Central Wyoming College Takes on the Great Divide: Adventure, Science, and Storytelling

Lander, Wyo. — Central Wyoming College students Jada Antelope and Bailey Lewis will participate in the Epic Great Divide Mountain Bike Route Expedition, a 65-day cycling and research journey spanning more than 2,700 miles from July 5 through September 9.

The expedition is being conducted in partnership with the Adventure Cycling Association, a 50-year-old nonprofit that inspires and empowers people to travel by bike. The project brings together outdoor adventure, scientific research, filmmaking, and experiential education along one of North America’s most iconic bikepacking routes.

The 15-member expedition team includes student participants, expedition leaders, and support personnel traveling the length of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Through the partnership with Adventure Cycling, the project benefits from comprehensive logistical support while providing students with an immersive field-based learning experience.

The expedition connects directly with Central Wyoming College’s Outdoor Education, Expedition Science, Geospatial Information Science and Technology, and Applied Sciences initiatives. Research activities will support the TEMPS Project, a portable environmental sensor initiative that is part of the broader CWC Mountain and Glacier Initiative.

“This expedition represents everything we strive to create at Central Wyoming College’s Alpine Science Institute – authentic adventure, meaningful scientific research, and life-changing opportunities for students,” says  Jacki Klancher, Director of Research and Innovation, Alpine Science Institute, Central Wyoming College. “Through our partnership with Adventure Cycling, students will spend more than two months immersed in one of North America’s most iconic landscapes while contributing to environmental monitoring and research through the TEMPS Project. Experiences like this challenge students to grow as scientists, leaders, storytellers, and community members. The skills they develop on the Great Divide will stay with them long after the ride is over.”

Funding and research support for the scientific components of the project are being provided by the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium and WySEaSON through the University of Wyoming, and the Wyoming Innovation Partnership, supporting both field research and student research assistants.

Documenting the journey will be a CWC student and filmmaker Clinton Macy, who will serve as an expedition intern while producing a short documentary film about the experience. Macy has previously worked with Colby College’s ski program and has already begun production on a five-minute documentary. 

Throughout the expedition, supporters will be able to follow rider progress through Adventure Cycling’s Track My Challenge platform and through regular social media updates highlighting student experiences, scientific discoveries, and life on the trail.

Organizers hope the project will inspire future collaborations in adventure media, outdoor education, and applied field research while showcasing the power of experiential learning in some of North America’s most remarkable landscapes.

For more information about the expedition and project updates, visit www.cwc.edu and social pages.

For more information about the expedition, visit www.cwc.edu and follow Central Wyoming College and Adventure Cycling Association’s socials:
https://www.facebook.com/cwc.edu; https://www.instagram.com/cwc_rustlers

CWC’s Alpine Science Institute  
https://www.instagram.com/alpine_science_institute_cwc
https://www.facebook.com/alpinescienceinstitute; 

Adventure Cycling Association: https://www.facebook.com/adventurecycling
https://www.instagram.com/adventurecycling/

Adventure Cycling Association: https://www.adventurecycling.org/