Splitboard.com Forums

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

Sheesh..that's all you did? Lazy!

That is pretty sick Nice boards by the way!!!

Rad. Could you post some close-ups to show how you fastened the board to the bike frame?

Both Fred and I used a 3' cam strap on the top tube to bring the board/skis together, then we simly rested the back end atop our Duluth Pack Panniers. I put the ends of the board through my backpack straps and then used three separate cam straps to tighten everything down.

(http://duluthpack.com/outdoor-gear/biking/pannier-bag-bike-bag.html)

This is the best stoke ever

Good job ya'll that looks like a super sweet trip! X 2

Car's R Coffinz

Inspiring!

[/quote]

While highly unlikely, I had horrible images of slipping a pedal and the potential top tube sack splitting moment this could create...

While highly unlikely, I had horrible images of slipping a pedal and the potential top tube sack splitting moment this could create... [/quote]


Naaahhh. Hardest part was getting on and off the bike. Otherwise you couldn't even tell the board was there.

Hold up... are you rockin' a Surly frame? Is that the cross-check or the 1x1... proud owner of a 1x1 myself...that mission would have been super slick on the Karate Monkey

Nice choice in bikes..

Seeing your homee is a fellow Minnesotan... point that steez towards the BWCA... fine campin' and fishing up there.

again such a wicked idea for a trip..

[quote="SPLITRIPPIN"]Hold up... are you rockin' a Surly frame? Is that the cross-check or the 1x1... proud owner of a 1x1 myself...that mission would have been super slick on the Karate Monkey
/quote]

I rode a Long Haul Trucker on 26" wheels while Fred rode a Karate Monkey.

Our buddy Adam joined us for the ride in Carson City. He also rode a Karate Monkey.

The rider with the blue helmet is a close friend who met us on Tioga Pass. He drove up.

That's an awesome multi-modal experience you folks did, nice.

so freaking stoketacular!