Producer’s Note
"I spend a lot of my spare time exploring the canyons, valleys, and peaks in this part of California, so I thoroughly enjoyed shooting this episode. Artistically, the long, straight desert roads, open spaces, and huge mountain ranges along the groups' cycling route makes for dramatic, solitary images. Logistically, our shooting crew also served as rider support, which made doing both jobs well difficult at times."

Brian Belleau

Badwater-Whitney

Death Valley National Park

Cycling
The idea for this trip is simple: Start at the lowest place in the continental U.S., and end at the highest. Most of this route is covered along beautiful desert roads and passes, so it is a natural fit for a cyclist. Riding as a group of 4, teamwork and camaraderie makes for a pleasant experience, but you can't escape the pain of climbing over three long, steep mountain passes on a bike! And after that, there is still a long way to go before you reach the top of Mt. Whitney.

Logistics
For a group of 4 to do this efficiently, a support vehicle was the only way to go. That way extra food, clothes, water, and bike parts were available when needed without weighing down the riders. While a 1 day push for this trip is not unheard of, breaking the trip up into several more enjoyable days made for a much more enjoyable riding experience. The big challenge looming at the end of the ride was switching gears from pedals to feet on the hike up Whitney. And an early snow on the mountain made conditions a looming concern.

DIY
This is a great challenge for the fit and you can choose to do it in as short as 24 hours or up to 5 or 6 days. The decision to have a support car available is certainly a good option if you have that luxury! If not, a shuttle will obviously need to be arranged on one end or the other. Regardless, you will need a permit to climb Mt. Whitney. Due to the popularity of the area, peak summer months require entering a lottery system for reservations.