Cascadia – In the Shadow of Giants (Film)

There’s a region in the Pacific Northwest where the forest feels endless, a green ocean stretching beneath snow-capped volcanoes, where time seems to move to an older rhythm. This is Cascadia, a place where light filters through canopies of redwoods and pines, and every trail seems to echo the pulse of the Earth.

Our journey began in Bend and ended in Hood River, near the border with Washington State. We rode over 520 kilometers of combined sections of the Three Sisters Three Rivers Trail and the Oregon Timber Trail, traversing the wild heart of the Cascade Range. Beneath the towering silhouettes of Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, and Mount Hood, we felt incredibly small—smaller than ever before. Out there, deep in the forest, humanity fades into the background, reminding us that we’re part of something much greater, where nature still sets the pace.

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We also traversed areas scarred by wildfire, places like Pyramid and Ollalie Lake, where blackened trunks stood as monuments to the endless cycle of destruction and rebirth. From a human perspective, fire feels devastating, but on the Earth’s timeline, it’s simply renewal. Life always returns, stronger, wilder, unstoppable.

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Cascadia – In the Shadow of Giants aims to be a reflection on scale, humility, and the timeless power of the natural world. It’s an ode to the wilderness and a reminder that we are only guests here, moving quietly in the shadow of giants.

Behind the Build: Montanus’ Kona Hei Hei G10s

For our latest adventure in Oregon, riding the endless singletrack of the Oregon Timber Trail, we chose the new Kona Hei Hei G10, the brand’s revamped, short-travel full-suspension bike.

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To stay self-sufficient in the wild, we designed a custom setup that allowed for up to four days of autonomy, carrying all the photo and video gear needed to document the journey. Alongside our standard kit (two cameras, spare batteries, a tripod, two power banks, and a drone), we brought a second compact drone for dynamic close-up shots in the forest.

The custom framebags in Ultra 200x fabric were handcrafted by Walkman Gear to fit the Hei Hei frames precisely. We also modified our Topeak Backloader X saddlebags, reshaping them to reduce bulk and adding rigid supports at the base, which allowed full use of the 120mm rear suspension travel even with the dropper posts lowered.

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The tripod was positioned on the top tube using the Morso, a DIY harness we created for this exact purpose. A dry bag strapped beneath the downtube was used to carry the tent, while the water bottles were positioned on the fork legs. If you have any questions about our setup, please drop a note in the conversation below.

Further Reading

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