Every year around my birthday I try to get out for an adventure. Often it’s done as a solo endeavor as most folks aren’t really into suffering like I am. This year's trip was similar in most ways although I wanted it to air on the side of enjoyment rather than suffering. With my Panorama Katahdin arriving on my doorstep only a few weeks prior I thought it would be an amazing opportunity to head out for an epic gravel adventure and put the new rig through its paces.

The Route 

My plan was to ride a 200 km loop from home to the Cutbank River. A simple overnighter that would take me southwest into the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, to a place that's both rugged and remote. The interesting thing about the area is that although it feels like you're a million miles from home you're often close enough to someone if something were to go wrong. 

You see, Grande Prairie Alberta is an industrial town, the beating heart of a scattering of arteries and veins that carries and returns the industries of forestry and oil and gas to and from the depths of the boreal forest. I’ve always considered this a double-edged sword as in many cases the drive of industry has literally paved the way for outdoor adventurers like myself to access otherwise remote locations. But it also enables the destruction of these beautiful places that I long to explore. With roads that stretch for hundreds of kilometers in all directions, the area is a true bikepackers paradise.

Packing

With it being mid April in Northern Alberta I knew it would be a chilly night. I knew the trade-off would be that the bears would still be moving slowly and this would be a trip that wouldn’t carry with it the added concern of a bear investigating my presence on its turf. I would like to say that I packed accordingly but my plan was to move as fast and as light as possible so I’d stoke a fire all night to keep me warm. For the trip I would pack a light sleeping bag, a Thermarest Neo-Air sleeping mat, and a Lunar Solo tent. I’d use my jacket and a stuff sack for a pillow and I have a lightweight inflatable pillow for my knees because I’m getting old haha! I would pack some mac and cheese, oatmeal, chocolate cookies, and coffee for breakfast. This would all pack up into a Revalate seat bag, a pair of Tailfin fork bags, and my custom double-decker Thief frame bag.

The Panorama Katahdin

With the trip planned and packing sorted it was time to load up the bike and hit the road. My bike of choice for a trip like this is always based on terrain. Being that this ride was a pure gravel grind with a lot of poorly maintained asphalt the obvious choice was my new Panorama Katahdin. This bike held its own on this ride and even packed up I held an average speed of over 20 km per hour into a nasty headwind, that's fast! This was no surprise to me as the bike is equipped with a 12-speed Shimano GRX drivetrain and Maxxis Rambler 45’s, all built on a beautiful lightweight, yet burly, carbon fiber frame. It was an absolute treat to get out and test the setup and its capabilities on a long gravel ride!

Home to The Cutbank

Day one was filled with enjoyment. As I headed out I started on familiar gravel until I crossed the Wapiti River and headed into unfamiliar territory. I planned to ride the eastern half of the loop on day 1 on the Bald Mountain Tower Road. I always try to ride a loop, to keep things fresh. I’m not a huge fan of backtracking as I love to see new sights and find roads I haven’t ridden before. At the halfway point I came to a pretty little creek and stopped for lunch. Here I found a cross with the words, “Here he was laid to rest, in his favorite place on earth”. I was a little unnerved as well as perplexed. I mean, it was a beautiful spot but I wouldn’t say it would be my top pick. I shook it off, finished my oodles, and got back on the road. I was soon met by a grader operator who asked if I was alright. This is a common question when I am out riding solo in the middle of nowhere. I think people think I am a little unhinged most times, I find that funny. 

The Campout 

After slogging it out uphill for most of the ride I arrived at my destination along the Cutbank River where I set up for the night. I gathered a huge amount of firewood and set up my tent close to the fire. I knew it would be a cold night and sure enough, it was. I stoked the fire before drifting off to sleep and would wake up shivering from the cold every time the fire was close to burning itself out. I would restoke the fire and crawl back into my sleeping bag eventually abandoning the tent altogether so I could be close to the warmth of the fire. At close to 3 am I woke again, to stoke the fire and warm up. As I gathered deadfall for the fire I suddenly noticed that the northern lights were dancing all around me. I grabbed the camera and went to work trying to capture the moment. It was a beautiful display and I took the time to enjoy taking photos of the night sky, not something I do too often anymore. As a dad of young kiddos, I cherish my sleep so it has been a while.

With the Aurora fading and my fingers going numb I once again turned my attention to the fire. I gave it one more big stoke and headed back to the warmth of my bivy where I would remain until sunrise. With little sleep but a full cup of happiness, I woke slowly, prepared my morning coffee then began to pack up. I was looking forward to getting back on the road, seeing new sights and seeing my family. 

The Cutbank to Home 

I was excited to head for home as I knew that the trip would be mostly downhill and the wind would be at my back as the wind here blows from the west, most of the time. I was soon to be disappointed as a strong easterly headwind would pick up early in the morning and only get stronger as I rode. With gusts of over 60km per hour, my morale would soon be placed in the toilet. As I slogged my way downhill, yes that’s right downhill, almost coming to a complete stop when coasting I felt completely crushed! I stopped for a brief lunch knowing I needed to keep going, as my girls had a birthday supper for me! So with the wind howling in my face I pushed on and arrived home two hours later than expected.

Looking back on the trip now I had a great time! You can’t win against the wind so I never gauge enjoyment in the conditions. In the planning of the trip I hoped for a healthy mix of pleasure and pain so I suppose in the end the wind helped me out with that haha! All in all, I had a peaceful night under the burning aurora for my forty-first birthday and I am really looking forward to my next one.