Did you know that Phil Freeman moonlights as a contributor to one of our favorite adventure motorcycling websites? It started back in 2015 with a story about Phil’s Top 10 ride destinations in Alaska, and since then Phil has penned stories about the beauty of the American Southwest in Utah and a dozen motorcycle highlights on the Baja peninsula. Phil’s latest story on ADV Pulse explores five mountain passes in his home state of Alaska. Check out some excerpts below and then catch the full article to find out why a motorcycle trip in Alaska should be at the top of your to-do list.

Thompson Pass is an all-you-can-eat buffet of scenic extravagance, and despite the relatively low elevation of 2,805 feet offers a remarkably barren landscape void of trees.

Keep your eye out for Dall Sheep as you go, and don’t be alarmed that the guardrail on the way up is severely dented by cascading rocks. Not to worry, the pay off is on the way down and the vibrant emerald carpet of tundra that smoothly rolls toward the horizon.