‘Ultimate Adventure’ Kicks Off in Alaska
MotorTrend event begins with a brutal trek to Knik Glacier in Alaska.
As they have for the past 20 years, MotorTrend‘s 4Wheel and Off Road has completed their 2019 Ultimate Adventure. This is “the original hardcore off-road event” — a week-long adventure on which enthusiasts, sponsors, and support crew take custom-built 4x4s on bucket-list journeys. The 2019 iteration of this incredible event takes participants trekking through Alaska, with the first destination being Knik Glacier. More content from UA 2019 can be found on MotorTrend‘s FourWheeler Network.
Not your typical off-road day trip
At first glance, this might seem like your typical winter 4×4 trip – snow, ice, frigid conditions. One difference, however, is the diversity of extreme terrains that must be traversed to reach Knik Glacier in Alaska. Not the least challenging aspect of Ultimate Adventure 2019 is the remoteness of the start of the trip. As told by MotorTrend, “We covered more miles just getting to the start of the event than any other year”. Not only do these awesome off-road machines have to be able to negotiate mud, rocks, trees, and other obstacles, they had to make it all the way to Alaska and back – more or less in one piece.
The trail to Knik Glacier is popular among local off-road enthusiasts, but that doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park. Local expert Frank Wininger explains that “I cannot tell you how many vehicles have either been lost or stranded” due to rising water levels caused by warm summers contributing to increasing snow melt.
Between water crossings, mud pits, thick woods, silty riverbeds, and the actual glacier itself, this trip requires a really well thought-out build. Add to that the fact that the trip is a week long, meaning that drivers have to bring a ton of camping and cooking gear in addition to the necessary off-road and recovery equipment.
Truly impressive vehicles
Because of the extreme conditions and difficult terrain, any vehicle hoping to survive the Ultimate Adventure must be properly equipped. Many of these rigs are custom builds created by the 4 Wheel & Off Road crew for previous UA events. Others are built or supported by sponsors like Cummins, Dana, and Skyjacker. The vehicles are diverse, including late-model jeeps, a custom International Harvester, and some awesome old-school Fords — including a 1977 F-150 and a 1978 Bronco.
Obviously, off-road armor, winches, knobby mud tires, and tow ropes are all requirements for this type of trip. It’s nearly impossible to be over-prepared when you’re spending a week in some of the most remote places in the US.
Drivers have to be ready for the unexpected – even with great components, failures are all but certain. Getting river silt into your bearings, for example, can cause big problems. One unlucky driver sliced the sidewall of a tire on a sharp rock and was forced to swap tires on the trail. Another driver ran his tire pressure too low and pulled two tires off of the rims in a tough muddy section. Even when properly outfitted, you still have to be prepared for any situation when the terrain is this demanding.
What’s Next for Ultimate Adventure 2019?
The Knik Glacier trip is only the first destination on this epic adventure – follow along with the MotorTrend crew through all 5 episodes at the full video playlist here.
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