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Former Olympian Clara Hughes has done it before, and she can't wait to do it again.

She and her husband, Peter Guzman, cycled the Dempster Highway during their honeymoon in 2002.

This week, the couple will once again attempt to travel the famed gravel highway on two wheels 鈥� this time as part of Clara's Big Ride, an initiative meant to engage communities and youth across Canada in conversations about mental health.

The two are greatly looking forward to reliving that experience later this week, said Hughes, 41.

"I came right from the Commonwealth Games, from winning a gold medal there in cycling,鈥� Hughes told the Star from Iqaluit, Nunavut on Thursday 鈥� day 49 of her journey.

"We rode from Dawson up to Inuvik. We got a ride back down to the Tombstone Mountains, and then we rode all the way back to Whitehorse. We spent a month up there and loved it.鈥�

This Thursday, Hughes and her travelling party are expected to enter the Yukon Territory by way of the Dempster. The 700-plus-km highway connects Dawson City to Inuvik, N.W.T.

"To try and ride the Dempster in five days is epic beyond reason,鈥� she said. "So many people are behind us to make sure we have a legitimate chance to pull this off.鈥�

Hughes' posse 鈥� which also includes longtime friend Burke Swindlehurst 鈥� is well-prepared for their journey, each packing two different bicycles and a variety of studded, semi-slick and knobbed tires.

"We've got all the gear,鈥� Hughes chuckled. "We've got fenders, shoes, mukluks, flat pedals. It's going to take a lot to blow us off the road 鈥� which I also know can happen.

"It's Mission Impossible that we're going to make possible.鈥�

Hughes is a six-time Olympic medallist in cycling and speedskating, and the only athlete in history to win multiple medals at both the Summer and Winter Games.

In 2010, she was honoured with the task of carrying the Canadian flag during the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

She owns two bronze medals from the 1996 Summer Games and four medals 鈥� including gold in 2006 鈥� from three different appearances in the Winter Games.

Her six medals tie her with speedskater Cindy Klassen as the Canadian athlete with the most medals all-time.

The Winnipeg native is also well-known as a passionate advocate for mental health, and has often shared her past struggles with depression.

Since 2011, her outreach has included work as the national spokesperson for Bell Let's Talk Day.

Her latest ride began in Toronto March 14 and will end in Ottawa July 1. Her tour has already taken her through the Atlantic provinces, including Newfoundland and Labrador.

Hughes worked hard at simplifying her life prior to the trip, expected to last three-and-a-half months.

"It's 100 days non-stop 鈥� We've ridden through everything. What's interesting is the riding part 鈥� the part that physically exhausts me so much 鈥� has been the part that has been kind of a therapeutic thing with all of the sharing that we have in every event,鈥� she admitted.

"The riding part has actually been the easy part, if I can say that 5,000 kms later.鈥�

She has heard from citizens all across the country on mental health experiences, and opinions on what is lacking in terms of support and resources in individual communities.

"We've heard some really tragic stories and sad situations, but at the same time, you're just inspired by what young Canadians are doing,鈥� she said. "It's been so powerful. It's been epic, exhausting, exhilarating and inspiring. We've been 5,000 kms and done so many community events.鈥�

The retired Olympian said her trip 鈥� especially the Northern portion 鈥� has been an incredible journey.

"It's been a pretty big whirlwind of a trip in Northern Canada,鈥� she said. "It's been an awesome, awesome Northern experience so far, and I know it's just going to get better and better. I'm stoked to arrive in Whitehorse, but we have a big ride before we get there.

"No matter what happens, we're going to have great stories to tell.鈥�

Hughes' trip down the Dempster fits perfectly with her ride's message.

"It's about never giving up and always putting one foot in front of the other,鈥� she said. "I think this ride that we're doing shows that.鈥�

Those who suffer from mental health problems should not have to do so in silence, she said of her message. Mental illness is a sickness that deserves to be treated.

"We just want to raise the conversation to a louder level wherever we go,鈥� Hughes said. "The stigma needs to be gone. I really believe that the more we talk about it, the more it's normalized and the more accepting people become.鈥�

Clara's Big Ride is expected to be in the Yukon for a week, and will make its appearance in the Yukon capital May 12 to 14.