Beargrease 2020
My heart sits in the black keys, on the nest dander, the sagging spruce. It’s on a sleeve, or in the mist above the river. Stability, in the sense of traditional archetypes like jobs, houses and educations have never been pursuits of mine. On that spectrum what has been considered stable has appeared to me to be based in a system that is inherently oppressive, extractive, and itself unstable. It shuts down in blizzards, comes apart in the rain and scatters to pieces at the hands of waves.
My bicycle is one of the tools I use for nurturing relationships at greater proximity to the wisdom of hurricanes and glaciers. I can pedal through what happens to the land after a flood. I can learn from the hands of these majestic winds that are so easily capable of dismantling the system that so many others struggle to find the grace to overcome.
In 2018 after completing my Music for Free tour, I was scheming on some new trip ideas. I wanted whatever I did next to be another collaboration. I was talking with my good friend Jay Petervary. I suggested that we do a route together, combine both our riding styles and tell a story. He threw out the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon as a possibility. My ears perked. This was a route I’d been thinking about for a long time, and in my backyard, so the decision was a simple one. Yes!
When it came to planning the ride, I had to figure out a way that I could give back. The trip was not based in music as most of my other trips have been. I thought about what I could offer and decided after talking to a few mushers who expressed some feelings about the history of John Beargrease being somewhat overlooked, (despite him being the namesake of the race) that I would write John Beargrease a poem. I would letterpress print the poem (like I do with all my poems) and put it in envelopes to bring along and hand out “in the form of mail,” to those I met along the way.
As to be expected, along the way Jay and I met incredible people. We had long days in the snow and pines. Bivys at -50 and breakfast in at least one cafe. The people were welcoming, warm and generous of spirit. I succeeded to deliver all of the poems I carried.
Picture two riders approaching on fat bikes covered in ice. One of them slows down and gets off the bike, tells you that you have mail, then offers to read you a poem. That’s how I see my contribution to the world, and specifically the world of cycling. I’m gonna hand you a star when you thought you were reaching for an energy gel. I want to carve out a space where riding bikes is about more than taking, where its about reciprocity to the land that calls us to ride.
In the time after completing our Beargrease ride, some of the connections we made evolved into deeper relationships. I was later approached by several folks on the Beargrease board and invited to curate a gathering around the race this year in 2020. One of the objectives in my involvement was to continue to build relationships between different trail user groups. Another was to help raise awareness about the race itself so that it can grow. Again, I sat thinking about what I could put together that would be unique and based in giving back.
The most incredible part of the John Beargrease route to me is the 35 miles between Finland, MN and the Sawbill Trail. Since there are checkpoints at both of these locations I decided that I would invite a small group of riders to join me. We would host a dinner in Finland at the community center with my good friend Mike Phillips of Red Table Meat Co. Then after dinner I would play a concert for the community. Heading out the next morning ahead of the dogs we would bivy at the Sawbill checkpoint for the night, wait for the mushers to arrive and then act as the volunteer crew when they came through. Yeah that’s right. Fat bikers riding self-supported with the purpose of helping mushers.
With the Beargrease 2020 less than a week away, I am excited to announce that this plan has become fully realized and the group is ready to ride. This time around I am sticking with my Salsa Blackborow and I’m overjoyed with an updated wheel build made up of HED Big Fat Deal rims and Onyx Hubs that I’ll be running 45Nrth 4.8 Husker Du’s on.
Though it is likely not going to be -50 degrees, and we will not cover the entire route like Jay and I did last year, the mission is slightly different this time around. I am excited to share the trees and beauty of this route with a new group of riders, not to mention helping with the dogs and engaging with the incredible people who convene around this event.
The topic of climate change and social justice are right at the center my work, however I feel concern that many of the mainstream conversations around them are missing the point. They are rooted in “war thinking” and focus on calling out the “other.” They perpetuate blame and work against efforts to strengthen culture through diversity. This is not helping us imagine a new way of being in better relationship to all things living, human and non. Instead it is ensuring that the old way of being, where we relate through separation continues to lead.
We all know there’s enough division and divide in the world today. Far as I can see there is no time for any more of that. I have all the time in the world for figuring out unique ways to bring people together. Music, dogs, bikes, winter, food and stories resonate as a good foundation to build up from.
This is where my heart sits. In the dog fur, lit up in tree love.
Stay tuned for more stories from the trail. The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is January 26-28 2020.
I’d like to thank the all my partners who continue to help me do this work.
In addition to riding Salsa Cycles, HED Cycling, Onyx Hubs, and 45Nrth, I am using Big Agnes outerwear and sleeping systems. Cedaero bags, Kate’s Real Food nutrition, Red Table Meat Co, Ridge Merino base layer, and Wolf Tooth Components. Thanks to Angry Catfish for being my local bike shop! In addition I am excited for a storytelling parternship with Askov Finlayson so stay tuned for outcomes from that!
Photos by: Scott Haraldson
