Forest Fires Won’t Prevent Sea to Sea West Ride

Neither rain, nor mountains, nor even forest fires will keep 41 bicyclists from achieving their goals as they embark on the Sea to Sea West ride this week.

Over the next 10 days, the cyclists will ride 526.6 miles (847.5 km) from Whistler campground in Jasper, Alberta to Glacier National Park in Montana in an effort raise funds for and awareness of global and domestic poverty.

The last part of their ride, however, may need to be re-routed due to huge forest fires in Glacier Park and the surrounding region.

This isn’t the first time that fire has threatened a Sea to Sea ride.

“Those on the 2013 tour will remember that we had to detour due to a fire in Wolf Creek Pass, which was a 17-mile climb to 10,850 feet,” said Terry Barnes, the Sea to Sea organizer, jokingly adding, “What would Sea to Sea be without a forest fire or two?”

The tour organizers are carefully monitoring the fire situation and have come up with some contingency plans. If the fires in Glacier National Park are still burning when cyclists arrive on Aug. 8, the tour will end a day early or send the cyclists on another route.

For now, however, the ride will begin as planned and cyclists will make their way through the Rocky Mountains including more than 28,000 feet (8,534 meters) of climbing.

While the riders look forward to the friendship, fellowship and beautiful scenery along the way, and are eager to put themselves to the test physically, their primary motivation for participating in Sea to Sea West is to help those in poverty.

For the past several months, the cyclists have been actively raising funds for World Renew, Partners Worldwide and International Justice Mission as part of this event. Combined with a Sea to Sea East event earlier this summer, they have already raised more than $227,000.

During the tour, they will also raise awareness in host communities and along the route about the needs of those living in poverty both within Canada and around the world.

Click here and scroll down to find a list of riders seeking support.