A team of cyclists riding from Alberta’s southern border to where the province meets the Northwest Territories passed through Jasper on Tuesday, August 26. 

Five riders are endeavouring to complete an 1,800 km ride in just one week, a never-done-before two-wheeled push in the name of Alberta’s search and rescue community.

Flagged down on the side of the Icefields Parkway five kilometres from Jasper, Lethbridge realtor Keith Pushor, who helped spearhead the SAR Alberta fundraiser, said the ride from Mosquito Creek campground had been blessed with good weather and light winds. 

“We couldn’t ask for a better day,” Pushor said. 

Every year Pushor and his mates dream up a big adventure that they can put their energy behind. After being impressed with SAR volunteers at a Cranbrook, B.C. fat biking event this past winter, Pushor said he was inspired to reach out to the Alberta association for volunteer search and rescue. 

“It seemed like a natural fit,” Pushor said. 

Even after 200 kms from Mosquito Creek to Jasper, the team’s day wasn’t done. After a quick caloric upload at Montana’s Bar and Grill, the five men saddled up at 6 p.m. to make the final 90 km push to Hinton, where they were booked into a hotel for the first time since they set out at Chief Mountain Border Crossing, near Waterton National Park.

On Saturday, after a week of cycling through Alberta’s foothills, Rockies and boreal forest, their ride will culminate in Sixtieth Parallel Territorial Park. The route will have taken them from the 49th parallel to the 60th, hence the name of their initiative: AB 4960 Endurance Ride. 

Pushor, who has many big rides under his belt, said the group wanted to do something audacious enough to raise awareness and attention for their cause. His litmus test was if the thought of the adventure “keeps you up at night and maybe makes you throw up in your mouth a little bit.” 

SAR Alberta’s senior communications and PR advisor, Nancy Argyle, said the extreme challenge will support 33 search and rescue teams and more than 1,400 volunteer members across the province.

“This gruelling ride will help SAR Alberta provide a superior and dedicated level of service to citizens and visitors,” Argyle said. 

The group is currently riding from Kakwa River Campground, near Grande Prairie, to Grimshaw, Alberta. Tomorrow they’ll ride 279 km to High Level, and on Saturday they’ll cycle their shortest day, a mere 191 km, to arrive at the top of the province. 

Follow their journey by satellite tracker and help the team meet their fundraising goal by donating to the cause. 

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com