The Best Way Out Is Through – A Bikepacker Credo

Posted by on Feb 1, 2018 in Bikepacking | One Comment

pony express trail utah

“…the best way out is always through.”*

Snow-capped mountains interrupted the hazy afternoon sky. A long valley stretched forth ahead of me – a sea of heat and sunshine.

Somehow I had to cross the valley. And then after that, I would need to cross the distant mountains.

I wilted. But only for a moment.

“…the best way out is always through.”

I am a bikepacker. I can move mountains. I have moved mountains before, and I will move mountains again.

I pedaled.

The gravel road moved like a river under my tires. I coaxed the horizon closer, slowly closer.

The valley shrunk and the mountains grew.

Trees replaced sage.

“…the best way out is always through.”

I climbed into foothills and zig-zagged up switchbacks that uncoiled up the mountain.

I stopped at the pass and looked at the scenery behind me.

Snow-capped mountains interrupted the hazy afternoon sky. A long valley stretched forth ahead of me – a sea of heat and sunshine.

But I had crossed that valley. I had climbed those mountains.

They were once in front of me. But now they were behind me.

The valley was crossed.

The mountains were moved.

It is the bikepacker’s pattern.

“…the best way out is always through.”

I have tried to find other ways out. They didn’t work. They only prolonged the time that I spent working my way through.

Mountains and valleys are meant to be crossed. And crossed again.

There are always more mountains.

And there will always be another long and empty valley.

But I am a bikepacker.

I can move mountains.

“…the best way out is always through.”

 

*Robert Frost

1 Comment

  1. Mike Lewis
    March 1, 2018

    Cool picture! Nice work bro.

Sign up for email updates and get STOKED!

A FREE manifesto for subscribers.