22-33

Because we were close to Coldfoot, I tried calling Elizabeth and it went through! It was great to talk with her and catch up briefly on the week. While she had been tracking us via Jude’s inReach, it gave her great comfort to hear our voices.

Bikes are breaking so we decided to stop for lunch

Jude starting to walk downhill, this is when we decided to bungee up.

The major climbs are named. This one had a foreboding, if unofficial name!

All smiles as the sun came out, the descents were complete and we were getting close to our campsite.

Today's ride: 120 miles (193 km)
Total: 270 miles (435 km)

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