Adventurous couple preparing for 2 year bicycle trip from Alaska to Argentina

WASILLA — Chris Haag and his wife Sophie are gearing up for a 2 year bicycle trip from Alaska to Argentina. This epic journey will take them across the Americas, spanning about 20,000 miles and crossing 15 countries.

“There’s no longer trip. As far as a bicycle trip goes, it’s almost like Mount Everest,” Haag said.

Haag and his wife will take a ferry from Bellingham, Washington to Homer, Alaska. They port on June 29. On July 2, the couple will start peddling their way north, eventually crossing the Canadian border. Through Canada, they will bike down south, through the United States then to the Central America, following the Pan-American Highway to the finish line: South America.

Haag said this trip is an “iconic” endeavor in the bicycling community. Haag was in Alaska about 15 years ago and his wife has never been. The two have already biked across the state of Michigan together.

“This is 20 times as far and much harder terrain and mental obstacles as well,” Haag said.

This is the first time they will undertake something this big. Haag is eager to return to the Last Frontier with fond memories of the Girdwood Forest Fair peddling in his mind.

“I passed through the area several years ago and fell in love with the Kenai [Peninsula]. I thought it would be a great place to start from even though most people start in Prudhoe Bay,” Haag said.

The inseparable bicycle couple plan to make it in time Forest Fair, stopping for two days to enjoy the festivities and people.

“The people you meet are the most memorable part of it,” Haag said.

Alaskans are a particularly friendly bunch, according to Haag. He noted that during his previous exploits, people from all over the world tend to be friendly to nomadic bicyclers, often offering help in some capacity. One of his favorite perks is meeting different people and learning about different cultures.

“When you show up in a town on a bike and they realize you’ve been riding for hundreds of miles… Next thing you know, you’re invited to someone's house for dinner,” Haag said.

That’s why Haag is so keen on stopping at Festivals like the Forest Fair because people attending those are often warm, fun and accepting- all while jamming to good music. He said that when people are traveling long distances like that, there’s an inherent vulnerability that people pick up on.

“Most people will make sure you’re ok. If you’re on the side of the road, even if you have what you need, people will stop ask if they need anything. It definitely changes your outlook on people,” Haag said.

The couple will have to hop on several ferries and camp most nights. Occasionally, they will stay in a hotel or crash on someone's couch. Logistically, the two were able to save up for the trip and plan around it. The trip should cost about 10,000 dollars per year, Haag said.

“The hardest thing for us was the pets- finding someone who would watch them for 2 years,” Haag said.

Back home in St. George, Utah, they managed to find some friends willing to watch their pets while they’re gone. Haag expects to burn about 6 or 7 thousand calories per day. He said that since he will be spending two years on a bike, he’s eating a lot of junk food, “living that unhealthy life.”

“Once you get on the road and get peddling, you get fit pretty quick,” Haag said.

Establishing a routine will help them keep their sanity, Haag noted.

“On some level I think it will be like regular life,” Haag said. “And our life will be to ride bikes – which is not a bad job. “You peek out the tent, look for a bear, grab your coffee, read a book then you get to work and get on your bike to crush miles; heavy dinner, read a book, repeat- every day for 2 years until you get to Argentina.”

As far as scenic wonders to see and places to go along the way, the two are mostly improvising. Chris and Sophie Haag will chronicle their 2 year adventure on their blog: www.theplacesipee.com. Anyone wishing to donate money for a hotel or snacks, can do so on the website, Haag said.

”We’re gonna’ pee in some pretty great places,” Haag said.