Pedal Your Turns: Pedal-Powered Backcountry Snowsliding

Pedal Your Turns: Sierra Nevada Expedition

A pedal-powered backcountry tour from Eugene, Or to Tioga Pass, CA.

By: Fred Sproat and Sam Appelbaum

It was over a year ago that the high peaks and easy access of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Range captivated our collective imagination. At the end of a three day backcountry tour we realized we only scratched the surface of the range of light and were already planning a second trip on the drive back home.

We dreamed of returning to this range but riding on two wheels instead of four and burning calories instead of gas. Why not make our return a pedaled powered backcountry expedition? Why not earn our turns all the way from the doorstep instead of just the trailhead? We were environmental studies graduates from the University of Oregon and this trip was our direct action response to the issues that were taught and tested in lecture halls and debated at bars.

Our 630 mile ride began amidst Eugene’s vibrant bike culture and weaved through roads where cyclists were few and far between. We pedaled through towns where the idea of bikes as a viable form of transportation was an afterthought. We left Eugene with little more than torn out pages from a road atlas and a vague idea of the route we’d take. The allure of Tioga Pass’s peaks and couloirs made our loaded down 80 pound bikes feel manageable and like we were pedaling with a purpose.

We arrived in Lee Vining California after nine full days of riding and were stoked to know the bike tour was done and the backcountry tour was about to begin. The ten mile, 3,000 foot climb up Tioga Pass was over before noon and 24 hours later we found ourselves dropping into our first lines. We made turns through spring corn and climbed granite lined couloirs. The profundity of the trip hit home atop 13,000 ft Mt. Dana. For most folks the climb begins at 10,000 ft and takes three hours. For us it began at 400 ft and took two weeks. The bliss, freedom, and flow of sliding down its north face was only paralleled by biking back down to our camp that night.

For a more detailed report on the bike ride, significant places, and the turns we made please check out http://www.pedalyourturns.com

all photographs courtesy of Fred Sproat

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