Now in its ninth year, Swift Campout is a global call to adventurous spirits, encouraging people to pack up gear and pedal to their favorite camping spot during the summer solstice. The event weaves together communities from all over the world and showcases each communities’ distinctive love affair with cycling. To capture the magic of the event, we’ve called upon a handful of shops and individuals to design an overnighter that takes folks to their favorite local site– those tasked with leading the rides are called, Navigators. Each Navigator will have their own feature that tells a bit about them and their Campout.
Say howdy to Hailey Moore (she/her)!
Hi, Hailey! Tell us a little about yourself!
I am a writer based in Boulder, CO who seeks movement in many forms. My stories focus on understanding the human experience through outdoor pursuits.
Instagram: @hailey.m.moore
What does Swift Campout mean to you?
Bikecamping was the catalyst for me to develop a relationship with the bike. Long touring days—especially in the Colorado High Country—are among my most cherished experiences and there’s no better time to celebrate these days than on the Summer Solstice!
Can you tell us a bit about your Campout this year? Anything meaningful about your route and why you want to share this with your community?
Can you drop some registration info & how to register?
DM me on Instagram. Given the challenging nature of the route, I am limiting my group to 7.
Routes Details:
The route I’ll be sharing for my Swift Campout is centered around two classic alpine climbs that are only rideable during the summer months and take riders over and back across the Continental Divide. Day 1 will follow mixed surface riding to Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. From Estes, we’ll tackle the first of these two summer classics—Old Fall River Road. OFR was the first auto road built to access the interior of the park and was constructed in the early 1900s. It snakes up narrow dirt for 10.5 miles before topping out at Old Fall River Pass (11,796′) and the Alpine Visitor Center. We will descend Trail Ridge Road—hero pavement— on the backside to Grand Lake, with sweeping views of the Mummy Range and RMNP more broadly. Day 2 will be just as scenic with a little more spice with Rollins Pass (11,660′) serving as the major climb and second highest point of the route. It is believed that Rollins Pass has been traversed by humans for thousands of years and early western settlers were able to navigate the pass by following a trail established by the Ute for summer hunting. While the pass is accessible by 4×4 from either side, it is still only possible to cross over on foot or by bike as the route follows old, exposed wooden trellises with a short hike-a-bike over a collapsed tunnel. The eastern descent is gloriously rowdy. After the Rollins boneshaker, the riding back to town is much tamer on rolling dirt and pavement. It’s a big, worthy ride that celebrates summer in CO!
Difficulty: Strenuous – For experienced riders- routes with be mixed surfaces (dirt & pavement & single track) and including significant elevation gain and loss.
Expected Ride Pace: 12-14 mph
Distance: 187 miles
