Carrie Morgridge

The Spirit of the Trail Carrie Morgridge

46 Days, 2,774 Miles, and the Bike Trip of a Lifetime

Two professionals in their 50s made a choice that some might call crazy: they pulled out of their busy lives for two months and tackled what is called the most challenging bike route in North America. In The Spirit of the Trail, Carrie Morgridge and her husband John take you along this journey.

The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route runs from the Canadian Rockies, into the Grizzly filled woods of Montana, across the plains of Wyoming, up to 11,910-feet above sea level in Colorado, and through the mountains and flood plains of New Mexico. As Carrie recounts each grueling day on these trails in her diary, she reveals their triumphs and fears, their struggles for food and water, and how their physical and mental strengths were pushed to the limits. She also exposes us to the kindness of people, the warmth of small towns, and the great majesty of our country.

What the Morgridges learned about the trail, besides how hard it was, is that people are generous, days are long when they are full of new adventures, and when you set your mind to it, you can achieve anything. Come explore. Your journey starts now.