By BJ Klophaus
Guest Contributor
@ezbgz
“Headwinds: Bikepacking the Red Desert” is a 30-minute documentary from Wyoming PBS that follows four riders on a journey across some of Wyoming’s most fascinating and underrated landscapes. From sand dunes to badlands and rugged weather to clear night skies, it gives viewers a taste of the state’s vast beauty and history. Watch it with an introduction from director BJ Klophaus here…
Photos by Bekka Mongeau and Carl Cote
When some of my friends from the Lander Cycling Club asked me if I wanted to film their Red Desert bikepacking trip, I immediately said yes. The area always intrigued me, and bikepacking seemed like it would provide the perfect pace to discover it.
Wyoming has so much natural beauty, and a place as majestic as the Red Desert can be overlooked due to accessibility factors. The roads are rougher than Yellowstone’s. The amenities are scarcer than in the Tetons. But it provides opportunities to find solitude and intimacy with the landscape if you’re willing to endure the unpredictable elements. It’s the perfect playground for finding your own adventure.
“The feeling of being small in a big place is humbling, and humbling experience is something people need.”
I joined the expedition not as a cyclist, but as a filmmaker riding in our production van. And though my experience was inherently different from those of the participants, I walked away from the trip and the project with a newfound appreciation for the area. A lot of natural and human forces have shaped this place throughout the centuries, and left behind traces of their stories. There’s truly an adventure out there for anyone curious enough to seek it.
Headwinds was an amazing film to be a part of, and I hope it leaves viewers feeling the way I do now: excited to hop on my bike and discover the Desert’s secrets for myself. It aims to empower viewers to explore one of Wyoming’s gems and seek out adventures. It’s a reminder to us all of the joy and freedom that comes from riding a bike. You can watch it in full above.
Further Reading
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