Bikepacking in Montana - Bailing on the Tour Divide
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- Rob and I had been planning the Tour Divide bike ride since 2020. A border to border has also intrigued me. Things didn't go according to the plan... and just 5 days before the we were set to leave some things came up and I had to make a tough decision to postpone the journey
With a few train tickets to Montana and only 1 week of vacation... we made some adaptations... We would set out for whitefish where we would spend a week exploring the great Montana wilderness.
Overall we had a great time despite drastic changes to our plan. Our route had us starting from Whitefish Bike Retreat, shuttling up to Rooseville, then tracing the rim of the Koocanusa lake. Down by Libby we would start heading North East through the Kooetnai National Forest, past Dickey Lake, and go through Graves Creek and Whitefish Pass. Eventually we'd make it to Polebridge and spend some time in Glacier National park.
Overall the route on Gaia said around 230 miles with 18K feet of elevation. The elevation profile seems off to me (it didn't feel like we climbed that much).
Despite not doing the tour divide, Rob and I had a great time on this trip.
Just found your channel and have been really enjoying the videos! We were backpacking the PNT which has a big road walk down Lake Koocanoosa before crossing that huge bridge. It was a hot one that summer! Thanks for the video, brought back some fond memories of that area.
Thanks James! Glad you enjoyed the video and love it when I can bring back good memories for people! I hope to do some more bikepacking out in this area!
@@pnwbikepacking Same, I would love to get back over there on a bikepacking trip.
Been thinking about riding from the San Juan Islands to Whitefish and then spending some time going down the Divide.
I like the train idea 💡.
It's definitely the way to do it!
Excited to see the next video from the following weekend!
Oof! Not sure I have enough footage, but ill take a second look!
@@pnwbikepacking ohh gotcha, I thought you were previewing for the next vid. Maybe a UA-cam short (
Just a top notch production. Good job 👍. Really enjoyed the video. Ten years from now you'll be like, 'remember that time we went to ride the divide but did that other thing instead? Damn that was fun.'
Thanks Rex. Yeah we had a blast on this trip and look back on it fondly.
Really good filmmaking & story telling. Your buddy is a character.
Thanks Joe!
Best intro ever. I was supposed to thru hike the PCT in 2022. I was permitted and everything. As I planned and trained for it life changed my plans. A month before my start date it was overwhelmingly clear to me that it wasn't really going to be possible. A month after my start date we moved from the US to France. "Hell, it's bike riding." saw me all over the south of France. Best laid plans boys, best laid plans.
Thanks for putting this together! I started the trip the same way you did from Portland on the train to whitefish, then spent a couple days at the whitefish bike retreat. I headed south at the beginning of July and I'm now 43 days into the GDMBR. I'm a slow rider, but I am getting there and should arrive at the Mexican border around mid September if all goes well. It was nice seeing this slice of your trip. Thanks again for all the time you put into these videos, I feel you're getting better over time.
Woo!!! Go John! Wishing you the best on the rest of your journey and congratulations in advance!
Awesome
Thanks!
Hey man enjoyable video!! Great scenery nice lake no fish but at least you had beer!!!🍻🚴👍 I'll take the bear claw you can have the bear 💩.👀🤣😂🤣😂👍🤘
I love Rob's energy and your chemistry. It's really nice. These videos are a ton of work to shoot, edit and produce but they're real gems and fun to watch. So just a note to say it's appreciated and I'm going to enjoy wading through your channel.
Thanks man! A lot of work definitely goes into these videos... I am so appreciative when people recognize that! Glad you enjoyed it!
So good! I really love the slowed down pace of the video. Really appreciate you putting this together.
Thanks Rob!
I think you told us about this adventure, looks totally amazing! Hope you and your wife had a great time on your hike in Lamar Valley!
That edit at the end- holy crap! I really appreciate your storytelling and introspection, it's a great remedy for all the bluster and machismo bike videos out there. Thank you!
Thank you Andrew, appreciate the kind words!
Agree. I feel like out of all the bike genres, bikepackers have the best philosophy.
Excellent video and epic ride guys! Please share your GPS stats as I’d love to ride this route sometime in July. Thanks and keep the videos coming.
I would also love to see a GPS track of this - I have been scheming on taking the train to Montana with the bike! Also supposedly Empire Builder has trainside checked bike service now so you don't need a box. Can anyone confirm this is true?
Hey Ben, if you leave from Seattle you don’t need a box. If you leave from Portland you do.
