KURT TRACKER—Follow Kurt Refsnider 4,664 miles from British Columbia to the tip of Baja California
August 4th, 2025, 9:00AM
Kurt Refsnider’s rear wheel left the Canadian border outside of Oroville, Washington. His front wheel is headed towards Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico—4,664 miles of unknown dirt trails into his future.
Several years ago the board and I discussed who we wanted to be the first person to ride Orogenesis, and Kurt Refsnider couldn't be a more perfect candidate. He knows the adverse conditions backcountry trails can create each year with extreme weather events battering the landscape, and is intimately familiar with epically long, physically-taxing journeys. I’ve known Kurt for many years through our respective roles on the Bikepacking Roots board, and admire his humble yet extraordinary knack for piecing together some of the most difficult and stunning bike adventures out there. I couldn’t be more honored (and a little intimidated) that he is our eager test dummy for this massively-ambitious bikepacking route. May the wind be at your back and your spokes stick-free, Kurt!
Gabriel Tiller
Executive Director, Orogenesis Collective
Can I ride the whole route yet?
While we’re starting to launch sections of the route to the public, there are still a lot of short unknowns and missing links on the map. The trackleaders route above is our ‘best guess’ at what goes now, but you’ll likely see Kurt’s dot deviate as he encounters closed trails or other roadblocks. The Orogenesis Collective is working hard to plan and build new trail connectors, restore abandoned trails, and stay on top of the route’s maintenance demands. We’ll publish more sections of the route periodically as the fruits of our labor pay off.
Join the collective to be notified when new route sections are published.
Where else can I follow Kurt?
Well, you can always check the map above and try to intersect him with burrito in-hand. But if you’re not that hardcore, you can follow along in other ways too.
Follow Kurt and Orogenesis on the ‘gram for snippets from trail.
Spin Cycle Podcast
The Escape Collective’s Spin Cycle Podcast will have the most frequent updates from Kurt, you can listen and subscribe here:
The Radavist
The Radavist will feature some galleries of Kurt’s ride too, you’ll be able to see those here:
theradavist.com/tag/kurt-refsnider
Events
We’re going to try and catch Kurt when/if he stops and buy him an ice cream cone. Join us for a route launch party and just maybe it’ll coincide with a Kurt sighting.
Loowit Tier Launch Party
Sunday, August 17, 2025
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Packwood, WA
Tahoe Tier Launch Party
Sunday, September 21, 2025
Downieville, CA
Lost Cannon Tier Launch Party
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Markleeville, CA
Ehmuu Tier Launch Party
November, 2025
Idyllwild, CA
