
In honor of Jarrod Bunk’s belief that the bike community can help to build a community in need, we bring back Higher Ground
This will be a scenic tour, with opportunities to connect with the natural beauty of the Laurel Highlands and bond with like-minded souls before and after in downtown Johnstown.
We're excited to bring Higher Ground back with the locals of Johnstown, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.

About Higher Ground
There's meaning up in the hills.

PArtners
Nothing happens without the support of our community partners.
Rider Resources
Here’re the Routes:
- Thirty:An out-and-back on the Path of the Flood and Staple Bend Tunnel trails to go to the Johnstown Flood Memorial Park (you'll ride through the dam that broke).
LINK: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52766917 - Forty:Heads north towards Hinkston Run Reservoir, then east on quiet paved roads before bombing down into Summerhill and into the Johnstown Flood Memorial Park (you'll ride through the dam that broke), and returning to Johnstown on the Path of the Flood and Staple Bend Tunnel trails.
LINK: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52766819 - Sixty: Does the Forty route back into Johnstown, then up into the Rager District climb & descent, and back into Johnstown.
LINK: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54049527 - Eighty: Does the Forty route back into Johnstown, and then UP into the forested Gamelands west of town and then back down to the rolling roads in the south before riding back to on the Jim Mayer Riverswalk and into Johnstown.
LINK: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54214188 - Hundo: Does the Forty route back into Johnstown and then UP into the forested Gamelands west of town and then back down to the rolling roads in the south before riding back to on the Jim Mayer Riverswalk to the Start/Finish and the last 20 miles go up into the Rager District climb & descent and back into Johnstown.
LINK: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52766784
Navigation
Routes will NOT be marked so be sure to download them to your navigational device or use the RideWithGPS app on your phone, print a cue sheet (attached), and/or ride with friends. If you are navigationally challenged consider riding the 40-mile route with Mike Cook (rolling at 9:30am) and the 2nd loop of the Hundo with Dave Pryor (rolling at 2:00pm, lights required). If you’re doing the 3rd loop to make it a Hundo then you clearly know what you’re doing (or you’re gonna find out) and are on your own for that part.
- 7:37am Sunrise in Johnstown, PA
- 7:30am Sign-In opens
- 7:30-8:00am Hundo riders need to get final instructions from Dave
- 8:00am Hundo riders can begin their ride
- 8:15am All Hundo riders should be out on course
- 8:20am Mandatory Rider Meeting for the Eighty
- 8:30am Eighty riders can begin their ride
- 8:45am All Eighty riders should be out on course
- 9:10am Mandatory Rider Meeting for the Sixty
- 9:15 am All Sixty riders should be out on course
- 9:30am All Sixty riders should be out on course
- 9:30am Aid Station at Flood Memorial Park opens
- 9:40am Mandatory Rider Meeting for the Forty
- 9:45am Forty riders can begin their ride
- 9:45am Sign-In closes
- 9:55am Mandatory Rider Meeting for the Thirty
- 10:00am Thirty riders can begin their ride and all riders must be out on a route
- Noon Aid Station at Outdoor Odyssey opens
- 2:00pm Aid Station at Flood Memorial Park closes
- 2:00pm Lights required to start Loop 2 of the Hundo
- 1:00-8:00pm Hanging out at the finish
- 2:00pm Cutoff to start Loop 2 of the Hundo
- 3:00pm Lights required to start Loop 3 of the Hundo
- 5:00pm Aid Station at Outdoor Odyssey closes
- 5:00pm Cutoff to start Loop 3 of the Hundo
- 6:22pm Sunset in Johnstown, PA
- 8:00pm Higher Ground closes up
This is a social and scenic day on your bike so there is no racing and also not a lot of Strava segments out there (let’s keep it that way!) which means we don’t need to have a lot of rules though we do got some and also some advice to help you have a good time:
- Don’t be a dick. Sorry to use such language, and hopefully that’s the last time you’ll hear me say such a thing. But if you do something unsafe, rude, hateful, or destructive then I’ll use all my bad words and you won’t be invited back to Higher Ground or allowed at any other of my events.
- Follow all rules of the road because all roads will be open to cars. Stop at signs and lights. Stay to the right side of the road. Be extra careful making left turns.
- Follow all rules of the trails because they are shared use and we want to be invited back to use them again.
- Helmets are required at all times that you’re pedaling your bike.
- Dress appropriately! It can be cold, turn warm, and get wet.
- Lights are a great idea, and will be mandatory after certain times.
- You’re responsible for you, so pack all the tools & supplies you need to finish the ride you’re planning on doing and to fix your own mechanical issues.
- All routes have a wide variety of “gravel” so be ready to handle your bike and don’t go over your head (literally or figuratively) because again … this is not a race!
- Road bikes are discouraged for this event but if that’s all you got then do the 30-miler. The 40 and Hundo were designed with gravel and mountain bikes in mind.
- e-Bikes are allowed on the 30 or 40 mile routes. They won’t make it on the Hundo and you don’t want to push an e-bike up those climbs.
- Take care of each other out there, because Higher Ground is all about community.
unPAved PArtners
