The Spirit
of the Trail
A Journey
to Fulfillment Along
the Continental Divide
“Decidedly not
for sprinters, this
battle royale braves
mountain passes and
windswept valleys of
the Continental Divide from
hinterlands of the
Canadian Rockies to
badlands of the Mexican
Plateau.” - tourdivide.org
"A venturesome
minority will always
be eager to
set off on
their own, and
no obstacles should
be placed in
their path; let them take
risks, ...let them
get lost, sunburnt,
stranded, drowned, eaten
by bears, buried
alive under avalanches
– that is
the right
and privilege of
any free American." –Ed
Abbey, author, environmentalist and
one of the
most eloquent and passionate advocates
of the American
West.
While The
Spirit of the
Trail primarily
describes the life-altering, 2,800-mile
bicycling expedition on
the Great Divide Mountain
Bike Route (GDMBR)
from Banff, Canada,
to Antelope Wells,
New Mexico endured
by Carrie Morgridge
and her husband,
John, during the
summer of 2016,
it frequently touches
on concepts and
personal traits that
are of vital importance to
the Morgridge Family
Foundation philanthropic mission.
The Foundation strives
to open new
paths for children
and adults. As
bicycling offers a
sustainable method of
transportation, the Foundation
models sustainable philanthropy.
And while a
cycling adventure is
hands-on, so is
the Foundation’s search
for worthwhile projects
to support. The
book serves as
an informative (but
not too technical)
guide for those
who are ready
to tackle the
GDMBR and anyone who
is curious about
stepping out of
their comfort zone
and facing a
large or difficult
challenge. Carrie’s voice
throughout is inspiring
and uplifting, even
on the days
when she is
tired of eating
out of a can, sleeping
on the ground
and is considering
giving up, she
finds a meadowlark
or a field
of gorgeous wildflowers
to remind her of all that she
is thankful for,
and presses on.
As with
her earlier book, Every Gift
Matters, their
Foundation plans to
contribute all proceeds
to the Adventure
Cycling Association in
support of the
Foundation’s enduring commitment
to health and
environmental conservation.
Tomorrow: Q&A with Carrie Morgridge
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