We have now made it from Banff to Fernie, covering 159 miles over the first three riding days.
Monday was a travel day, followed by bike assembly and the first reminder of how generous the bikepacking community can be. Rae and Austin welcomed us to camp in the backyard of Rae’s dad, Bill. They did not stop there. They also made us dinner, which was an incredible way to begin this trip.
After months of planning and training, that first night was a great reminder that this ride is not only about the route. It is also about the people we meet along the way.
Speaking of that, Chris from Idaho has been riding with us for the past day and a half. He camped with us and is also staying at the Airbnb in Fernie tonight. It has been great sharing the early miles, camp conversations, and a little extra trail knowledge with someone who started out as a stranger just a day ago.
Day 1 ended near the north end of Spray Lakes Reservoir, just off Kananaskis Lakes Trail, after our first real push south from Banff. Seeing the route on a map is one thing. Rolling into camp surrounded by the mountains made it feel like the journey had truly begun.
Since then, we have been riding about 50 miles a day. The scenery has been incredible. The mountains are stunning, rugged, and constantly present. Every day has brought views that make it hard not to stop and take everything in.
We have also had plenty of wildlife sightings already. We have seen black bears and grizzlies, fortunately nothing too close, along with mountain goats or sheep, deer, elk, and what may have been an ermine. I am still not completely sure about that last one, but it was a quick and interesting sighting.
The weather has been good for riding overall. Today brought a strong headwind from Sparwood to Fernie, and that section was tougher than expected. It was not particularly technical, but some of the rocky roads were among the roughest surfaces I have ridden. It was a reminder that a road does not need to be technical to be demanding.
We have stayed at two campgrounds so far, including one near the Elk Lakes area and another in Elkford. I have been especially grateful for the showers at both.
Tonight, we are taking a break from camping at an Airbnb in Fernie. The alternative was dispersed camping and trying to find a suitable spot along the trail. With rain in the forecast and uncertainty around where we would land, this felt like the right choice.
Most importantly, I am feeling really good. My legs are tired at the end of each day, as they should be, but I do not feel worn down. That is encouraging as we settle into the rhythm of the ride.
Tomorrow, assuming all goes well, we should reach the Canada and United States border.
Thank you to everyone following along, supporting the American Cancer Society fundraiser, and sending encouragement. It is great to know there are so many people riding along with us in spirit.
-Bill