![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Along with three other veterans, the couple is biking across the country along the route of the Great American, which formally turns two on May 8, 2021.įor the couple, this is the second expedition that they have joined, which is one more journey than usual for Warrior Expeditions participants. They’re tackling the Great American Rail-Trail with the nonprofit that believes in the restorative properties of long-distance outdoor therapies for people who are transitioning back from wartime experiences. This summer, Warrior Expeditions participants Allison and Alan Garrigus are serving as early explorers of sorts. “You're not really fully absorbing the landscape and the people and the culture the way that you do on a bike.” All in One Go Allison and Alan Garrigus | Courtesy Allison and Alan Garrigus “You could easily rent a car or RV or something way more comfortable and see the country that way, but it's kind of a barrier,” she said. The allure of what people can discover across the country, and within themselves, has kept the ACA rolling for 45 years, Snow said. The level of support on the trips varies from self-contained to guaranteed lodging, but one thing most of them have in common is that there’s a waiting list to join. The ACA leads dozens of guided tours of varying distances across parts of the United States, including portions of the Great American, like the C&O Canal Towpath in Washington, D.C., and Maryland, or the Olympic Discovery Trail in Washington State. Washington's Olympic Discovery Trail | Photo by John Gussman “Regardless of the circumstances, there's always this story of self-empowerment, and of personal transformation-people building confidence in their ability to power themselves,” said Saara Snow, travel initiatives coordinator for the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA). While the individuals interviewed are taking different approaches to completing the Great American, they each described a sense of discovery that fuels many long-distance riders, no matter how they set out to ride it. To commemorate the anniversary of the launch of the Great American, RTC talked to several long-distance bicyclists who have taken on the trail already-or are about to-to learn about their experiences so far, and why they’re tackling it the way they are. Whether they’re setting out to cross it in stages, or embarking on one epic journey, the trail has already called quite a few names. Others barely took time to throw on a pair of sneakers or inflate their tires before they hopped on it. Soon after Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) and partners announced the preferred route of the Great American Rail-Trail™ at a live broadcast on May 8, 2019, some trail fans started planning and mapping. ![]()
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