Higher Ground

In honor of Jarrod Bunk’s belief that the bike community can help to build a community in need, we bring back Higher Ground with the locals of Johnstown, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.

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.

The goal is to keep the grassroots spirit of the original iterations of Higher Ground which showcased rugged routes throughout the surrounding Johnstown area. Expect to be greeted with punchy climbs, path-less-travelled trails, and a tour of the environmental wonders that are the Laurel Highlands and the Allegheny Mountains. 

Here are the routes that will be available:

• 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).
• 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.
• Sixty: Does the Forty route back into Johnstown, then up into the Rager District climb & descent, and back into Johnstown.
• 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. NOTE: You must wear orange on your body and an orange helmet (or helmet cover) to ride this route.
• 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. NOTE: You must wear orange on your body and an orange helmet (or helmet cover) to ride this route.

There will be aid station support and the start/finish venue will have food & drink available. All riders must check in & out so we know who's taking on which sections of the course.

To learn more about the history and purpose of Higher Ground, read this story on The Radavist from 2022.

Partners that are making Higher Ground happen include:

• Pennsylvania Environmental Council
• Community Foundation for the Alleghenies
• Fat Jimmy's Outfiters
• Thomas Automotive
• New Trail Brewing
• Endo TuneUp
• Stan's
• Nittany Mountain Works
• Footdown.cc
• Freeze Thaw Cycles
• Hushmoney Bikes

Proceeds from Higher Ground will support The Women's Help Center and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League.