The Great Divide
After reading my last post, Emma asked: "What does this have to do with our trip?" Admittedly, not much....... I guess? Either way, I suppose it's time for a post with a bit more about the trail. Ready for some stats!?
Total distance: 2,696 miles
Starting Point: Banff, Canada
Ending Point: Mexico Border in Antelope Wells, New Mexico
Total Climbing: 149,664 feet
Highest Point: Indiana Pass, Colorado; 11,910 feet
States: Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico
Billed as 'the longest off-pavement route in the world,' the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route travels almost 2,700 miles from Canada to Mexico on rail trails, gravel roads, singletrack, ATV trails, and some pavement crossing the Continental Divide 32 times. The route climbs the equivalent of Mt. Everest's peak from sea level five times with the highest point almost twice the height of Mt Mitchell, NC. It passes close to Yosemite, and through the Grand Tetons, Great Divide Basin, and Gila Wilderness. There's pronghorn antelope, eagles, grizzly bears, and wild horses along the route.
Inevitably, my mind draws comparisons between the Great Divide and the Appalachian Trail. Both offroad trails through forests and open places. Both require gear and resupplies. Both (I assume) take determination and good logistics to complete.
The more research and logistics we do, the more I realize how different bikepacking and the Appalachian trail are. While the Great Divide has a lot of climbing, the Appalachian Trail had almost three times as much at about 515,00 feet! Most of the Great Divide is on gravel/dirt roads which means the grade never gets too steep. Hiking trails have no maximum grade as Emma and I learned climbing our way over the Maine-New Hampshire border.
There will also be coasting. Coasting! This is such a foreign concept to my hiking brain. I remember the first the climb I did backpacking and thinking how difficult it was. I didn't realize the descent can be worse. Imagine just hiking along the flat and the hills and resting on the descents! You can put some energy into it, but you don't have to. Coasting!
The gear will be very different as well. While there will be no backpacks weighing us down, we will be towing an anchor. It'll be a bit like having a car trunk with all our kit packed in one giant dry bag. We'll have to resist the temptation to treat it like one of our canoe trips where we haul the camping chairs, the second mate, and a cooler stocked with a couple 12 packs.
I'm not saying I'm expecting the Great Divide to be easier, but let's face the facts. Emma and I camped outside 150 days on the AT. We collected water from tiny puddles. We clawed our way through the Mahoosuc Notch. We walked 5 mile into towns to buy supplies from gas stations. We went without food, water, and warm clothes (sometimes) yet still carried large loads on our backs. I know there will be mechanical issues, saddle sores, technical trails, and headwinds but luckily I've got some experience with those from my racing days. We have the experience with this stuff to make the Great Divide a bit easier. How long into the trip before I regret writing this paragraph?
I think it is important for me to stand on the border that has been on my mind so often, that divides us both physically and emotionally; the other Great Divide. I want to see the desert so many are struggling through. I want to see the arbitrary line separating opportunity and fear. I want to come face to face with my privilege. Not to revel in it's 'greatness' and feel thankful I'm not 'them,' but to stand on the edge and consider if I deserve it. Am I doing good with it? Am I frivolous? Am I the problem? Can you ever justify privilege even if you can't help it? I want to remember there are real people on the other side who deserve everything I have. I want to remember who the fight is for. I want to remember nothing is free.
Don't get me wrong though, I know this is a personal (selfish?) quest but, I need the break. I feel spoiled complaining about being tired from a program that is allowing me to improve my standard of living, but life can find a way of wearing you down regardless. I want to see pronghorn. I want to see the desert. I don't want to see a Grizzly, but I do want to remember natural beauty still exists. I want to eat dirt, get rained on, sleep on the ground. I want to recharge the batteries so I can put more swing in the fight.
Total distance: 2,696 miles
Starting Point: Banff, Canada
Ending Point: Mexico Border in Antelope Wells, New Mexico
Total Climbing: 149,664 feet
Highest Point: Indiana Pass, Colorado; 11,910 feet
States: Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico
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| Not me. Thanks BikePacking.com |
Inevitably, my mind draws comparisons between the Great Divide and the Appalachian Trail. Both offroad trails through forests and open places. Both require gear and resupplies. Both (I assume) take determination and good logistics to complete.
The more research and logistics we do, the more I realize how different bikepacking and the Appalachian trail are. While the Great Divide has a lot of climbing, the Appalachian Trail had almost three times as much at about 515,00 feet! Most of the Great Divide is on gravel/dirt roads which means the grade never gets too steep. Hiking trails have no maximum grade as Emma and I learned climbing our way over the Maine-New Hampshire border.
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| Remember this? |
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| Me this time. |
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| The second mate doesn't paddle |
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| Not me this time though. |
Don't get me wrong though, I know this is a personal (selfish?) quest but, I need the break. I feel spoiled complaining about being tired from a program that is allowing me to improve my standard of living, but life can find a way of wearing you down regardless. I want to see pronghorn. I want to see the desert. I don't want to see a Grizzly, but I do want to remember natural beauty still exists. I want to eat dirt, get rained on, sleep on the ground. I want to recharge the batteries so I can put more swing in the fight.
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