Alaska Fat Bike Adventure: 50 Miles to Nome | Ned Rozell

A long-distance fat bike expedition through Interior Alaska is currently underway, with riders aiming to reach Nome from Fairbanks. According to a column published by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute on March 27, 2026, science writer Ned Rozell and companion Forest Wagner had covered 145 miles of the journey as of late March.

The pair departed Fairbanks on March 21, 2026, navigating pressed-in snow trails that connect towns and villages across the region. The expedition utilizes fat bikes equipped for winter conditions, traveling westward along ephemeral ribbons of blue-white snow. While the ultimate goal is Nome, the riders were recorded stopping in Manley Hot Springs to rest and resupply during the first week of the trip.

Departure and Conditions

The journey began during a period of extreme cold. Rozell reported that temperatures had warmed to minus 12 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of departure. The route started from Rozell’s home in Fairbanks, moving eastward on a boot-packed trail before connecting to a plowed bike path. The riders passed through the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus and traveled 8 miles to Wagner’s cabin before proceeding to the Tanana River.

Upon reaching the Tanana River, the team found a trail groomed for a multisport winter race. They turned right to head downstream on the river, which spans approximately half a mile wide at that location. Weather conditions improved as the trip progressed. Rozell noted that by the time they reached the river, the weather nodded toward spring, with bluebird skies appearing as the day warmed to 8 degrees Fahrenheit.

The environment along the route is characterized by significant isolation. In a description of the spruce hills and tamarack swamps between Old Minto and near Baker, Rozell wrote:

It’s so quiet in these spruce hills and tamarack swamps that 27 hours and 50 miles passed between when Forest Wagner and I said goodbye to one human being at Old Minto and hello to the next near Baker.

Ned Rozell, Alaska Science Forum

Space is described as being in ample supply on these trails. The riders noted that after a month of pillowy snows and cold temperatures in town, they were finally unstuck from the glue of urban areas. The logistical burden was minimized for the trail portion of the journey. According to the report, if an object was not hanging off the bikes, it was not needed, eliminating the need to fiddle with loads or obsess over seven-day weather forecasts.

Community Support Along the Route

Despite the isolation, the riders received assistance from several individuals and families along the route. In Nenana, support was provided on the packed snow ramp off the Tanana River. Rozell’s wife, Kristen, and friend Jen Wenrick appeared wearing headlamps to hand over burgers and fries from the Monderosa. This delivery occurred after a difficult day caused by soft trail conditions.

Search results from UAF news indicate additional support structures were in place. Jenna and David Jonas hosted the riders at their Tanana River homestead on the first night of the trip. Further west in Manley Hot Springs, the riders waited on a dryer in the local washeteria while friend Steve O’Brien cooked French toast and bacon. Rozell noted that when they acquired funds, they planned to take showers.

The column highlighted that O’Brien is one of many people helping the team move westward. Other acts of kindness were attributed to Wenrick, David Jonas, Steve Ketzler, and Wagner’s father, Joe Wagner. Rozell described this support as tonic for the body and soul. The team expects to meet more people, including old friends, as they continue toward Nome.

Tracking and Publication Context

Public tracking information is available for the expedition. Rozell indicated that when the satellite tracker is active, the progress can be viewed online. The specific link provided for the journey is https://share.garmin.com/NedRozell.

The account was published as part of the Alaska Science Forum. According to the column’s footer, the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute has provided this column free in cooperation with the UAF research community since the late 1970s. Ned Rozell serves as a science writer for the Geophysical Institute.

Photographs accompanying the report show the riders pausing in front of the tripod on the ice of the Tanana River at the town of Nenana. This tripod is associated with the Nenana Ice Classic, a contest where participants guess the time when the river ice breaks up and pulls a cable attached to shore. Images also depict Wagner pushing his fat bike on a drifted-in section of trail in the Minto Flats State Game Refuge on March 25, 2026.

The journey continues westward through Interior Alaska. The riders describe the experience as a good life on the trail, characterized by just-add-water living. The routine involves eating everything in front of them, applying sunblock, and continuing to pedal toward the goal of Nome.