Blog by Cynthia Carson
The feeling of experiencing a landscape is pure. It can be encountered through many means. From walking, hiking, cycling, or in a car. You can paddle rapids or float a river. The most pure form of experience for me is through my bicycle.
The Extrema, Racemax, Ultra, and Strada have all taken me to incredible places! Each bike offers a unique experience of the landscapes I traverse. From the volcanic mountains of Chile to the Badlands of Spain, each landscape has left its mark. Of all my bikes, the Extrema has taken me on the most breathtaking adventures. It’s my go-to for exploration, it’s my adventure bike.
It was my Extrema that introduced me to the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania. I set out on a bikepacking trip with my partner, Steven, and our friend David, who helped shape the route into what it is today.
The landscape treated us to misty mornings on gravel climbs, descents into quiet towns, and golden hour coasting along empty backroads. Unlike driving or hiking, bikepacking allows you to experience more of the landscape while staying immersed in the world around you.
Along the 430-mile Endless Mountains Gravel Loop, we passed through the small communities that give rural Pennsylvania its charm. We had breakfast at The Chatterbox, a local diner where the regulars swap stories over bottomless coffee.
I fed a baby Highland cow and picked some tulips at Brownhill Farm. We toured an antique safe inside the McCarty Mercantile general store. At Greener Pastures Farm, we fed animals and picked up some fresh eggs from the Hen’s Den.
The Endless Mountains route can be toured at your own pace, as we did, or raced. We chose to take our time, soaking in the scenery and character of the towns we passed through. But if racing is more your thing (and often, it’s mine too), you can test yourself on the Endless Mountains 430. It’s a 430-mile endurance challenge happening on September 20th in Towanda, PA. There’s also a shorter 250-mile option for those looking for a weekend overnighter.
You can find out more about the Endless Mountains Gravel Route through Bikepacking Roots and see the route on RidewithGPS.
