Adventure Advocacy Ride
Winona to Ely • April 2-May 10, 2015
About the Threat take action bike tour blog posts
Starting April 2, 2015, in Winona, Minnesota, three bicycle riders--instructors from Voyageur Outward Bound School--began a journey of adventure advocacy across Minnesota stopping at colleges and communities along the way, to raise awareness about the threat to the Boundary Waters' clean water, clean air and forest landscape from proposed sulfide-ore copper mining on its wilderness edge.
On May 10, 2015, the riders completed their journey of 850 miles over 39 days and celebrated in Ely, Minnesota, which is at the edge of the Boundary Waters.
By the end, signatures in support of the cause covered the Wenonah canoe they had trailed behind them on the route. Riders Erin, Iggy and Lisa named that canoe "Betty Jo" in honor of Representative Betty McCollum, who introduced the National Park and Wilderness Waters Protection Forever Act in April, and 14-year old supporter and advocate Joseph Goldstein, who is battling leukemia.
During the ride, more than 6,000 people signed the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters petition asking for permanent protection for the Boundary Waters and its wilderness edge. To learn about the campaign's previous aventure advocacy effort Paddle to DC, with National Geographic 2014 Adventurers of the Year Dave and Amy Freeman, watch the video A Quest for Clean Water.
Bike Tour to Save the Boundary Waters in the Media:
Timberjay: Bike tour to save BWCA crosses finish line (May 15, 2015)
Lake County News Chronicle: 850-mile bike tour to save Boundary Waters ends in Ely (May 15, 2015)
WDIO: Bicyclists Tow Canoe to Protest Mine Near BWCA (May 6, 2015)
KBJR: Bicyclists look for support in protecting BWCA (May 5, 2015)
Gear Junkie: Bike Tour to 'Save the Boundary Waters' (April 21, 2015) Video below
Northfield News: Environmentalists to make pit stops at Northfield colleges while biking to Ely (April 7, 2015)
Winona Daily News: Biking to save the Boundary Waters: Three canoeists on journey from Winona to Ely (April 4, 2015)
LaCrosse Tribune: Canoeists journey from Winona to Ely to save the Boundary Waters (April 4, 2015)
KTTC Rochester (video): Save the Boundary Waters bike tour kicks off in Winona (April 2015)
Winona Post: Canoeists' plea for the BWCA (April 2, 2015)
Press Release: Riding to Raise Awareness: The Bike Tour to Save the Boundary Waters (March 19, 2015)
