Expedition to Endure

Benefit Dinner December 4th

2009-10-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

Below you'll find the info regarding our December 4th benefit dinner.
If you want to join us for dinner and the raffle, or just the raffle, please email Larry!
If you want to make any type of donation, also contact Larry.

Your support is going towards a great cause, and we can't do it with out you!

Local Cycling Trio to Host Expedition Fundraiser

Reno, NV, 10/14/09 — A fundraiser will be held at the Sands Regency, in Reno, on Friday, December 4^th in order to benefit the Expedition to Endure. The Expedition is a bicycle touring project put together by three Reno-Tahoe locals in order to film profiles of various environmental threats affecting the last few pristine areas left in the western hemisphere.

The fundraiser is set to include a presentation by fly fishing personality Mikey Wier, live entertainment, video presentations, a silent auction, raffle, and a $60 plated dinner with a choice of chicken or filet mignon, as well as a vegetarian dish. All proceeds from this event will go towards funding the year long expedition from Deadhorse, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina. The finished product of webisodes and a full-length documentary film will go on to benefit various battles in environmental conservation for generations to come.

The trip has stemmed from an earlier bicycle tour taken cross country by twenty-six year old Larry McKurtis during 2007. On that trip, McKurtis met other touring cyclists who were raising money and awareness for multiple causes. He was inspired to see these cyclists making statements on issues they were passionate about by doing something they loved.

“It was an easy realization,” McKurtis said, “I can help save the world by pedaling a bike? Why would I want to do anything else?” Thus, through sufficient brainstorming, the way to combine his two passions came about in the form of “Expedition to Endure.”

McKurtis and his brethren are each accomplished athletes passionate about nature and conservation. They intend to trek upon an ever evolving route seeking out a local narrative concerning the impact of various human endeavors on the environment.

“Cycling and fly fishing are my passions. They both involve immersing yourself in nature and the outdoors, and they allow you to see the beauty in the natural world,” McKurtis said while explaining that they’d be armed simply with their bicycles, fishing equipment, and camping gear.

McKurtis has spearheaded the start of a Trout Unlimited Chapter in Truckee. He also volunteers at the Reno Bike Project, and has written for the local non-profit online publication, Life More Natural. (lifemorenatural.com)

- More -

Local Cycling Trio (page 2)

McKurtis concluded our interview in saying, “Getting people outside and active is the key to protecting the great places we have left, as well as saving and restoring the ones that are in danger of being destroyed. I know that this trip has a lot of power to inspire people, and if we can get people fired up about what’s happening in their backyards and across the continent we stand a good chance of succeeding.”

Joining Larry on this trip are Jake Barrett and Jayson Hale.

Barrett is currently sailing across the Atlantic to Europe for the non-profit 2041 on their Voyage for Cleaner Energy. Jake has worked on the boat since early 2008 and has been a welcome member of their team. He is also a strong cyclist and outdoor enthusiast.

Jayson Hale has competed around the globe and is as well an accomplished cyclist and outdoorsman. He is currently training in Utah for his 2010 Olympic bid in Vancouver, and was a 2006 U.S. Olympian in Boardercross in Torino, Italy.

Expedition to Endure is currently seeking sponsors for the trip, as well as raffle prizes for the dinner.

If you are interested in attending or making donations, please contact Larry McKurtis.

lmckurtis@gmail.com

(530) 412 2553

For more information about the Expedition to Endure, please visit www.expeditiontoendure.blogspot.com

Thank you.

Expedition to Endure's Trip Proposal

2009-08-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

Expedition to Endure

Mission: To promote conservation and protection of watersheds through fly fishing, healthy and sustainable lifestyles through cycling, and to reach out to the public through media to educate, inspire, and motivate current and future conservationists.

Goal -

The main goal of this project is to show sustainability can be achieved by the choices we make and the sacrifices we endure, and that it’s possible to preserve the world as we know it and enjoy it at the same time, with as little an impact on nature as possible. We will demonstrate this by pedaling bicycles unsupported (minus some of the fly fishing gear we’ll need) from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina, and stopping to film and fish the watersheds we encounter along the way that have huge issues facing them; be it a mine construction in the headwaters, a proposed dam, drilling for oil, clear-cut logging, development, etc. The purpose of filming these areas would be to highlight the area and it’s issues for the general public to see, and hopefully to raise awareness of the challenges these beautiful places face and our need to not only protect them, but also to offer up meaningful and logical solutions for the issues at hand. The journey itself will be documented as well, in order to motivate, educate, inspire, and portray a sustainable, healthy means of travel. We leave in late June 2010.

