It was an emotional bike ride for associate principal Perry Kulmatyski who travelled the 290-kilometre trek from Jasper to Banff for his 25th and final time — at least for now.
Sixteen R.F. Staples Grade 12 students and eight adults traversed the route over four days from May 27-30, averaging 80 kilometres each day, as part of the annual trip.
“It’s time to take a break,” Kulmatyski said. “It’s been 25 years of bringing kids home safe. Not a bad number.”
The ride was especially emotional for him having biked that route for a quarter of century — 21 years with R.F. Staples and four with Victoria Composite in Edmonton.
“It’s like any change, what’s the right time?” he asked. “We had a theme song by Tina Turner, Simply The Best, and I think it was simply the best weather we’ve ever had. Not a bad one to take a break.”
He said the group had four of the most beautiful days, sleeping out in the open under tarps, and more bears than you could shake a stick at.
Each year he collects a treasure and this year he found a silver hubcap in the ditch to mark the tour’s silver anniversary.
“I can remember specials memories from each one,” he said. “(When) I biked this one, you’re thinking back to all the special kids and challenges, and some of the most memorable ones.”
Although the trip has had its ups and downs, both literal and figurative, Kulmatyski has never had a student quit, though there were close calls.
“I told them, you’re all six-inches taller and bulletproof now. They believe in themselves and you see the confidence that comes. That’s what cool about it, that’s why I’ve done it for 25 years.”
Abby Carlson was one of the students on this year’s trip.
“There were moments where it was very difficult, but all in all it was very worth it and I felt really accomplished,” she said.
“It was awesome getting to know everybody and it really shows true character, and you built a lot of friendships. There were lots of people I didn’t know before and then I definitely have a pretty good idea of who they are now. I’m happy I got to make those friendships.”
Friends Nathanael Tabert and Cameron Taylor both enjoyed being in the mountains and surrounded by nature.
“I think that just being in the mountains for me is one of my favourite activities, so if I can ever get out doing that kind of thing, it’s great,” Tabert said. “And biking is close to one of my favourite sports so the combination of the two, I just loved it.”
Taylor added “it was a little bit new to me so I thought it was a really good experience and I just loved being in the mountains. I like a lot of rocks and plants.”
The kids had plenty to see while making the slow climb on two major inclines, the Bow Summit and the Columbia Icefield hill.
“There were trucks hauling gravel that were almost as slow as us,” Kulmatyski said. “They barely passed us.”
But for many of the students, the first day was a mental struggle for not knowing what to expect.
“When they got off that first day, they were like, ‘Oh man, I don’t think I can finish this,’” Tabert said, “but once they got back on the bike the next day, they kind of got over it. For a lot of people, once they got over the first day, they were pretty set.”
For Taylor, who had never done a bike trip like this before, it was more about figuring out the right pace.
Carlson agreed there were tough times but everyone pulled together.
“Day two we had to climb the Columbia Icefield Hill and that was probably the most challenging both mentally and physically, just getting through that barrier, but we all worked together and feel happy that we made it through.”
For seasoned-cyclist Kulmatyski, his challenge was keeping everyone safe and in good spirits, which was easy to do with the nice weather.
“When you’re on the trip with the kids, it’s unbelievable. It’s demanding, it’s a mental and physical challenge but the cool part is, although the first day they don’t really have a lot of faith in themselves, it’s something new and challenging they don’t think they can do, and by the end of it they’re these confident, I-can-take-anything-on.”
And for him, the best part is spending time with the kids on what he called “adventure time”; no watches, no phones, you go when your legs go.
“It really is for them a real moment to reflect and grow. That’s my message to them. Don’t forget to put adventure time in your lives with your family and friends where it’s just you and them. Put the other stuff aside and just be there.”
Kulmatyski plans to make his own adventure time and bike the Dempster Highway, a 740-km gravel road from Dawson City, Yukon to Inuvik, Nunavut.
