Setting New Goals

Post by Corrine

Nine weeks ago, in one moment, all my plans and goals for spring and summer were smashed. Just like my hip. 

No four-day trip in the White Mountains National Recreation Area. No 120-mile fatbike race from Manley to Fairbanks. No 100-mile gran fondo ride in the Eastern Sierras of California. And no bikepack challenge race in the Westfjords of Iceland. All these plans were suddenly out of reach after what seemed like a simple fall during the American Birkebeiner ski race in late February. 

The one thing I had left to look forward to was a June trip across the Denali Highway with three women bikepack friends, where I will be the designated sag wagon driver. I'll be able to bike as much as my body can handle, so any limits will be self-imposed. I’m really looking forward to that trip, but it’s not enough. I need other goals to work and plan toward.

The Need for Goals

After years of always having some big physical goal ahead of me, it’s unsettling not to have any concrete plans to prepare for. Goals give my life structure and keep me motivated. (I could go on at length about my need for other types of goals since retiring last year, but for this blog post I’ll stick to physical goals.)

So, what could I do this summer for physical goals? At first, I was wondering if I could even start planning new goals. Having a hip replacement is a big deal. But a couple of weeks ago, when I could see that my rehab was going well, I decided I was ready.

About that time, I saw on social media that Kurt Refsnider, a bikepack racer, was starting a bikepack challenge. The goal is to do at least one overnight trip every month for the next year, starting in April. Prizes will be given out monthly with special prizes at the end for those who complete the entire challenge. 

I also saw that Ryan Van Duzer, another outdoor adventurer and bikepacker, was going to ride the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) this summer for Adventure Cycling Associations’ 50th anniversary. He is inviting people to join up with him along the way. I raced the Tour Divide in 2018, which basically follows the GDMBR, but I had never done the portion from Jasper to Banff. I’ve met Ryan a few times and it would be fun to spend time with him. Maybe I should do that. 

And my friend, Nikki, has been wanting to plan a bikepack adventure in the northwest United States in the fall. I could start planning that. And Eric and I haven’t talked yet about any combined summer outdoor adventure goals, so we should be able to come up with some more. 

It didn’t take long for me to come up with several things to plan for. I’m retired now, so I can think big and small, short-term and long-term. While I’m still youngish (it’s all relative) and still have the ability, I figure that I should do the hard things. (I’m already thinking about biking from Fairbanks to Seattle next year. Our son Riley has expressed interest in that. Maybe he could join me for at least part of the trip.) 

First of 12 Bikepack Adventures

For this year, the Kurt Refsnider 12-month bikepack challenge was kind of a no-brainer. It costs nothing to sign up, so I did. But I knew it was already mid-April and break-up in Alaska was starting. What to do that would fit the bill?

A winter bikepack trip was out of the question. And the gravel roads and trails were still covered in snow and ice. Planning a trip outside of Alaska with just a week left in the month was not really feasible. So, if I was going to do this challenge, it would have to be a trip on pavement for April. Camping wasn’t a great option with all the wet soggy snow and ground, but staying indoors is okay per Kurt’s rules. Still, starting from Fairbanks my options were limited, but then I realized I could bike from home to Chena Hot Springs Resort for an overnight. Plus, I could soak in the hot springs after the long ride! 

But could I make it all the way there – and back – without bonking? My longest bike ride since my hip replacement had been just 25 miles. This ride would be 67 miles -- each way. Well, it’s supposed to be a “challenge,” and it’s all on pavement. And  half of the ride is mostly flat. And in a pinch, I could call Eric to come get me so. . . I booked a room.

I talked friends Cathy and Barb into starting the ride with me on Sunday morning. It was great to have the company and catch up on their lives for the first 10 miles. Then I turned left towards Chena Hot Springs while they kept on with their ride. 

The rest of the 67.5-mile ride to the hot springs was uneventful. It was a beautiful day with temperatures in the low 50s, and the traffic was light after Two Rivers. I stopped at the two stores along Chena Hot Springs Road to refuel and take breaks. I did have a slight headwind all day, which was annoying, and the last 30 miles was a steady 1 percent uphill grade, but I made it to the hot springs with no problems. 

I hardly ever visit Chena Hot Springs, and I’ve never spent the night. The rooms are adequate although there was some problem with the heat. (The place is heated by the thermal hot springs and there was some problem about bleeding the lines.) My room never got above 58 degrees. So, it was kind of like camping? Sort of?! Fortunately, it’s shoulder season so the resort was not too busy. The dinner was great and I ran into friends Dan and Peggy who had the same idea to spend the night. They drove but had seen me biking on their way there. Dan has had his hips replaced so we compared stories.

Chilly but adequate room at the hot springs

After dinner it was time to relax in the outdoor rock pool – my favorite part of Chena Hot Springs. It was quiet and the water felt great on my tired body and after about an hour, I was ready for bed. 

Returning Home

It was below freezing outside when I got up the next morning, so I decided to soak one more time to give the temperature a chance to warm up before I headed home. Retirement – and all the time flexibility – sure is nice! I started biking around 11 AM, but this time I had a little tailwind and a slight downhill for the first 30 miles. It was another sunny day and once again the temperature rose to the lower 50s. My legs felt better than expected, especially after I drank a caffeinated coke I brought along with me. 

At around mile 40, I saw a biker headed toward me. It was Barb! She decided to come bike with me a bit (even though it was supposed to be her rest day). Boy, I was happy to see her! I had just gotten to the hilly section, and I was starting to flag. I was ready to be home. With her beside me, the next 10 miles went by quickly and the hills seemed less steep as we chatted. Before we knew it, it was time for her to head back home and I only had about 10 more miles left to bike. 

I was so happy to see Barb!

A little while later I was back to the final two-mile gravel uphill on our road. It was a grind – as it usually is – but I made it. Eric cheered my success as I wheeled my bike into the garage. 

My April goal for “Bikepack Every Month” was done! One month down, 11 more to go. Now to start deciding on other outdoor goals for the year. The bikepack trip in the northwest U.S.  in September is a definite. The Jasper to Banff is a maybe. What other things could I do? I will be pondering. Have you got any suggestions? Leave them in the comments.