Trip Overview

This blog will follow two totally inexperienced bikepackers, Geoff and Cam, and their journey from Banff to Mexico via the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. The route follows the Continental Divide, exposing riders to high altitude, diverse wildlife, and solitude. To learn more about the route, check this out. Randy will be the official bookie so get in touch with him if you'd like to place a wager on how far we will actually make it.

In the mean time, you can track our progress here thanks to our SPOT device.

This will be a site where we will try our best to post some pictures and stories along the way. Happy reading!

Sunday 17 August 2014

Day 41 - Back Country to Horca

This morning we woke up early to catch the sunrise (pics can be found on previous post). After the trips 41st bowl of grossmeal we began to tidy up the campsite.  It somehow took us 41 days of disgusting farts to finally dispose of the ungodly amount of apricots Sharon provided Cam with. The Apricots saga is quite an interesting one and we haven't really documented it yet. So here goes (briefly):

For the first leg of the trip, it was sort of an unwritten rule that Cam couldn't be the pace setter because he farted lots.  After a few days of controlled tests, it was determined that the source of stink were the apricots he had been constantly snacking on.  He continued to eat the apricots unchanged by Geoffrey's dismay.  After that lute was gorged down there were a few weeks of relatively fartless biking.  But when the crew arrived in Silverthorne to a care package from Sharon, they were appalled to learn that about a pound of apricots were laying inside the box.  Cam immediately gave a bag of them to Jacob knowing that he had no idea of the terrible consequences.  That leaves Cam with two bags of fuel.  Not wanting to throw good food out, he kept trying to pawn them off on other vegans.  There was one vegan staying with us at the hostel in Salida and he had arrived sans food and was starving.  Cam offered him a big bag of apricots.  He declined!!!!!! He must have known.   Anyways.... It was a group decision that no riders be allowed to eat apricots so we threw the remainder of the lot in the fire before taking off for the morning. 

After the quick apricot burn, we took off for the last two thousand feet of the climb.  Not an easy way to start your morning if you haven't had your Wheaties. We eventually made it above the tree line and were exposed to some incredible views.  We were nested in a beautiful valley between the two adjacent peaks and could see the large chain of fourteeners on the north eastern side.  We hung out for a while up at the top of Indiana pass to eat snacks and enjoy the fresh, brisk air.

We then rode down to the small town of Platoro to eat lupper.  It was then where Cam saw an eating challenge on the menu.  No brainer.  Four pound beef burger and four pounds of fries. 

I'd love to lie to you all and say he finished but the guy didn't even come close.  He managed to finish the burger but the fries were the death of him. Platoro - 1 Cam - 0.


This also marked the end of Jacob's time with the guys.  He had a lot of work to do back home and decided to take off early.  He met up with a group of Texans who offered to drive him to nearby city where he could more easily access transportation to the Denver airport.  It was such an awesome two weeks spent with jake and we wish he could have finished with us!

After the goodbyes, G + C rode another 23 miles to the town of Horca to finish off the day.  This may in fact be the nicest 23 miles of road that exists in our Universe.  We felt like we were in Jurassic Park. On one side would be rolling hills covered in pine and aspen, and the other jagged cliff faces.  The pictures really don't do it justice.  If you ever find yourself in southern Colorado the drive from Horca to Platoro is a must.


Good morning, Colorado.
Goodbye, farts!!

Atop  Indiana Pass!!! 12000 ft, baby!



The exhausted cast.

Mountaintop meadows are neat


Cam's mistake





Jurassic Park


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