Finally leaving Olympic National Park this morning. We biked 34 miles on a smooth bike trail. It was nice to travel among cows rather than cars and people. We stopped at a laundromat that was conveniently across from a supermarket. While the laundry was going we enjoyed a satisfying lunch and did some bike repairs. The last few miles to Sequim Bay State Park were leisurely, then we pitched tents in our hiker/biker campsites. We took much-needed showers and ate a delicious pasta dinner. The night finished with a campfire and s’mores. ~Written by Trekker Nadia
The New York to Montreal Trekkers had a busy fourth of July! Today we woke up at Croton Point Park, ate a hearty breakfast of instant oatmeal, then got on the road at 9 am. After about 20 miles on the road, we had lunch at a store where your Appalachian Trail crosses Route 9, and had some interesting conversations with some through hikers. After lunch we stopped for ice cream in Cold Spring, then did some hiking of our own on Breakneck Ridge, overlooking the Hudson River. We finished our day with a short ride North to our hotel in Fishkill, for a dinner of pita pizzas and a well deserved dip in the pool.
Our goal today was Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park: 3500 feet, 12 miles.
Mike: “The views were absolutely breathtaking; we frequently stopped at beautiful scenic lookouts. The view of the snowcapped mountains at the top, however, put all others to shame.”
Jonah: “There was a family of deer on the way and I watched them try to find each other for half an hour. There were also feral mountain goats grazing beside us as we hiked. Despite their razor-sharp horns we came out alive.”
Cole: “The way back down the mountain was an incredible experience. Maxing out at speeds of 32 mph and averaging 22, we flew down our 3 hour climb in 45 minutes. All the while we could ogle at the amazing views and at how we ever got up in the first place.”
Nadia: “The views made the hill worth it. Getting to the top was another great elation. Flying down the mountain was scary, but fun. The pain was worth it in the end.”
Harlan: “This hurts so much, it’s never gonna be worth it! …It was worth it.”
Aaron: “Obligation, accompanied by the physical assistance of impatient group members, can drag you out of bed, force dry mini wheats down your throat, and push you up a 12 mile long mountain trail. It’s a beautiful thing, too. Obligation can make you glance up from the asphalt crawling under the front wheel of your mildly functional road bike, meant to be some shade of Elmer’s glue—white, now a warm hue of dusty bookshelf, to the glorious ice-capped jagged mountain ranges, as seen on the front of your Arrowhead plastic water bottle. Obligation can make you do what you’re certain you can’t.”
Koby: “Sore muscles, hard work, distant glaciers, mountain goats, harsh wind, long distance, camp food, laughter. Doesn’t get better than this.”
Aimee: “Some hazy idea of a picturesque mountain scene was floating around in my head this morning. I was not prepared for the greatest bike battle of my lifetime. The first few miles felt good, and we enjoyed the sites together at each viewpoint. Eventually, though, our beautiful ride turned to single-minded determination to reach the peak. Comradeship vanished as we grinded our gears and spread miles apart. Each biker focused on the road under their tires, stopping only to drink and enjoy the scenery. The mountain taunted us, continuing upward around every hidden bend. Around the 11th mile, I gritted my teeth and swore not to walk my bike, no matter how liquefied my muscles were. Suddenly, I turned a corner and saw dozens of cars, the visitor center, and the best mountains I’ve ever seen. Victory!”
In a galaxy far far away… AKA Montana, six brave heroes completed 69 miles of difficult terrain. Memorable things went on such as Henry exceeding his daily carb and sugar intake by around 200%, Kyle going into beast mode for an hour after lunch, Alex becoming a pig literally and metaphorically (pork joke) and Rob staying up until 1am and buying yet another bag of CheezIts. The good people of Deer Lodge, MT invited the trekkers to join their Fourth of July pig roast where they ended the day with a good meal and fireworks. In addition to the fireworks, there was a fire. But the trekkers were safely in prison (the Old Montana Prison Museum)
Today the Across America Trekkers covered some serious ground. Despite the time change after crossing into Montana, they hit the road early today and crossed through Missoula, where thy stopped at the Adventure Cycling Office. There, they visited the same spot that over 1,200 cyclists stop at each year to grab an ice cold drink and learn about different route options. The group had their photo taken and posted on the wall next to the photos of all the other cyclists who have stopped through in 2017. After grabbing a bite in Missoula, they pressed on for 12 final miles and ended their day at a campsite in Turah, MT.
The NY-Montreal Trekkers had an eventful first day. Our ride up the Saw Mill River Bikeway was full of rolling hills and beautiful scenery. We past the new Tappan Zee Bridge and headed into Croton Pt. Campground with plenty of time to cook a delicious dinner of mac & cheese and hot dogs. After dinner we biked out to Croton Point to see fireworks over the Hudson. A great first day!
In Victoria, seagulls and pigeons serve as the honorary replacements for the songbirds and crows of California. Waking up at 4:30 AM to catch a 6:00 ferry to Port Angeles back in Washington, we were crudely seen off by an orchestra of dissonant squawks and coos. Our next stop was Safeway, where we shopped for the next six meals worth of food. In preparation for Tuesday night’s dinner, we brought along a cut of sirloin beef, a truly grave mistake. The packaging burst open on the way up to Heart ‘o the Hills, our final destination for the night, soaking Koby’s gear in a bloody mess of cow entrails. It didn’t help that we were biking up a 5-mile incline to a base camp tucked away in the mountains of Olympic National Park. To date, that steady climb was easily the most difficult challenge our group has faced and overcome over the course of the trip. I rewarded myself with a five hour nap to compensate for my early rising. Apparently, everybody had a blast hiking. ~Written by Trekker Aaron
Today the coolest thing we saw was the Bourne Bridge. After leaving Myles Standish State Forest this morning we biked through tons of small towns with tons of American flags and cool cars that were out for Fourth of July. We saw Porsches, Audi TT, and some old cars. After stopping at a bike shop and tightening some loose ends, we biked along the Cape Cod Canal which was gorgeous and blessedly flat. We’re almost to camp, where we’ll get a pizza delivery and find a beach to watch the fireworks. Written by Trekkers Jack & Nielsen
We enjoyed a laid back morning at the hostel full of pool games and good laughs. We later explored a market containing a variety of international local vendors and satisfied our curiosities with a “shrub” drink (it’s okay—not what it sounds like) and delicious maple cookies. Growing hungrier by the minute, we bought lunch and ate it over an intense card game in the park. Towards the end of the day, we wandered through a beautiful castle and ate a crazy good dinner at El Furniture Warehouse. Now, everyone is psyched to get to Olympic and experience what a national park has to offer! ~Written by Trekker Mike
Today the Across America Trekkers logged 75 miles, starting in Pinehurst, Idaho, and ending in Saint Regis, Montana. Today marked not only a new state, but also a new time zone! They climbed the steep I-90 grade to Lookout Pass and got Oreo ice cream at the top (also the state line) to celebrate. Nice work!
