Summer Route v.3

My plans for this summer have changed more times than I would like to admit, but as the estimated date of departure nears, the plan becomes more solidified.

I was very fortunate to grow up surrounded by some of the best offroad riding in the country. I helped to build trails in Grand Junction/Fruita when I was in high school and the area remains my favorite place to ride. My parents recently asked me to come over to GJ for a bit before I leave to help put a new roof on the casa. Initially I wasn't looking forward to it, I've got plenty of tasks in my own life to keep me busy leading up to departure, but then I realized that not only does the area contain some of the best short day rides but it's also the location of four of the premier multi-day offroad rides in country which can all be linked together! Sounds like a perfect prolouge / shakedown session / introduction before I start heading north. This route, without the White Rim section is also known as the 'Grand Loop'



Mileage for the prologue should total close to 600 miles and will probably take about 2 weeks to complete. If I am feeling good and all the bugs are worked out by the time I finish the Paradox, I might forgo the Tabeguache Trail section and ride to Telluride, follow the numerous and spectacular jeep roads through the San Juans, and then start heading N. Or I might head back to GJ on the Tab and then over via Crested Butte, Aspen, etc...

Once I start heading N. the plan remains mostly intact. I am still planning on mostly following the GDMBR with exploration sessions planned for the Wind Rivers, Tetons, Yellowstone region, and more as I move northward and discover landscapes that I have previously been blind to. If I still have it in me in Banff I would really like to travel through the Canadian Rockies to the Pacific coast and then head south, but that is a lot of miles and I probably won't have the funds to support the mileage. Which brings me to my next point...

My funding for this trip is non-existent. I have dropped all my savings into gear for the ride and have none left over for food, supplies and a few more gear items. I am also trying to work it out so that I can film the ride and tell my story to thousands around the country, maybe the world, who knows. If I am able to film the ride, once the film is done, I would like to work something out where most of the proceeds go to MTB advocate groups such as IMBA, COPMOBA, DPMBP, etc... Basically the film would serve as a fundraiser for whatever local non-profit advocacy group was putting it on. I do not want to get rich from the film, just tell my story, inspire fellows, and help out the people that fight for, protect and build our trails.

If you would like to support my journey you can do so through paypal. My account is cooper_designATmacDOTcom, (just replace the capped words with symbols first).

Cheers,

WC