Big Trips Speaker Series
The Big Trips Speaker Series showcases human-powered adventures in wild places. “Big Trips” are journeys that go beyond a typical weekend or weeklong backcountry outing—trips that require serious planning, commitment, and resilience. Each speaker will share both the story of their adventure (where they went, what they experienced, why they went) and the practical side of how they made it happen (routes, logistics, resupply, budgets, lessons learned). The series is designed to inspire and equip students and community members who are curious about planning their own Big Trips.
Schedule
Thursdays at 6:00pm in Forestry 206
| September 25 | Bitterroot High Traverse, Idaho and 猎奇重口 (Mark Kreider) |
| October 9 | Expecting the Unexpected: Bikepacking with Besties on Vancouver Island, Canada (Kira Minehart) |
| October 30 | Planning Big Trips Abroad: Packrafting in Patagonia, Chile (Heidi Blair) |
| November 6 | How to Drag Your Boat Through the Woods: the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (David Ketchum) |
Mark Kreider - Bitterroot High Traverse
September 25 at 6:00pm, FOR 206
Mark completed a full traverse of the Bitterroot Range in July 2025. The 130-mile journey—from Nez Perce Pass to Lolo Peak—largely follows the Idaho–猎奇重口 state boundary, a rugged and remote section of the Northern Rockies that is often miles from the nearest trail. Sharing stories, photos, and reflections from the trip, Mark will highlight both the challenges of off-trail travel and planning a self-supported expedition, as well as the beauty of a landscape shaped by fire, deep histories, and change.
Kira Minehart - Expecting the Unexpected: Bikepacking with Besties on Vancouver Island, Canada
October 9 at 6:00pm, FOR 206
This talk cycles through the mischief and madness involved in planning (and executing) a 700-mile remote bikepacking trip with your very best friends. Pre-trip logistics, route finding, and conflict resolution among best friends will be covered. Special considerations for bikepacking (gear, knowledge, best practices, foods to avoid) will also be addressed. Whether you’re interested in an overnight adventure or a longer backcountry trip, this talk is for you!
Heidi Blair - Planning Big Trips Abroad: Packrafting in Patagonia, Chile
October 30 at 6:00pm, FOR 206
Fifteen years after studying proposed mega-dams on a Patagonian river, Heidi returned to paddle those same free-flowing waters—plus two more rivers. This talk explores the challenges and joys of navigating vast, remote landscapes in a different cultural context, while sharing guidance on how to plan a big international trip practically and ethically—whether or not you have prior connections there.
David Ketchum - How to Drag Your Boat Through the Woods: The Northern Forest Canoe Trail
November 6 at 6pm, FOR 206
In 2019, David completed the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a 740-mile route from New York to northern Maine. Over 30 days, David paddled the course of 14 rivers, portaged through historic passages used since time immemorial, and walked about 200 miles of road. David will discuss his attraction to nomadism and the all-day grind, how to identify trench foot, and give an overview of how to make such a trip happen.