Being new to The Cycling House and Missoula means I have a lot of exploring to do, in the office for sure, but mostly on the roads and trails around town.  After work yesterday I took my dog for a run into the beautiful trails surrounding Pattee Canyon where I quickly found myself climbing up a steep ridge. Along the way the green foliage gradually changed to the beginnings of fall colors. Huckleberry bushes were sporting wonderful Cycling House colors of orange and yellow and there was a crisp feel to the air.  Running on a new trail, and over such pleasant terrain, made me think of how great it is to explore new places. Whether I am on a bike or on foot, I love seeing where the next bend in the trail will take me.  A lot of times I end up scrambling up or down some steep bluff that I probably shouldn’t be on, but sometimes, like yesterday, I stumble across a place that puts me in my happy place and I experience an area that I would not have been able to otherwise.

We just had a group get back from a tour through Glacier National Park, and I was both jealous and excited to hear stories from a couple of the riders. Their tour pushed them into that exploratory zone and they ended up experiencing Glacier in an amazingly unique way. It’s hard not to appreciate the beauty of Glacier, but observing it from the saddle added another level of connection with the park.

After a week of working at The Cycling House I have found that all the trips provide this exploration component.  Whether your trip takes you to the desert, mountains, or an island in the Mediterranean, there are beautiful roads and trails to connect with.  Meanwhile, I will keep exploring my new backyard.

-Forrest