Orogenesis Part VI: Baja California Sur – Kurt Refsnider & Claire Cella

Kurt Refsnider has officially completed the inaugural 4,500-mile Orogenesis mountain bike trail, traversing from Canada to the southern tip of Baja California Sur. After concluding the 3,000-mile U.S. section in late October, Refsnider crossed into Mexico, covering the final 1,500 miles, which largely mirrored the established Baja Divide route. This monumental effort marks the first known full completion of the ambitious new bikepacking route.

This achievement solidifies Refsnider’s reputation as one of bikepacking's most formidable figures, adding to a palmarès that includes multiple Tour Divide wins and course records. The Orogenesis route itself, a collaboration of various trail associations, aims to be a definitive north-south mountain bike corridor, and Refsnider's completion serves as its unofficial grand opening. His journey will undoubtedly inspire countless others to tackle sections, if not the entirety, of this demanding new challenge.

Refsnider's completion of Orogenesis isn't just another notch on his belt; it's the definitive proof-of-concept for a route many thought aspirational. The gauntlet has been thrown, and the record books now have a starting entry.