Houston Wilson set out to pedal the Tour de Los Padres, but he soon realized the route was far more challenging than expected and found himself in a precarious situation that led him to ditch his bike and hike out to safety. Houston’s trip video explores themes of masculinity, mortality, and wonder amid the backdrop of the rugged Los Padres National Forest…

Words and photos by Houston Wilson

I arrived in Ojai without a bike, 95 hours after setting off on a solo individual time trial of the Tour de Los Padres.

The terrain felt enormous—the route, a love song to the Los Padres. You pass through what’s left of old California, cowboy country, where land and infrastructure have long been abandoned. Each day, I rode in awe of the changing landscape, but also in deepening isolation. My body began to break down. I didn’t see another person for days.

One consequential mistake turned a hard ride into a survival situation. I hiked out of the mountains alone, exhausted, but alive. I’m still processing what it all means, but I’ve been calling my friends more often.

“It can get really scary out here sometimes, especially when you’re doing it alone.”

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