Denise LaFountaine

The Ups and Downs of the Great Divide

Me standing in front of a sign that says, "Mexico 1/2 mile" on the side of the road.

What a ride! Now I know what mountain bike riding is all about. Now I know why people have mountain bikes and a bike-packing set up. Now I know what 200,000ft of elevation feels like from riding up anywhere from say 500ft to 6,000ft on a daily basis over dirt roads. Now I know thatContinue reading “The Ups and Downs of the Great Divide”

Colorado, Here I Am!

Phew! Made it to Steamboat Springs, Co. after many hard earned miles and many more feet of elevation. In fact, on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) there is no day where you are not climbing anywhere from 2,000 to 6,000ft. It’s insane. Some days that’s on relatively decent packed gravel and other daysContinue reading “Colorado, Here I Am!”

Feeling hot, hot, hot!

Wicked Hard Rooseville to Helena…check. Two weeks, 370miles, 33,000ft up and 32,000ft down. If you read my last post, you can delete it now. I was clueless. This is freaking hard. Bike packers are dialed in to this whole divide route. It turns out that less really is more, cold beans rule, energy bars areContinue reading “Feeling hot, hot, hot!”

Practice Run

I was lucky to have nice weather on my weekend shake-down ride. I usually try to go to the San Juan Islands for a couple of nights but this year I only had time for a quick overnight to Vashon Island. I rode from Bremerton to Port Orchard then along the water to Southworth whereContinue reading “Practice Run”

Biking for Clean Hands and Clean Water

children washing hands at school tippy tap stations with teachers watching

I bike for a variety of reasons. For example: I bike for exercise, to be kind to the environment, to be outside in nature, to get fresh air deep into my lungs, to learn about new places, to meet new people, to live in the moment, to give the ruminating in my head a rest,Continue reading “Biking for Clean Hands and Clean Water”

The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR)

map of US with a red line marking the GDMBR

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. ThisContinue reading “The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR)”

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Columbia River

two men and one women covered in black mud standing in bathing suits in front of lake.

Camping during Covid-19 We left the Kettle Falls RV Park and rode due south. Camp grounds along the river where closed to tent camping, but the RV parks were open. We ended up getting very creative out of desperation. Wild camping was not really an option since it is mostly dry flat land with noContinue reading “Columbia River”

The North Cascade Highway

A woman standing in front of her bike with a view of lake diablo and the north cascades in the background.

Highway 20 After warming up on the unforgiving hills of the San Juan Islands, the gradual climb of the first part of the North Cascades seemed reasonable. From Anacortes we rode to Sedro-Wolley, Marblemount and finally to Colonial Creek Campground on Lake Diablo with relative ease. After Colonial Creek Campground the climbs begin. Day one:Continue reading “The North Cascade Highway”

Here We Go!

A man and a woman walking to the beach towards a tipple made of driftwood

Take off A million small last minute decisions to make before we leave. I always over-pack and end up tossing and turning the night before a trip fretting over bringing this or leaving that behind. I try to imagine a scenario where my extra small down pillow won’t be needed. I can’t. Nevertheless, I knowContinue reading “Here We Go!”

Biking in the Time of Coronavirus

I’m ready for another adventure. Despite the state of affairs in the world today, I’ve decided to go for it. On a bike, physically and socially distancing is not a stretch. Unfortunately, I can’t count on staying with Warmshowers hosts or couch-surfing like in the past, but I’ll make up for that in my newContinue reading “Biking in the Time of Coronavirus”