Shred Girl Elissa Cummings Talks Bikepacking the Continental Divide, Part 2

You might remember real life Shred Girl Elissa Cummings from a couple months ago—the mountain biker had just come back from dealing with a concussion and was ready to tackle her next adventure… biking the Tour Divide, from Canada to Mexico… After working as a bike guide in Whistler, BC, for a few months. The huge adventure happened over the fall and she’s back in Canada now, prepping for her next adventure, and while she recovers from this one, she had some amazing stories to share over the 3500 kilometers she covered, including a meetup with a grizzly! (This is part 2 of 2, because there were too many adventures to cover-make sure to go back and read part 1!!)

Best thing you ate during your travels?

American food is really similar to Canadian food so there wasn’t much I hadn’t eaten before until I got down south. I tried biscuits and gravy for the first time which is a questionable dish. My favourite thing I ate was a Chimichanga in New Mexico. Salsa and chillies will never be the same.

Did you keep any sort of journal?

I didn’t journal at all. I probably should have. If I did it probably would have been something like “The sun just went down, I’m in my tent, it’s freezing, my ass hurts, I’m hungry, i smell bad, i miss my family, I saw a bear and three cubs today, I’m glad they weren’t Grizzly bears”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqh-FH4g56Y/

What did you learn from the trip, overall? (Philosophical and/or physical!)

I learnt so much! You can do anything you put your mind to. Fear is often an illusion. The edge is closer than you think. The human body is a machine… my bike a right off it broke like five times at least not including flats and I had to replace multiple parts from wear and tear. My body never broke because it has the power to heal itself which so gorgeous and mind blowing. Enjoy the journey.

Any quotes or mantras that kept you going?

I just had to keep reminding myself that What goes up must go down. Every time I got discouraged I would say “Elissa, You are biking the Continental Divide, enjoy it, it won’t be easy but it will be worth it.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqV_r2Og7bu/

Tips for wannabe bike-packers?

My advice to you is get out there. Safety first always. There is so much to learn but the best way to learn what works best for you is to get out there. There is a bloody glorious world waiting for you go explore.

What gear was the most useful?

My bike and my tent. I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without my bike and I would have been pretty miserable without my tent. Both were relatively light which helps a lot. All my gear together weighed about 80 pounds. Everything I had was incredibly useful and if it wasn’t I left it behind.

And what gear did you think you’d use and end up not using? (My list of this stuff is always longer than my ‘useful gear,’ but you’re probably smarter at packing than I am!)

I packed super light. I didn’t bring a pillow, a hairbrush, or a towel. What I was carrying changed slightly depending on the terrain I was biking through. At one point I had to buy winter gloves and then in the dessert I needed sunscreen. Anything I didn’t use I donated it along the way.

You were getting over concussion stuff last time we chatted: How did that go with the trip?

With the trip my head was 100%. When I got to Mexico I thought maybe that’s it maybe I can just bike forever and never have to deal with that again. Unfortunately after the trip I went surfing in San Diego and just getting tossed around in the waves was enough to give me another concussion. I have kind of just learnt to take it as it comes one day at a time.

When you finished, what was your first thought?

Can I keep going? It was bitter sweet. I didn’t want to stop. It was nice to have got to my destination but that meant I had to make my way back home go get a job and return to ordinary life. I wanted to go all the way to Patagonia. If I had more money and Mexico was a safer place to travel alone then I would have kept going,

What’s next!?

I have started working as a ski instructor near where I grew up in Ontario. I am in the process of applying to summer jobs. Just little things so far. Absorbing everything that I learnt on my trip and spending time with family. I think I would like to go bike in the southern hemisphere soon, Queenstown New Zealand looks pretty spectacular. Only time will tell where my wanderlust soul takes me.

Check out Elissa’s Instagram to see more from her amazing adventures!

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