Alaska Border to Valdez

Crossing the Alcan border, the world snapped white. Fresh snow erased the road, and we followed tire tracks carved into a narrowing wilderness of mountains.

By morning, the sky cracked open—partly cloudy, promising just enough hope. We left our bush camp buzzing with anticipation, bound for Valdez and the Mountain Man Snowmachine Hill Climb on the Richardson Highway.

At the hill, high-powered machines roared up a brutal 550-meter climb, each rider chasing the summit and the fastest time. Pure, spectator-fueled chaos on snow.

That night we circled a fire, machines parked like resting beasts. Stories grew louder, laughter sharper, sparks vanishing into falling snow. Then the wind came—no warning, no mercy. The blizzard swallowed everything, forcing us one by one into tents and rigs while the mountains vanished outside.

It didn’t stop. By morning, it was still a whiteout, turning the drive back toward Valdez into its own wild ride.

Huge congratulations to all winners, and respect to the volunteers and teams who made the 35th Annual Mountain Man Hillclimb another unforgettable storm of an event.