Alaska AIDS Vaccine Ride 2000


I also rode as rider number 10271 for the 575 mile ride through Montana from Missoula to Billings. The fund raising for that event benefited the same research institues as the Alaska AIDS Ride. With your support, I was able to exceed the required $3400 necessary to participate in the event. My Montana pictures can be found by following the Montana link -> Montana ride

I was one of 1600 riders who cycled from Fairbanks to Anchorage Alaska From August 21 - 26 to raise money for AIDS Vaccine Research for the benefit of 3 institutions:
The goal for each rider was to raise 3,900 in order to participate. With lots of support from family and friends, I raised close to 9,000! The 3 institutes received 1/3 of 4.1 million dollars as a result of the ride. The official site with daily coverage: http://www.alaskaride.org

My Experience



I hope you enjoy the pictures and the stories I have included below. Thank you again for your support to help make this possible.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful... Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

The ride was truly a challenge as a result of unpredictable weather. Despite the weather conditions, the trip was great. The sense of community among the group was incredible. There were so many wonderful people either riding or supporting the riders that all seemed to stay in good spirits throughout all of the adversity we experienced. Meeting the people was a very big part of the experience of an AIDS ride as well as some of the talks given by Dan Pallotta and the doctors from the institutes benefiting from the event.

Going into the ride, I was expecting to have 60 to 70 degree days with nights as cold as 30 degrees, that would have been lovely. Some days were more difficult than others as I was ready for the long days of cycling, but not temperatures of 25 degrees with a wind chill of -5!!! From all of this I came away being glad that I was able to know what my limits were and that I was able to stop and ask for help when I needed it most.

I hope you enjoy the pictures I took of the beautiful scenery as well as reading about my experience. I also learned that the best water proof gloves are plastic or latex and how to make my own booties (cycling shoe covers) with ziplock bags and duck tape to my new water proof pants, pictures to follow! After 6 days of riding, my muscles were not sore, but I did wind up with a problem with pain in my right knee. I think it was a result of stopping at the rest stops and starting up again in the cold. It is starting to feel better, but I probably won't ride my bike for another week or so to be safe.

Pictures!

If you start from the Pre-Event Activities link, you can follow through all the other pages by selecting the first link listed at the bottom of each page. There are other options included to let you jump to other sections or return to the index page. I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Pre-Event Activities
    The Alaska Train ride from Anchorage to Talkeetna
     Talkeetna River Boat Ride
     Flight Seeing over Denali National Park
Day 0, August 20 - Registration
Day 1, August 21, Fairbanks to Delta Junction Day 2, August 22, Delta Junction to Gulkana Glacier
    68.9 miles - elevation 1200' to 3100'
    Most Scenic Camp site - difficult to choose!
Day 3, August 23, Gulkana Glacier to Gulkana Air Strip, Glenn Allen, 1300'
Day 4, August 24, Glenn Allen to Sheep Mountain Gravel Pit, 3200'
Day 5, August 25, Graval Pit to Palmer through Matunuska Valley, 300'
    Alaska State Fairgrounds
Day 6, August 26, Palmer to Anchorage and closing ceremonies, 200'
Post-Event Activities
    The way to Seward
     Exit Glacier Hiking
     Kenia Fjords 6 hour cruise
     Kayaking in Whittier
     Great view of Mt McKinley flying out of Anchorage