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Bikepacking the Great Divide
By Ed Gravelle
The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is the longest mostly off-pavement bikepacking route in the world. Beginning in Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the course travels to Banff and through the states of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico before ending at the Mexican border in Antelope Wells. Along the approximate 3,100-mile circuitous path, the route crosses the continental divide about 30 times while gaining and losing some 200,000 feet in elevation. The surfaces include approximately 2,100 miles of dirt road, 60 miles of singletrack, 900 miles of paved road, and 50 miles of paved bike path.
These details were taken from the Adventure Cycling Association website, which I recommend as a great source of information if you want to know more about the route: adventurecycling.org. From the website you can also purchase hard copy maps and/or download the course to most GPS equipped bike computers.
Getting to the start turned out to be one of the hardest parts of this trip. After my flight landed in Edmonton, I learned my bike box had been swallowed by the blackhole of the airline’s lost luggage system. Six days later, after I had returned home, I was notified that my bike box was safe and sound back in Canada. I returned to Edmonton, shuttled five hours to Jasper and finally got started on my solo trip south the morning of August 11.
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OUR BEST BET EVENTS
Included events are Adirondack Sports advertisers and/or exhibitors
January issue ad deadline: Friday, 12/29
Happy winter solstice! Hoping your heart gets lighter as the days get brighter!
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“Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves.” –Eric Sevareid | |
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Thursday, December 21
Outdoor Winter Solstice Celebration. 4pm. Celebrate with lights & cheer. Library, Old Forge. oldforgeny.com.
Winter Solstice Hike. 6-8pm. Henry’s Woods, Lake Placid. Adirondack Mountain Club. adk.org.
Saturday, December 23
Lapland Lake Ski Orienteering Meet. All welcome. Lapland Lake, Northville. laplandlake.com
First Day of Winter Bonfire & Snow Dance. 7pm. All welcome. Hickory Ski Center, Warrensburg. facebook.com/hickoryskicenter.
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Friday-Saturday, December 29-30
Adirondack Winter Invitational. Men’s College Hockey. Fri: 4pm. Sat: 4pm. Herb Brooks Arena, Olympic Center, Lake Placid. lakeplacidolympiccenter.com.
Sunday, December 31
YMCA Ugly Sweater Frostbite 5K. 12pm. Registration opens 11/24. In memory of John Hayden. Oneonta Family YMCA, Oneonta. oneontaymca.org.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks & Torchlight Parade. 8-8:30pm. Oak Mountain, Speculator. oakmountainski.com.
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Monday, January 1
2nd Saratoga First Day 5K Run/Walk. 11am. A great community event in Saratoga Springs to kick-off the new year. New USATF certified course. Medals for top 3 M/F, open, masters, age groups. Save $5 when registering for both SFD5K and Firecracker4 (7/4). A FC4 & Raven Events production. Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga Springs. saratogafirstday5k.com.
HMRRC Winter Series #2: 47th Hangover Half Marathon & Bill Hogan 5.5K Run/Walk. 12pm. Physical Education Building, UAlbany, Albany. hmrrc.com.
On the Canals First Day Hike. 4M to Lock 5. 12pm. Adk Ultra Cycling, Schuylerville. onthecanals.com.
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Wednesday-Sunday, January 3-7
Learn to Curl. 1/3 & 1/5: 6-8pm. 1/6: 9-11am & 11:30am-1:30pm. 1/6 & 1/7: 2-4pm. Albany Curling Club, Albany. albanycurlingclub.org.
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Saturday, January 6
Inaugural Adk Tour de Ski #2: Dewey Mountain. XC ski race series. 6pm. 2.5K & 6K Masters & Juniors Skate. All welcome. Dewey Mountain, Saranac Lake. paulsmithsvic.org.
Adirondak Loj Tour with Hike. 10am-4:30pm. Heart Lake or Marcy Dam hike & lunch. Heart Lake, Lake Placid. adk.org.
Saturday-Sunday, January 6-7
Junior National Qualifier XC Ski Races. Gore Mountain, North Creek. nyssranordic.org.
