Guest Author – Amber Kyser, Milo student/Pathfinder
On the weekend of September 29-31, 2023, a group of both young and not-so-young Pathfinders went on a mountain biking excursion in Sisters, Oregon. It was a fun getaway for the beginner as well as the more experienced bikers. As the group arrived, they were greeted by a dense fog that gave way to a light rain, but by Sabbath morning, the weather took a turn for the better making the bike rides pleasant and enjoyable.
The group was split into four smaller groups based on the level of difficulty of the trails traversed. Some of the trails were very wooded, others had small rocks that littered the path, but all paths were suited for each group riding on them. Each group had their own biking routes they took over and around the mountain, but at the end of the day, every group came back together.
Malachi Birth, 14, one of the Pathfinders who went on this excursion says that mountain biking is “not tiring till after you’re done.” Needless to say, it is almost certain that after a day packed with endeavors in the great outdoors, sleep came easily for all participants.
The weekend consisted of meaningful worship, good food, lively activities, and, of course, mountain biking. The hospitable staff, who organized the event, made everyone feel welcomed and loved by catering to participants' needs and facilitating fun biking activities. They taught some fun basic skills to the group and it was overall a wonderful experience for all involved.
Andrew Alder, a Pathfinder teen, advises, “If you’re into mountain biking, or, you want to do it, or, if you want more riding and more fun riding, then you should do it.” He enjoyed the event and would recommend going on any similar excursions. He is more than willing to go again on a trip such as this.
This trip was not just a mountain biking trip, though that certainly was quite a bit of it, it was also a lively Pathfinder experience that helped embody what Pathfinders is all about: fellowship, adventure in the great outdoors, and most importantly, Jesus.
Click on any of the photos below to open a gallery of larger images.