Motivation -

We are passionate cyclists, outdoorsman, and fly fisherman. Our passions have collided into this singular idea, and through them we hope to impact the world. We hope that this adventure and the subsequent filming of it will empower and motivate people - to take action in their own back yards, to live responsibly and sustainably, to raise their heads and take a stake in protecting the last, best places we have.

Route -

We will be starting in Deadhorse, Alaska on the Arctic Ocean. Our route ends in Ushuaia in Argentina, the southern most city in the world. We will travel through14 countries: The United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. The route should be around 15 to 16 thousand miles total. We plan on this journey to last from 9 months to a year, the duration depending on the watersheds we profile, and their distance away from our main route. Our route is not set in stone. It will change daily.
We will plan on slight variations as we plot the watersheds we want to showcase.

Logistics -

We will be using completely green, recycled or new certified Earth-Friendly gear. Our bicycles will be built from the Reno Bike Project, made from second-hand parts, minus tubes, tires, chains, and cables. We are already tied to the RBP, which is a community bike shop that empowers the community through bicycles, education, and local events centered around cycling and sustainability.
All of our other gear, from sleeping bags to head lamps, will have to meet the Earth-Friendly standard.

The film crew will follow behind us in an alternative energy vehicle.
They will NOT carry our day to day supplies, camping gear, food, etc. However, due to the variety of watersheds we’ll be fishing, they will carry our various fly fishing gear, from waders to rods and fly tying materials.
We would also like to incorporate a local guide at each watershed. They can fill us in on the local issues, be a great local ambassador, and of course get us into fish!

Filming –
The product of the filming is open to many forms.
Some Ideas include:
- 20 minute episodes or webisodes of the rivers we fish.
- 20 minute episodes or webisodes documenting the journey
- a feature length film recapping the entire journey.
The details for this are very open, and will depend on many factors.

Who We Are -

Jake Barrett -23- Born in Sun Valley,ID and growing up in Reno,NV Jake is not a stranger to the outdoors. Jake has worked in the bike industry for 8 years, everything from sales, wrenching for pro teams, and helping start a bicycle courier company. He currently works for 2041 (www.2041.com) an enviromental awareness company, which has taken him to Antarctica and sailing all over the world. In his free time Jake enjoys bike touring, hiking, fishing, kayaking, sailing and flying.
2041.com

Jayson Hale – 24 - Jayson is a native of the Sierra Valley and currently lives in Truckee, California. Jayson is an accomplished professional snowboarder, competing on the world level at events like the X Games (3rd place Boardercross 2006), making the US Olympic Team in 2006, and is currently training to make the 2010 Vancouver team. He’s traveled the world in search of snow and adventure. When Jay’s not snowboarding, he’s fly fishing, camping, backpacking, hiking, riding bikes, and NEVER spending a day inside. Jay’s positive attitude and energy are going to be amazing assets on this journey!
See more - JaysonHale.com

Larry McKurtis -25- Larry was born and raised in Sierra Valley and currently lives in Reno, Nevada. Larry is an accomplished cyclist, fly fishing guide, and is a talented writer. In 2007, Larry rode solo across the United States, and a small crew followed him to film a documentary about bicycle touring and travel. Larry writes for an online non-profit called Life More Natural and a Sierra Fisherman magazine. Larry enjoys biking, fly fishing, conservation work, writing, camping, backpacking, traveling and being outside.
He’s currently helping to organize a new Trout Unlimited Chapter in Truckee, CA.
See More – ForThousandsofMiles.com, LifeMoreNatural.com,

What You Can Do

Sponsor Us -

We can’t do this alone! We need financial backing to make this possible. Please consider the benefits this opportunity can provide you and your company:
1) Documented exposure of your brand, logo, business etcetera. Think of all the people we’ll encounter, and all the people that will encounter us through media.
- Your logo or commercial on the episodes and film
- Jerseys
- Shirts and other misc. clothing
- Stickers
- Pamphlets to pass out before and during the trip
- Your company will be seen by a very wide and diverse demographic.

2) You’ll be promoting an environmentally minded journey. This could be a fantastic opportunity to give your company a green image, and you’ll be helping to make the world a better place.
3) This is the perfect laboratory to test your products! We’re genuinely hard on our gear, and we would love to give you feedback on how to improve your products.

Media -
Can you offer us an outlet for this production?
Can you help us promote?

Get Involved-
Add us as friends on Facebook, Myspace, Blogspot. Send us suggestions, encouragement, and your ideas on how to make this world a better place.

Contact Us

Facebook – Search for Expedition to Endure on Facebook, add our page.
Myspace – Myspace.com/sixteenthousandmiles
Blogger – expeditiontoendure.blogspot.com
Emails –Expeditiontoendure@gmail.com
Phone – Larry McKurtis (530)412 2553