Jon Pierson's Great Divide Mountain Bike BLOG!

Thank you!

jonpierson — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 22:22:41 +0000

So far, we have raised over $1400 and checks are still coming in! Thank you SO much for your support, this has been wildly successful!

More information on how to donate is available in the post below this one. I would like to personally thank everyone listed below for their donation (in no particular order.)

Dan Pierson
Jason Zaikov
Benjamin Mack
Ellen Dunkin and Ari Michaeli
Norman Pierson
Jennie Woltz
The Drake Family
Felix and Hermina Pierson
Harry Pierson and Gertrude Galynker
Greg and Elizabeth Fishman
Shannon Plaquet
Sean Krause
Benjamin Galynker
Stuart and Sheila Zaikov
“Joker”
Katie Henry
Charlene and Richard Henry
Christopher Defelice
Leslie Pierson
Ruth Zaikov
Robert Pierson
Stephen Paul Jacobs
Phyllis and Richard Taylor
Tara Doherty

Here’s how you can help!

jonpierson — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 03:50:29 +0000

Info on Donations:

For those folks who made pledges back in May (or would like to pledge now), please make your checks out to “Dustin and Kristen Yoder Memorial Foundation, Inc.”. Please mail your checks to:

Dustin and Kristen Yoder Memorial Foundation, Inc.
c/o Law Office of David Gray, P.C.
4500 N. Avenida Polacca
Tucson, Arizona 85749

To learn more about the Yoder Foundation, please visit www.yoderfoundation.org

Post Trip fun in the Canadian Rockies

jonpierson — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:22:59 +0000

Click on the “View All Images” button below to see photos (set1)

Great Divide Canada

jonpierson — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:20:34 +0000

Click on the “View All Images” button below to see photos (set2)

Great Divide Montana

jonpierson — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:13:39 +0000

Click on the “View All Images” button below to see photos (set3)

Great Divide Idaho

jonpierson — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:10:47 +0000

Click on the “View All Images” button below to see photos (set4)

Great Divide Wyoming

jonpierson — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:07:11 +0000

Click on the “View All Images” button below to see photos (set5)

What’s next?

jonpierson — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:34:52 +0000

It’s official, the trip is really over. I wonder if it’s too early to begin planning the next tour.. what shall it be? Prudoe Bay, Alaska to Tierra Del Fuego, Patagonia? Maybe around the world? The year will likely be 2012 as I do an epic tour every 5 years. So stay tuned! For now, it’s a quick rest in August before I go back to school in Arizona. Can’t wait!

I flew to Washington DC yesterday to spend a few days with my brother Rob. I’ll be seeing the entire family over the next 2 weeks. This weekend my stepbrother Ben is getting married, the following weekend my sister Liz is getting married. Food, family and fun.. a nice treat after my trek.

I have been asked to speak about my trip at Northern Arizona University’s Sociology and Behavioral Sciences “Homecoming Reception” this October. It will be a great opportunity to share this experience with others and perhaps raise more money for the Yoder Foundation.

Info on donating is available on the right side of the page. Thanks again!

Hello from Jasper!

jonpierson — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 18:36:01 +0000

Good news… The Arizona Daily Sun has written up a piece on my ride! Read it at http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2007/07/22/news/local/20070722_neighbors_37.txt

I am currently in Jasper, Alberta having a great time with 2 buddies from home. So far we’ve driven the Icefields Parkway, and backpacked the Skyline Trail in Jasper. Today we’re going rafting on the Frasier River in Mt Robson National Park. Tomorrow we’ll rnt some bikes and hit the trails around Jasper. We’ve been staying in hostels which are alot of fun. Meeting people from around the world and sharing stories..

Thanks once again for the following the blog! I appreciate the comments from the last post! All the best, -Jon

Day 68: Banff, Alberta

jonpierson — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:09:06 +0000

It’s official, I’m done. Finished up yesterday at about 7 pm. I am glad I rode the Canadian portion of the Great Divide, it turned out to be the finest section of the entire trip! The last 2 days were truly epic. I crossed the US border on Friday at 5 pm, and arrived in Banff at 7. That’s good time if you ask me. 220 miles in 3 days. It really takes 2 months to get in that kind of shape, physically and mentally. I just rocked it!

Alex Rafanelli and Alex Rossin were here at the hostel to greet me last night. We went out, had a nice Mexican dinner and then hit the bar. We had quite the celebration! Lots of fun. Today we’re going to drive the world famous “Columbian Icefields Parkway.” I can’t wait. I am very psyched to wrap up the trip here with a week of car touring in the Canadian Rockies. The weather is perfect right now. We’ll be out mountain biking, hiking, and sightseeing for the next 9 days. Life is good.

Glad to see they’ve moved my story to the front page of the nau website. You can check it out at www.nau.edu. You may have to refresh it for it to pop up because the stories are on rotation. I am not sure if the Arizona Daily Sun has picked up the story yet, I’m still waiting to hear back. I will post again when that comes out. I will also have photos, lots of photos, to share with everyone. I will post those next week when I return to the States.

As far as donations, please read the instructions on the right side of the page under “YODER FOUNDATION.” I rode 2700 miles, completing the original goal. It was an amazing experince that is hard to put into words. I was absolutely buzzing yesterday afternoon during the final 17 miles. The last 12 were singletrack and downhill. A fine way to wrap things up. And my last 2 days had consistent tailwinds! Unreal!

So that’s it, it’s over. Thank you everyone for following my ride throughout the last 2 months. The support has been tremendous. I just can’t believe it’s over! What’s next? I’m flying back to the east coast next week to see my family and go to 2 weddings! My stepbrother Benjamin is getting married on August 5th and the following week my sister is getting married! How exciting! Open bars, good food, and the fam! It’ll be a blast for sure.

2700 miles. 30 continental divide crossings. 200,000+ feet of elevation. 5 US states. 3 countries. Wam bam thank you mam, I’m done!