I’ve been chumming Kurt on his long-form exploration of the @orogenesiscollective route for the last week in Southern California. While Kurt is riding from Canada allllll the way to southern Baja, I’m here for what is only a tiny portion but still contains a bonkers amount of trail, climbing and interesting nooks and crannies along the way. Unsure what to expect, there’s been hot sun, cool nights, STOKED local riders and trail crews, and some really, really beautiful sections of trail. It feels remote and rewarding, despite being able to see LA from the summits. The amount of planning by everyone involved to create such a long route is staggering, so muchas gracias to everyone for all that work, it’s some achievement 😊
The mountains around here are steep, raw, and endlessly beautiful, perfect for getting lost in the joy of the ride.
I joined @kurt.refsnider and @topofests for a few days as they rode through the Anillo de Los Angeles, a rugged section of the developing @orogenesiscollective route, envisioned as the longest continuous mountain bike trail in the world.
Kurt’s been on this journey for over two months now, riding the length of the continent with unwavering curiosity and drive. Huw joined him through Southern California, and I was lucky enough to tag along and document a small piece of it.
Watching them move through this landscape, laughing, grinding, taking it all in, reminded me just how much these mountains give back.
There’s so much to see out there, and somehow always more waiting around the next bend.
Went for a little bit of outside sleep to mark the equinox this week since it coincided with a few days of high pressure. It’s a funny time of year, since it’s blue skies and t shirts in the day, but mists and frozen water bottles at night. A little bit of everything, with the good bits of both Summer and Winter. Like a little cold water dip for the soul.
#adventurebybike #packlighttravelfar #revelatedesigns #fortheloveofdirt #cairngormsnationalpark #hyperlitemountaingear
There’s a new dinky version of the Joey bag from @revelatedesigns . Not pictured, but it fits a haggis inside pretty much perfectly. Other trail snacks are available.
#revelatedesigns #bikepacking #packlighttravelfar
Some photos from an overnight ski trip a few weeks ago, during Winter Mkii, or maybe Mkiii.. 🤔 I lose track this year.
In reality, just an excuse to check out and go read a book somewhere quiet. All those heavy hills make a good weighted blanket.
The snow was variable to non-existent, but the sun shone, the moon glowed, and I realise more and more that I really love the ‘two planks’ method of journeying.
There’s a more rambling version of this up on the @hyperlite_mountain_gear blog just now if you’d like a read 🙂
#comebackwinter #somewhereinscotland #scottishbackcountry #cairngormsnationalpark #lovewhereyoulive #scottishskiing #hyperlitemountaingear
@revelatedesigns have been busy updating their classic front pocket bag. I always think they’re sorted until Eric finds ways to make things even better! Having used various versions all over the place and on various bikes to carry cameras, fiddly bits and sometimes a whole cheese, I love that you can stick it to your bum now, for bonus butt-bag action 🍑
#revelatedesigns #bikepacking #packlighttravelfar
Happy times out in the woods - soggy season is also digging season 😄
@digdays are back at it with work on the second half of a brand new trail, which is all very exciting and a chance to move rocks about and eat biscuits. There’ll be a dig day on the second Sunday of each month through the winter, with anyone and everyone welcome. If you haven’t been along before, it’s a special thing to ride a trail that you had a hand in building, so come join!
#rideitlikeyoubuiltit #digdays
A lovely day at work yesterday (despite the sogginess), cutting about the woods on bikes, learning about moths and cows and trees and peatland 😃 Plus cake, always cake.
I think a little bit of me is glad that the warm weather is gone, sonce now we can all catch up a bit on sleep and snacks 😮💨
Some hellish nice times up hills, watching moonrise and sunset, and trying to sniff up all of the over due summer at once.
Had a very silly evening last Wednesday up in Inverness at NessCat 😁
Who doesn’t love a bike-powered scavenger hunt with games and cryptic clues hiding in the trees?
Flipping well done @mashphat for bringing folks together to be daft and have a fun time. More please!
A wee trip up to the far north to do some long overdue exploring. There are some fantastic sections of trail hiding up there among monolithic mountains - on a good day there is nowhere on earth that compares. However everything has its downsides. Not pictured: 1 quadrillion midges, bits of boggy trail to nowhere, but also some nighttime aurora below countless stars 🌟