Also, once you have checked that box there are only a couple stops you can get off and get your bike on the way back to Portland. That was a bummer for me because I was going to jump off in the Columbia Gorge but that was not possible. You should call the Amtrak station and see if they have changed the rules. The folks working there were very nice and accommodating.
Chris is looking for the gps track we took.
Drone footage is looking good Chris. Earlier this summer, I rode alongside the Koocanusa lake here in Canada, except we were calling it "Koo-Can - U-S-A" lol. I'm not actually sure how it's pronounced, but it cracked me up for some reason.
Thanks! Yeah we couldn't remember the name of the lake until we got the explanation, then it was super easy to remember! What a stunning lake! Hope you're getting SOME riding in even if they a short day rides!
Well edited. Loved it. Would like to see this channel blow up
Thanks Mike! I had almost as much fun making the video as I did riding! Glad some people are enjoying it
Great filming and editing, going to watch more! Really enjoyed that guys, cheers 🍻
Thanks Kyle!
Best train ride in America- Portland to Whitefish!
In the movie, Rob is played by Will Ferrell.
Sick video! I almost ran you cats over while you were on your Fire & Ice Caves loop near Goose Lake. Glad that Rob talked up your channel. I'm hooked.
Woo! Thanks for not running us over and glad you liked the video!
Hahaha! I remember you! Ride on!
So good. Rob should get you 100k subs on the dancing alone.
Hah glad you enjoyed it. I'll try to get more of Rob dancing in future videos
Even though you didn't get to do the trip it was still a great video no matter if the trip is big or small it's still great watching you guys and I can't wait for the next video it looks great. Keep up the good work and who knows what will happen next year
Thanks! I appreciate the comment. Maybe ill be able to scam Rob to do the Colorado trail with me next year instead :)
Really well done Chris! The Divide will be there next time!
Thanks. And next time hopefully the Canadian border will be open!
Looks like a fun trip. Great video!
Wow thanks Josh. Maybe you can join us some day eh?
Thanks for sharing your adventures!
You bet! Thanks for watching Steve
Round 2 for Rob is the best!
Real. Kinda familiar pivot of plans.
Enjoyed this one alot
Thanks Curt!
Great video. I enjoy your travels as I plan my own.
Thanks Jim! Glad you're getting something out of these videos! Ride on!
Great video, man. Way to keep turn a frown upside down!
Great editing and shooting
Thanks Nate!
What a great trip and a great video documenting it! Beautiful and entertaining! I'm more than a bit envious and looking forward to seeing more. Oh, and Rob.. With bear scat, those Huckleberries make all the difference don't they?!!
Thanks Ray, glad you enjoyed the video!
Epic ride. You're lucky to have a friend like Rob. Definitely like the idea of taking the train and starting from your doorstep. I've been thinking about doing that but starting on the east coast.
Glad you liked the video Al. Definitely go do it!!!
After tasting, "2 yr old male, alittle dehydrated, scat-about a day old"....too funny! Thanks for the post!
Glad you enjoyed it
Great trip look like a lot of fun I totally like the fact that you use the train. 🚴😃👍
Thanks Jarrod! The train added to the fun for sure.
Killer video! Beautiful footage. The bike rack footage was awesome! And oh those lakes…
Thanks Jennifer, glad you liked it! Hopefully ill be back next year for the full thing!
Geez! You guys have a lot of fun!
Another awesome adventure!
Thanks! Yeah even though we didn't do the Divide, we ended up having a really great trip!
What kind of bike and size is Rob ridding??
Hey Brad, I’m riding a 2019 medium size Surly Krampus.
I bought a custom made 29” Sugar wheel set in Portland Or. and I like riding 2.35 tires.
They seem to be the most versatile. Please don’t ask me any technical questions because I don’t know or care. Chris told me what to buy and I just did what I was told. Hahaha!
I love riding bicycles but I hate working on them!
Cheers! 🍻
I'll take it from here Rob... Brad just let me know if you have any questions about Robs bike! 😂
See.....no brain, no headaches! 😀
I thought it looked like a Surly! Thanks for letting me know. I thought Rob was on a Xl frame. Guess the desert fox isn't the biggest animal out there. Keep it classy guys!
I checked out when the dude ate the bear shit.
He used a different finger for touching than tasting 😃. He fooled me with his trick too!
Great stuff as always! 👍🙌
Thanks Charles!
Awesome 👍
Thanks, glad you liked it.
A boring summary of no commitment.
Thats what I should have titled the video in the thumbnail!
Troll bottom feeder move along nothing to see here Haven't you got a butterfly to pull the wings off or something 🤔