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Sunday, January 7
Winter 46 High Peaks Workshop. 9am-4pm. Education Yurt Village, Lake Placid. adk.org.
Winona Forest Snowshoe Series: Norway 5K Snowshoe. 10:30am. Winona Forest Preserve, Mannsville. runreg.com.
Sunday-Sunday, January 7-February 11
Lapland Lake: Youth Skate Ski Clinic. A six week skate ski clinic for youth aged 8-14. All ability levels welcome. Clinic will introduce beginners to the technique and also help those with more experience improve and develop their skills. Conditions permitting, the clinic will include five regular sessions on Sundays, 12:45-2:15pm on Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28 & Feb. 4), plus participation in Lapland Lake’s Youth Festival on Feb. 11. Equipment rental available if needed. laplandlake.com/events.
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Tuesday, January 9
ADK Winter Survival 101: Online Workshop. 9am-1pm. adk.org.
Wednesday, January 10
Winter 46 High Peaks Workshop. 9am-4pm. Education Yurt Village, Lake Placid. adk.org.
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Saturday, January 13
Adirondack Mountain Club: Winter Survival. 9am-1pm. Education Yurt Village, Lake Placid. adk.org.
Saturday-Monday, January 13-15
Santanoni Winter Weekend. 10M snowshoe or ski tour, explore Gate and Main lodges, interpretive tours, refreshments. Camp Santanoni, Newcomb. Adirondack Architectural Heritage. greatcampsantanoni.com.
Sunday, January 14
Inaugural Adk Tour de Ski #3: Frenette Trails. XC ski race series: Frenette Freestyle. 11am. Adult 6K & 3K freestyle & youth 2.2K mass start. All welcome. Frenette Trails, Tupper Lake. paulsmithsvic.org.
HMRRC Winter Series #3: 3M, 10K, 25K. 10am. Physical Education Building, UAlbany, Albany. hmrrc.com.
First Century Road Bike Ride. 105/57/28 miles. 8am. Adk Ultra Cycling Bike Shop, Schuylerville. Register: bikereg.com.
Cock-A-Doodle Shoe 5K & 10K Snowshoe Races. 10am. Dion WMAC Series. New Land Trust Trails, Saranac. cockadoodleshoe.com.
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SUN On the Canals Guided Winter Hikes. 1/7, 1/21, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25. 12pm. 4-6M to Lock 5, Schuyler House or Victory Mills. Free, no pets. Adk Ultra Cycling Bike Shop, Schuylerville. Info: 518-583-3708 or john@adkultracycling.com. Register: bikereg.com.
MON-FRI Rock Your Fitness: Boot Camp Workouts. Mon/Wed/Fri: 5:30am, 6:30am, 9am. Tue: 5:30pm. Sat 8am. Special offer: Free week of class with registration for 2x/3x per week option. To register, text and use promo code “ADK fit” to 518-522-9765. Malta Community Center, Malta. facebook.com/rockyourfitnessllc.
TUE Shenendehowa Nordic Club: Bill Koch Youth Ski League. 4pm. All welcome. Activities & skills for ages 2-13. Season: 11/7-3/36. Garnsey Park, Clifton Park. shennordic.org. facebook.com/groups/shennordic.
TUE/THU/SAT Bikeatoga: Lots of Kids (and Adult) Bikes, Helmets & Training Wheels Available for Adoption. All are ready to ride so stop by on Tue 6-8pm, Thu 5-8pm, Sat 9am-12pm (until 12/16, last day until spring). Basement of St. Peter’s Church (Hamilton Street parking lot), Saratoga Springs. bikeatoga.org/events.
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WED Gore Citizens’ Races 5K. 1/10, 17, 24, 31, 2/7, 14, 21, & 28. 6pm. XC ski: skate/classic & snowshoe. Gore Mountain Nordic Center, North Creek. goremountain.com/nordic-center-events.
WED Intro to Skate Skiing. 1/10-2/14. 5-6pm. Dewey Mountain Recreation Center, Saranac Lake. deweymountain.com.
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