Beyond Distance
Ultra-endurance mountain biker Kurt Refsnider became the first person to ride the Orogenesis Trail from the U.S.- Canadian border to the southern tip of Baja California in Mexico - an epic journey of more than 4,700 miles / 7,600 kilometers.
It is August 4, 2025. Not a single cloud softens the blue sky above the small town of Oroville on the U.S.–Canadian border in Washington State as Kurt Refsnider swings himself onto the saddle of his mountain bike. Ahead of him lies the Orogenesis Trail. Once completed, it will be the longest bikepacking route in the world. It will connect the Cross-Washington Mountain Bike Route, the Oregon Timber Trail, and the Baja Divide Trail into a monster stretching roughly 4,700 miles / 7,600 kilometers across singletrack, gravel roads, and dirt roads.
The Orogenesis Trail and Kurt Refsnider’s journey at a glance
Orogenesis (German: Orogenese): A geological term for the formation of mountains.
Washington – the hardest part first
The first section of his journey presents Kurt Refsnider and his full-suspension Pivot Trailcat SL with some of the biggest challenges of the entire trip.
Over the first 800 miles / 1,200 kilometers, Refsnider faces more than 118,000 feet / 36,000 meters of climbing, including brutal ascents with gradients often reaching thirty to forty percent. As if that weren’t exhausting enough, he also has to battle temperatures of up to 100º F / 37º C. But the hard work pays off: fantastic views of volcanic, glacier-shaped peaks and epic descents reward his efforts and give him the energy to tackle the next climb time and again. On this demanding terrain, his Ergon equipment proves its worth. The SMC Men Sport Gel saddle, GS1 Evo grips, and HM2 gloves provide the much-needed relief during extreme physical strain.
After the grueling first section, Kurt Refsnider rides along the Columbia River Gorge into the Cascades, the “Alps of America.” For nearly 20 days, Refsnider makes his way through Washington before finally reaching Oregon at White Salmon. The toughest part of the tour is done. Or so the endurance mountain biker believes.
„The elevation profile in Washington is intimidating. There are many 5,000 foot climbs and plenty of very difficult trails.“
Deadfall City – the hard way through Oregon
Still exhausted from the Washington stage, Kurt Refsnider looks forward to a slightly more relaxed section in Oregon. Far from it. The Oregon Timber Trail (OTT), which the Orogenesis largely follows, is completely overgrown in many places and blocked by fallen trees, so-called deadfalls. “Although the volunteers of the Oregon Timber Trail Alliance work tirelessly to maintain the OTT, progress was very slow,” explains Refsnider. In some sections, the trail is in such poor condition that he considers quitting. Fortunately, conditions improve in the Old Cascade Crest region, where well-maintained gravel routes alternate with technical singletrack. Still, Refsnider cannot relax.
The outskirts of a massive wildfire are literally on his heels. Eventually, the smoke becomes too thick, the air too dangerous to breathe. Refsnider has to leave the trail to avoid risking his life. On paved roads, he escapes the danger, the heat, and the smoke.
Near Chemult, he is able to rejoin the trail and tackle the Fremont National Recreation Trail in southern Oregon. Once again, he must fight his way across muddy trails with hundreds of fallen trees. Minimal progress drains both his strength and his concentration. The strain takes its toll. At the California border, he takes a day off to recharge for the upcoming stage toward the Sierra Nevada.
„I’m usually very proud of my ability to stay present and to find joy even in difficult situations. But in southern Oregon, the deadfalls, the constant heat, and my overall exhaustion really pushed me to the edge.“
The heat heading south
The narrow singletracks littered with deadfalls soon give way to dirt roads, gravel, and rail-grade tracks. For Refsnider, this means open and relaxed riding all the way to the northern Sierra Nevada. His route leads past remnants of the Gold Rush era: abandoned lumber cabins and old mining complexes. From the crest of the Warner Mountains, he looks out over wide valleys and large lakes.
In California, too, there are repeated sections of unfinished trail that turn Refsnider’s progress into a battle against deadfalls, mud, and dangerously poorly maintained paths. And another major challenge awaits: the longest climb of the Orogenesis Trail: 7,000 ft / 2,133 meters of elevation gain from Bishop to Coyote Meadows. After the grueling ascent, he continues across the Kern Plateau to the Cannel Plunge, a 5,000 foot /1,500-meter descent straight into Southern California. A highlight for the mountain biker: “I laughed my way down!”
Unfortunately, the Orogenesis Trail does not give without taking. The next 217 miles / 350 kilometers through the Paiute Basin and the adjacent Jawbone Canyon confront Kurt Refsnider not only with more than 20,000 / 6,000 meters of climbing and technically demanding sections, but also with extreme heat. Shade? Nowhere. Here, Refsnider’s endurance is put to the ultimate test. He has to carry his bike for half of the elevation gain under the blazing sun, the descents are dangerous, full of deceptive ruts and sharp little rocks, with tire destruction lurking everywhere. He battles through the desert for two days before reaching the town of Mojave completely drained, his mind as empty as his water bottles.
Refsnider allows himself only one day of rest before heading into the San Gabriel Mountains, a mountain biking paradise of steep and technical trails with plenty of exposure and breathtaking views. But there are dangers here as well. The trail is often overgrown with thorny hawthorn and poisonous poodle-dog bush, promising painful scratches, flat tires, and extremely unpleasant skin irritation. Kurt Refsnider leaves all of this behind, and the San Andreas Fault near Los Angeles brings him ever closer to the Mexican border.
Baja – the end
“After all the incredible landscapes, the border was merely an arbitrary landmark with no real meaning.”, Refsnider recalls after his adventure. For the final sprint across the Baja Peninsula, he leaves his Trailcat behind and switches to a drop-bar LES SL equipped with Ergon BT Gravel handlebar tape and SMC Sport Gel saddle to soften the harshest impacts.
„The border felt disappointing.“
On Baja California, the Orogenesis Trail follows the completed and superbly developed Baja Divide Route, allowing for relatively fast progress. Singletrack along the spine of the Sierra alternates with sandy desert trails, passing old Spanish missions, remote ranches, and small villages.
Refsnider’s journey ends almost abruptly at the southern tip of the peninsula near San Jose del Cabo. After more than 4,700 miles / 7,600 kilometers and four and a half months of riding, he dips the front wheel of his bike into the Pacific Ocean. “Finishing such a long journey always brings a wave of emotions,” he says. Understanding and processing what this journey means to him will take time and quiet reflection.
„I’m really looking forward to a few lazy mornings on my porch with a cup of coffee in hand, just slowing down and not being on the move.“
The Ergon Products
Kurt’s Saddle: SMC Sport Gel
For maximum seating comfort, Kurt chose the SMC Sport Gel saddle, which reduces seat pressure thanks to orthopedic foam and gel pads and helps prevent numbness.
Kurt’s Grips: GS1 Evo
With the GS1 Evo grips, Kurt relies on ergonomic comfort that reduces hand discomfort and ensures a relaxed riding feel even on long stages.
Kurt’s Gloves: HM2
With the HM2 gloves, Kurt opts for an anatomical fit and a wrinkle-free feel. They provide optimal control at the cockpit and a direct grip feel on the trail.
Kurt’s Handlebar Tape: BT Gravel
With the BT Gravel, Kurt relies on excellent damping and secure grip on rough terrain. The 3.5 mm thick tape absorbs shocks, reduces hand discomfort, and minimizes fatigue. Integrated wrap guides allow for individual adjustment.
