The two biggest names in climbing are heading home after biking from Colorado to Alaska. Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold set out to ride to the Tongass National Forest in early July. The trip is part of an effort to raise awareness of conservation in the forest.
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Unsurprisingly, the two found plenty of adventure along the way, including big climbs, swarms of mosquitoes, and at least one showdown with a rattlesnake. The trip ended with Caldwell and Honnold traversing the Devil’s Thumb skyline. The mountain has been called one of the most dangerous in North America.
“On a personal level, this has been an incredible journey of friendship and elective hardship,” said Caldwell in an Instagram post. “But in a broader sense, it’s been about finding our role in protecting nature and becoming better stewards of our planet.”
Caldwell outlined some of the trip’s details in an interview with Outdoors.com. He says the Tongass National Forest is also a focal point for him and his sponsor, Patagonia. Advocates are working to add protections to the area concerning a debate over logging.
National Geographic spent time documenting the trip of two climbers. They plan to release a film about the adventure and the pair’s advocacy efforts.
This bike ride is far from the first climbing trip for Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold. The two have had epic weeks and climbs in Yosemite and the mountains of Patagonia.
