Tour de Rez

The 2009 Tour de Rez is dedicated to the memory of the amazing life of Redmond J. Etsitty. Redmond packed the heart of a giant into his 11-year old body. His determination on the trail set him apart but his humility and humor in dealing with every challenge that came his way made him one of a kind. Redmond was killed in an accident at his home in Chi Chil Tah, New Mexico on June 5, 2008 while taking some days out of the saddle. (He rode 29 days of the Tour in 2007 and had hoped to top that in '08.) Though his physical being will never be lacking on the Tour trail this summer, his legacy and impact will linger long in all who knew him.

The Tour commences on Memorial Day weekend at the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, with a weekend of learning activities, hikes and activities at our camp at Sunset Crater National Monument. We saddle up the bikes on Tuesday, May 27, beginning the journey across the southern rez: Leupp, Dilcon, Greasewood, Klagetoh, Wide Ruins and Sanders/Newlands. Heading out of Newlands on June 2, we carve an arc around Gallup: Chi Chil Tah, Breadsprings, Wingate, Church Rock and on to Twin Lakes on June 6 before entering the Chuskas at Mexican Springs. We journey for eight days through the Chuskas to Roof Butte, across Mexican Cry Mesa to Immanuel Mission on June 15. From the Mission, we head over the Carrizos to Teec Nos Pos on to the Four Corners. After biking to Montezuma Creek, we'll celebrate the summer solstice canoeing down the San Juan River to Bluff, before saddling up again for the ride to Mexican Hat and past Forest Gump's turn-around to Monument Valley by June 24. From MV, we sand-surf our way through Copper Canyon and past No Man's Mesa (well-named!), en route to Navajo Mountain. After a summit trek to the top of the rez, we'll backpack to Rainbow Bridge and across Lake Powell to Page. After a 4th of July bash in Page, we'll raft down the Colorado River to Lee's Ferry and then we'll make opur way to the north rim of Grand Canyon. After crossing the Canyon we bike to Cameron, Tuba City and Shonto. All that remains will be a 5-day diagonal across the rez and around Black Mesa - Tuba, Shonto, Kayenta, Canyon de Chelley and Ganado - then over the Defiance Plateau for the finish in Window Rock on July 20.

Riders from many communities will be taking part in this year's Tour, including: Shiprock, Ganado, Round Rock, Shonto, Sanders,Twin Lakes, Kayenta, Red Mesa, Chinle, Tohatchi, Cove, Gallup, Breadsprings, Black Mesa, Wingate, Newcomb, Red Valley, T'iis Nazbas, Lupton and Tuba City.

The Tour is a journey of discovery, where students learn as much about themselves as the amazing Navajo Nation that we journey through. Throughout the trip, we will present such topics as Navajo Nation history & geography, health & nutrition, basic first aid, the Dine' forest, the human body & fitness, basic bike maintenance and environmental education, offering students practical knowledge in these areas. Nature journals, talking circles, writing activities, star-gazing with a Navajo twist and group activities are all a part of the Tour experience.

Y.E.S. provides participants with everything they need on the Tour de Rez, including good Kona and Trek mountain bikes, tents, sleeping bags & camping gear, food, learning activities and more. If you have interest, get in touch with us now so we can begin planning for next year's Tour.

You can contact our Executive Director, Tom Riggenbach, with any questions or for more information about the Tour de Rez or other Y.E.S. programs. You can reach Tom at chuskaman@yahoo.com or call us at(928) 656-3817. Hope to see you on the trail with us in 2008