Alaska to Argentina | Episode 3 | Jasper, Banff, and the GDMBR (Part 1)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ต.ค. 2024
- As soon as I left Prince George, I headed up, and up, and up, into the Canadian Rockies. As I ascended, the mountains seemed to grow around me displaying some of the most awesome natural beauty I have ever seen. Every turn presented scenery unparalleled by anything in my experience. I spent five magical days with my head on a swivel, gawking at every glacier, river, and lake that crossed my path.
After is was all over, I arrived at Banff and started the Great Divide Mountain Biking Route. As soon as my tire hit gravel, everything changed. The scenery was still amazing, but now I had it to myself. Jasper and Banff National Parks are incredible, but they are also quite crowded. The GDMBR was a welcome relief from the cars and trucks and RVs towing cars and trucks.
However the Great Divide is not without its own challenges. Smoke, fire, and loose, rocky slopes all assailed me, and forced me off the main route, at least for a time. By the time I crossed the border into the USA, I was back on the route.
So far Montana has been nice. The hills have been challenging, but doable. No more fires have blocked my path and I've met quite a few Great Divide riders including Garret, who runs the channel @MoveWithMurph . We were able to share footage of each other. Check out his Great Divide video once he finishes it, probably in a few months.
I'm uploading this video from Helena where I've spent the past few days, but I'm anxious to get back on the bike and head to Butte, Wyoming, and beyond.
Social Media:
Instagram: crankingit
Support Me:
Patrion: patreon.com/CrankingIt
Paypal: paypal.me/AlexvanGelder
About the Ride:
My name is Alex van Gelder. I'm from Seattle and I'm just starting my first intercontinental bicycle tour. The goal is to ride from Deadhorse, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina in one go.
I also want to ride some bikepacking routes including the Great Divide Route through the Rocky Mountains and the Peru and Ecuador Divides through the Andes.
For this trip I built my own bike using a custom frame in order to be able to withstand rough mountain roads as well as power through long distances on pavement. (I had never built a bike before so we'll see if it holds up.)
If you have any other questions you can check out my FAQs video: • Alaska to Argentina | ...
or leave a comment and I'll get to it as soon as I can.
I'm editing these videos on the road, so releases my be infrequent as I try to find a quiet place to edit.
Awesome video, my worst day on the divide was also crossing stream, and I hope it stays that day. Great to reconnect in Helena. Keep getting these videos out, they are great!
Same, though I just had a mud day that came close. Thank you for sharing the footage, I look forward to seeing your video!
Enthusiastic greetings from The Special Territory of Yogyakarta, Indonesia Mr Crankin' It. Happy pedalling.
Wow, thank you! I would love to visit Indonesia someday. How is the cycling out there?
Perfect.
Good video. Those forest service roads as we call them in BC (FSR) can be steep as hell and that one you were on was crazy with lots of chunky rock. If you were worried about bears that climb would have taken the bears off your mind. If a Grizzly popped out you would scream f@#k off and it would bolt.
Awesome video Alex. The push on those rocks looked beyond brutal. 5 hours … you’re a beast.💪👏
Hey Alex-- Tim and I are really enjoying your videos. Such amazing scenery. Such hardships! Cool to hear about places that are so welcoming to bikers. Keep the images coming!
Aunt Liz
Thank you! The rest of Montana has continued to be tough but beautiful as well. I'm glad you're enjoying the series so far!
Chapeau
Great Video!
Great video! This is the section of the GDMBR I want to ride next year! 😊
At what date did you start in Banff?
I started August 15th, which is pretty much what bikepacking.com recommends. It worked out perfectly. I missed the snow in Colorado, and it wasn't too hot in New Mexico.
Awesome Alex, Can't believe you're well into Montana now!
Im on board.
Hi,
1. When did you start at Prudhoe bay?
2. How many days did it take to reach Banff GDMBR trailhead?
I’m your new subscriber from Manila, Philippines :-)
I started June 21st (the summer solstice) in Prudhoe Bay. I got to Banff on August 11th, so 52 days. During that time, I took 7 rest days, so 45 days of riding total.
@@Crankingit, thank you sir.
I did the TransAmerica trail last 2016 (age 51) and I plan to do the Great Divide but I am considering to start at Prudhoe Bay. I was concerned with the timing of the weather in Montana and Colorado and of course in Prudhoe Bay.
Thank you for taking the time to respond 🙂
Incredible, you’re absolutely crushing it man! What’s your timeline for getting to Central America? I’m shooting to be in Panama by June on the boat but might make it sooner
Would be great to run into you again!
I may be there around then or a little earlier. It would be incredible if we were able to meet up. Are you going to Colombia? You think you could give me a ride around the Darien Gap?
@@Crankingit I’ll be hitting Columbia before Panama (westbound from the eastern Caribbean) but if the timing works out I’m sure we could arrange it👍 it’d be a .5-1 day sail from San Blas area to Columbia maybe a little more depending on where exactly you’re going
Do you remember where the hut you stayed in was or what it was called after the Crossing Creek section near Elkford on the GDMBR? I'm thinking about exploring the route. Thx
I think it's called Koko Claims. It is located at 50.085589, -115.02951. Amazing that you would want to explore it after seeing the video. It's probably not as bad with a lighter bike, but still... good luck!
my pickup's have been really durable, sucks that happened! One question, how do they handle off road? I've only ridden them on pavement, and very small patched of gravel.
I haven't had any problems with the handling, but maybe I'm just used to them now. I'm about halfway through the Great Divide, and there have only been a few short, steep sections where knobby tires would have been better.
@@Crankingit thats good to know, I don’t plan on riding much off-road, but knowing that these can still work fine off-road is nice. Yea its hard to find the perfect tire for what you’re doing. Going from gravel to pavement, to what ever that climb was you did on this video. That was hardcore!
Your tire tread is why you were getting a lot of flats; You needed tire tread for hard packed dirt trails...similar to bike tires for Mountain Biking. You were riding on street commuter tires :(. They have zip on tire treads that fit on the surface of your current using tire for those who simply need temporary tire tread change.
Thank you for the suggestion!
How long do you think it will take you until you've reached your final destination?
I figure it'll take about a year and a half in total so that I can end the trip in Patagonian summer.
Over my thousands of mile riding a bike, at least 80% have been on the rear tire.
Same! I figure it must be the extra weight.
I guess you have been inspired by Iohan The Bikewanderer!?
Totally! He was an inspiration both in terms of his style of travel as well as his filmmaking. Both were incredible.
why u guys wouldnt stick together is beyond me. bunch of friends you are.
On long distance rides like the GDMBR, people are always leap-frogging. In this video, we had only just met.
Please wear a high viz vest.