The story is about the evolution and momentum of mountain biking and outdoor recreation across Navajoland, as an industry and culture, and how local mountain biker Jon Yazzie has helped to pioneer that change. Yazzie hopped through logistical hoops for several years to legally establish guided biking and bikepacking in Navajo Nation. With the blessing and legal approval of the Navajo Nation government and tribe, I joined Yazzie on his reconnaissance ride of the Tri-City Route: his company’s inaugural guided bikepacking trip, which directly supports Navajo Nation’s developing outdoor recreation economy. Launched to the public in March 2024, the route is the first-ever multi-Chapter tourism collaboration in Navajo Nation’s history. The feature also profiles Yazzie’s life and is a historic account of the oppression and hope of Navajo Nation through a biker’s lens.
Trails Magazine | February 2024
In 2025, I was named the North American Travel Journalist of the Year after receiving accolades across three categories for this print feature in the 33rd annual North American Travel Journalists Association Awards Competition:
- Historical Travel: Gold Award
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Travel: Silver Award
- Sports, Recreation and Adventure: Bronze Award
This story was also designated with a Silver award for the 2023-2024 SATW (Society of American Travel Writers) Foundation Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards Competition in the Coverage of Diverse Communities category.
Read the full story in Issue 5 of Trails Magazine, which can be purchased online, and is reshared here:
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