Tehachapi Vision Quest Ride for the Wounded Warriors 2011
Vision quest is the Native American term for a particularly challenging ritual, especially for young people, that is undertaken to find direction in life. By pushing mental, emotional, and physical limits, vision quests force us to see what we are truly made of and give us insight into what we may become. For modern day Tehachapi and Kern County, this vision quest will take the form of a difficult, exciting, long-distance bike ride. When school lets out for the summer, riders who are prepared will embark on a two week, 425 mile ride over twelve mountain passes in the eastern Sierras and Nevada. We’ll carry all our own gear with no vehicle to jump into when the going gets difficult. Indeed, the difficulty is the point. We’ll start in Bishop, CA., and ride north using back roads and Highway 395, covering some of the most beautiful terrain in the world. We’ll camp out every night under the stars, load up in the morning, and see the world from the seats of our bicycles. Two rest days are planned, and there will be an optional day ride to the top of Tioga Pass at almost 10,000 ft. and the altitude high point of the tour. Our final day will be a fantastic drop back down to Bishop. This is our third year of the tour, and we’re sponsored by the Optimist Club of Tehachapi.
This year, we’re adding a special component to the tour. To honor, respect and truly support the sacrifice and courage of our military, we’ll be raising funds for the Wounded Warrior Project. This is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping wounded veterans reclaim a normal life. The Wounded Warrior Project advocates for veterans’ rights and provides services like job counseling and programs that get our heroes back into the great outdoors. In the process of having a fun adventure, the least we can do is raise a little money to help the best of Americans have a chance at the same. All tour riders will be expected to do some fund raising for the cause.
The tour is open to fit young men and women (if I can get an adult female co-leader) and their friends and family members. Fit veterans are encouraged to join us. The minimum age is fourteen. Riders must have regular access to a solid, reliable bike and lightweight camping gear. We’ll talk about specifics long before the big ride. We’ll have regular group training rides about every other weekend with a few big tests. If the riders can pass these, they’ll be ready for the tour.
Scott Wayland, a fifteen-year Tehachapi resident and professor at Bakersfield College, is the ride and tour leader. Except for individual expenses related to food and equipment, there are no fees or charges for the group. We encourage the support of family and friends of the riders in helping raise funds and as back up for the tour in the event of an emergency or serious equipment failure and to help transport riders. Individuals who cannot do the big tour but would like to join the training rides, which take place in Tehachapi, are welcome. Rides vary between 20 and 50 miles.
Come join the adventure of a lifetime and ride for American heroes.
Our fund raising slogan: We’ll ride like hell so you don’t have to!
Key links:
Join the Team Web page and fund raising page
Slide Show of 2010 Vision Quest Tour
Contact for further information:
Scott Wayland
Email: swayland@bakersfieldcollege.edu (include a clear subject heading about the ride)
Phone: 395—4457 (office @ Bakersfield College)