Mark Egge is Bikepacking the Continental Divide Trail

Inspired by the exploratory rides of Kurt Refsnider, Scott Morris, Eszter Horanyi, and Aaron Weinsheimer, Mark’s effort builds on their routes while introducing several new elements. His version of the route features a northern section along the western edge of Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. It also includes challenging and iconic stretches like Alpine #7, Lionhead, the Wyoming Range, and the Colorado Trail. Totaling 3,000 miles with over 350,000 feet of climbing, the ride emphasizes time on the actual CDT with singletrack-focused alternatives where bikes are disallowed.

The CDT has long held personal significance for Mark, particularly the trails near his hometown of Bozeman, which he calls “some of the best mountain bike riding in the state.” A veteran of the Butte 100 race that includes sections of the CDT—this year, he’ll race it just two days before starting his Divide ride—he’s long dreamed of linking up the best Montana backcountry singletrack along the spine of the continent. When Refsnider completed his full CDT ride in 2023, Mark asked himself, “Why stop at Wyoming?”

“Only four riders have completed the full route so far,” Mark says. “That gives it a rare sense of adventure. And it’s a chance to contribute—to help imagine what a bike-legal CDT could become.”

He’ll be riding a 2022 Specialized Epic EVO built by Alter Cycles in Bozeman, optimized for speed and durability at a base weight of just 24 pounds. His minimalist setup includes a Zpacks Plex Solo Lite tent and a Hyperlite 20°F quilt, with resupply boxes sent to post offices every two to five days to keep moving light and fast. Although not used regularly these days, shipping resupply ahead of post offices was much more common when fewer services were available.

Mark’s ​training this year includes the Fat Pursuit 200k​ and the Grand Loop Race​. His longest prior solo trip was a two-week winter kayak expedition through the Grand Canyon. He credits his long-distance trail running and fastpacking experience, along with “a mild obsession with gear weight and good self-care skills,” for giving him the tools to complete this effort. “My goal is to ride efficiently and enjoyably,” Mark says. “I’d love for this to be mostly Type 1 fun.”

Mark is targeting an 80-day finish, including a planned layover in Steamboat Springs for a full bike overhaul. He’ll post periodic progress updates to his Strava account, where he welcomes podcast and audiobook recommendations in the comments. This ride is made possible thanks to the support of his employer, High Street, as well as friends and family cheering him along the way. Check out Mark’s route below:

Mark’s CDT Route

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