It’s time for another adventure. I’m going to do this summer what I hoped to do last summer until my plans turned upside down by a not so little pandemic.
The time has come to ride the epic continental divide bike trail developed and marketed over twenty years ago by the organization, Adventure Cycling. This is the longest off-pavement bike route in the world. It start in Jasper, Canada and ends at the border of Mexico at Antelope Wells, New Mexico. A cool 3,083 miles. Since the border with Canada is still closed, I will start in Roosville, Montana lopping off the first 589 miles.
The hard part about the GDMBR is not the distance but the elevation. The entire ride is following the continental divide along the spine of the Rocky Mts. In total, there is 200,000ft of elevation. That’s like climbing Everest 20 times.
Luckily, I’m not doing this alone. I’ve recruited Dana Hansen, my old friend from Wisconsin who rode with me through Bolivia a couple of years ago. I’m thrilled to have a buddy. After a year of isolation under covid, I’m ready to be social. And, I imagine, we’ll run into lots of other bikers along the route.
My job now is to start getting my bike groove back on. More on that later…
Oh ya, in addition to the ride, I will be doing a fundraiser for a grass-roots non-profit that I got involved with this past year. Stay tuned, I will give more information in the next post. Let’s just say for now that I’m very excited to support this project working towards clean hands and clean water!
Tail winds,
Denise
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Hooray for your adrenaline rush! And safe journey!
Nina xox
Thanks Nina!
Denise, hardy thanks for all you do to get kids back in school in Guatemala. you literally go to the source don’t you. thanks so much. Dave Renfrow, los buenos vecinos usa.
Hi Dave, this is fun! So happy this is all working out. You and your team are amazing (and a very worthy cause)!
Hi Denise,
So by doing the Continental Divide, you two are literally passing through my backyard. I have a couple high altitude rides planned this summer, but I’m not going back to Mexico till November. It could be that I could join the two of you for a few days. I’ll look as you offer more details and you never know!
Ron
Ron, yes, you definitely have to join us for a few days! Not sure where you live, but we can make it work!
When you create your route and have an approximate idea of when you’ll be going near Rabbit Ears Pass by Steamboat Springs or better yet Rocky Mountain National Park both in Colorado, let me know and I will see if that coincides with my summer schedule. What fun it would be after following your adventures these past years!
That sounds great, Ron! It would be fun if it all worked out. I’ll let you know the schedule as soon as I know! Hahaha…
Perfect! Lots of variables but hope it works.
Let’s see if the stars align!
te deseo mucha suerte en este nuevo desafio!!! y te voy a seguir atentamente desde Argentina! besos
Gracias, Maria! Me alegro mucho que seas parte de mi viaje! Deje parte de mi corazón en tu lindo pais. Un abrazo enorme!
cool, have a safe and interesting ride. Grüezi from Switzerland!
Thank you, Carmen! Great to get a message from Beautiful Switzerland. Thanks for following my GDMBR adventure!
Denise – You are amazing! Such an inspiration. I’ll definitely support the charity you choose.
Thank you, Kitty! I appreciation your kind support!
So cool Denise! I’ll be praying for your safety & following you til the end. Stay strong & courageous, you got this girl! Love you sis!!!
Thank, Annie! Nice to have your little sis following along. I could use all the prayers and support I can get.