Cold Start: Into the White North and Down the Spine of America

The road starts where most stop: Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Ice-bound, wind-raked, and far from anything resembling civilization. This is Cold Start—the first leg of our journey and one of the most grueling.

We fired up the 1984 FJ60 with frost still clinging to the undercarriage. The Dalton Highway stretched out like a frozen ribbon, slick with permafrost and guarded by oil rigs and wildlife. In these remote places, the stakes are real—one mistake and it could be days before help arrives.

Pushing south, we passed through Denali National Park, catching glimpses of caribou and the towering silhouette of Denali herself. The Matanuska Glacier gleamed in the sun as we camped nearby, preparing to cross into Canada.

The Yukon offered the Top of the World Highway—mud, snow, and isolation all in one. At Dawson City, we dipped our toes into the culture of the gold rush before dropping into British Columbia’s lake-dotted interior. Liard River Hot Springs provided the first real warmth in days.

Then came the Icefields Parkway in Alberta. The views from Jasper to Banff are nothing short of mythical—massive glaciers, cerulean lakes like Peyto and Louise, and elk herds wandering roadsides like they own the place.

Crossing into Montana, we hit Glacier National Park and its legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road. From there, we dropped south into Yellowstone to experience geysers and grizzlies, then continued to the jagged peaks of Grand Teton.

Utah brought red rock bliss—Arches, Canyonlands, and off-grid camping under stars brighter than any city could dream of. The final stretch into Arizona saw us weaving through Saguaro National Park and onward toward the border at Tecate.

Key Highlights:

• Dalton Highway and Atigun Pass

• Denali National Park

• Matanuska Glacier

• Top of the World Highway, Yukon

• Icefields Parkway (Jasper to Banff)

• Glacier, Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks

• Moab, UT (Arches and Canyonlands)

• Saguaro National Park, AZ

Cold Start isn’t just about braving the cold. It’s about building the foundation of trust—between you and the rig, between you and the land. It’s where preparation meets reality.