Arthur Thomas “Tom” Lillquist and Michael Dionne are planning quite the adventure for 2016: mountain biking the Colorado, Great Divide, and Arizona trails, plus others for a total of 8,800 miles of trail riding. The duo is dedicating their ride to helping the National Stroke Association by raising funds and awareness along the way. As they wander the USA on their mountain bikes, they hope to inspire others to recovery.
Tom has a very personal connection to the cause as just a few years ago he suffered a stroke in his spinal cord, leading to temporary seizures, chronic pain, and the diminished ability to use his arms and legs. After four years of therapy and recovery, Tom was able to through hike the Appalachian Trail, which is a huge feat in and of itself. Now he has his sights set on completing the bikepacking triple crown in 2016.
The duo plans to take about 9 months to complete the trip, with stops at iconic trails like the Kingdom trails in Vermont, the Maah Daah Hey in North Dakota, and the Tahoe Rim trail in California. They’re currently working to raise about $19,000 for the trip via a GoFundMe campaign. If all goes well, the trip will kick off in Vermont in March next year.
Here’s to hoping Tom and Michael are successful and are able to inspire others through their journey!
Click here to learn more about the WanderSpire project and to donate to the trip.
4 Comments
Jul 29, 2015
Sincerely thank you,
Tom Ninelives
Sep 29, 2015
Ride Stowe Mountain VT
Ride Killington Mountain VT
Ride Mount Snow, VT
South through MA-Confirming several possible visits.
Manchester CT, Ride Case Mountain
Middletown CT Ride Trails at Middlesex Community College
Guilford CT Ride West Woods
Washington DC Ride Alleghany Trail and visit Johns Hopkins Hospital Patients for presentation, possibly setting up a ride of sorts.
Mckeesport PA Ride Alleghany Trail,
Wooster, OH Ride Vultures Knob
Loudonville OH Ride Mohican Trail
Nashville IN Ride Brown County Park and Valley Branch Retreat
Indianapolis IN Ride Fort Harrison State Park and Southwest Loop
Willow Springs IL Ride Bullfrog Lake
Chicago, IL
Grand Rapids, MI
Traverse City, MI
Green Bay- WI
Duluth MN Ride Piedmont and Mission Park
Ironton MN Ride Cuyana Lakes
Medora ND Ride Maah Dahh Hey
Watford ND Ride Longs X Loop
Roosville BC/MT Start Great Divide Trail (Will be riding the required 90% according to the organization of all three major trails for the bikepack triple crown)
South Pass City WY Continue Great Divide Trail
Denver CO Start Colorado Trail
Durango CO Finish Colorado Trail
Moab UT Ride The Whole Enchilada and Porcupine Rim
New Mexico…Visiting friends. But Still Biking.
Fredonia AZ Start The Arizona Trail
Tucson AZ Finish The Arizona Trail
Los Angeles CA Ride here because we have never been
Santa Cruz CA Forest of Nisene Marks and
Tahoe City CA Finish this Adventure on The Tahoe Rim Trail
Total Mileage Not Counting Side Trails: 7,543 Miles
Jul 29, 2015
Sep 28, 2015