Cheers to a week in Death Valley which was a dream! Already missing the fantastic crew I met on this wild trip.

Alvin Escajeda and Chas Christiansen roped me and some bikepacking buddies into their "Deth Loop" adventure – it was like trying to pack a suitcase with a tornado inside, but way more fun. Learning to pack for remote travel is just as tricky as trying to teach a cat to juggle.

Waking up with the sunrise, absolute quiet, and the entertaining banter of Alvin and Chas – who needs an alarm clock when you have them? Death Valley flaunted its desert diversity, from old Joshua trees (more like Joshua grandpas), to hot springs hotter than my morning coffee, and rock formations cooler than my sense of style.