Ep. 44 Nevada Bikepacking Tours for Conservation

The TripOutside Podcast

Guest:
Kurstin Graham – Vice President, Friends of the Black Rock High Rock and bikepacking enthusiast.

Episode Summary:
In this episode, I chat with Kurstin Graham, a conservation leader and bikepacking expert, who has spent over a decade exploring and advocating for the protection of Nevada’s wild landscapes. Kurstin shares his journey from working with the Reno Bike Project to leading conservation-focused bikepacking tours in Northern Nevada. We dive into the challenges and rewards of bikepacking, the importance of conserving public lands, and how Kurstin uses adventure as a tool for advocacy.

Key Topics:

• [00:00:00] Introduction: How I met Kurstin at Burning Man and why I invited him to the podcast.
• [00:01:00] Kurstin’s role with Friends of the Black Rock High Rock and the Reno Bike Project.
• [00:03:00] How the FIRE movement allowed Kurstin to retire early and dedicate his life to conservation.
• [00:05:00] The Reno Bike Project: Its mission, operations, and the role of Burning Man in keeping it sustainable.
• [00:10:00] Bikepacking in Nevada: Why it’s the perfect state for pedal-powered adventures.
• [00:13:00] How Kurstin uses bikepacking trips to raise awareness for conservation in Nevada’s public lands.
• [00:18:00] The importance of protecting the Black Rock Desert and High Rock Canyon areas.
• [00:21:00] Ways to get involved with Kurstin’s bikepacking trips and the Friends of the Black Rock High Rock.
• [00:24:00] Burners Without Motors: Encouraging people to bike to Burning Man and reduce their environmental footprint.
• [00:28:00] Closing thoughts: How adventure can be a platform for conservation and Kurstin’s future plans.

Links Mentioned:

• Friends of the Black Rock High Rock: blackrockdesert.org
• Reno Bike Project: renobikeproject.org
• Kurstin’s Bikepacking Blog: bikepackingnv.blog
• Learn more about TripOutside: tripoutside.com

Connect with Kurstin:

• Instagram: @bikepackingnv
• Substack: Bikepacking NV

Support Conservation:

• Donate to Friends of the Black Rock High Rock: Support Conservation
• Join a bikepacking trip: Bikepacking Northern Nevada

Call to Action: If you’re passionate about the outdoors and want to combine adventure with conservation, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration. Join Kurstin on one of his bikepacking tours or support the Friends of the Black Rock High Rock to help protect Nevada’s incredible public lands.