Four riders in the first Park-2-Park Montana ride crest Kings Hill between Great Falls and White Sulphur Springs. The riders include, from left, Paul Bussi of Bozeman, Laura McKinstry of Billings, Allan McGarvey of Kalispell and Rick Bush of Helena. The 7,393 foot summit was the high point of the 5-day ride.
Inaugural Park-2-Park Montana
ride a tremendous success
Eleven bike riders pedaled almost 400 miles from Glacier Park to Yellowstone Park in the first inaugural Park-2-Park Montana ride in early September. The ride was a great success, thanks to the riders and the support provided by CASA programs along the way.
The team included: Paul Bussi of Bozeman, Rick Bush of Helena, Domie Aquino of Box Elder, Marshal Haferkamp of Miles City, Laura McKinstry of Billings, Marjean Magraw and Julie Waples of Helena, Ed Folkwein of Billings, Duncan Green of Olympia, WA; Allan McGarvey of Kalispell, and Larry Raffety of Livingston. Neal Donaldson joined the group for one day from Livingston to Gardiner.
"The inaugural Park-2-Park was an experience I will always treasure," Livingston architect Larry Raffety wrote to organizers Rick and Ellen Bush. "Thank you and all those along the way who made this such a marvelous adventure."
The ride was intended to call attention to the needs of abused and neglected children in Montana and the services provided by Court Appointed Special Advocates. Judges appoint CASA volunteers to investigate the situation and write a report More than 300 volunteers currently currently advocate for about 1,000 children in Montana. But there are another 1,000 children in care who need volunteers.
CASA programs along the route provided food and support. Programs involved included Front Range CASA in Choteau, CASA CAN in Great Falls, Sixth Judicial District CASA/GAL in Livingston and Gallatin County CASA/GAL. Yelllowstone CASA director Shirley Folkwein organized the meal at the Dupuyer Community Center and drove a support vehicle for three days. The route took the riders from the campground at St. Mary-East Glacier KOA along U.S. 89 through Browning, Choteau, Great Falls, over King's Hill to White Sulphur Springs, and down to Gardiner through Livingston.
The ride is expected to raise about $4,000 for CASA of Montana and the network of 17 CASA programs around the state. CASA of Montana hopes to do a similar ride again next year. Haferkamp, 63, won the yellow jersey for collecting $430 in pledges by the time of the ride. The ride was sponsored by the Helena Bike Club and other supporters, including Alan Nicholson Inc., New West, mt.gov, Timber Trails of Livingston, Valley Bank, and East Glacier-St. Mary KOA.
The highlights mentioned by riders included beautiful scenery and mostly good weather, hot showers provided by residents in Dupuyer and a lunch at the ranch home of Judge Nels Swandal in Wilsall. Riders praised the commitment of CASA volunteers and directors who fed them along the route. The CASA CAN group even provided blue grass music at dinner in Great Falls.
The support crew on the trip included Shaun McClure of Trego (near Eureka) who drove the RV camper, Melanie Dayton, who supervised the snacks and breaks, and Warren Dupuis of Helena, who hauled the trailer for two of the hardest days. The Great Falls Amateur Radio Club provided ham radio support and an escort from Choteau to the top of King's Hill.
The ride also was featured in newspapers along the route and on two Great Falls television stations.
"It was a great experience for everyone involved," said state coordinator Ellen Bush. "Our riders learned a lot more about CASA and we enjoyed the camraderie of a group working together to cross Montana."