monique2Mickeal and Monique Ades are bicycling the Continental Divide Trail to support the Alzheimer's Foundation. (Courtesy Photo)By Mary Alice Murphy

Monique Ades called the Beat from Steamboat Springs, Colo., on Thursday, July 12, 2018, to talk about her senior project.

The 16-year-old lives in Oakhurst, CA, south of Yosemite. She and her father, Mickeal, are bicycling the 2,796 miles from Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells, NM, in support of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.

Monique chose this project in honor of her great-grandfather, whom she calls great-papa throughout her blog— https://bikeforalzheimers.com —which she is keeping to chronicle their adventure.

She and her father began their journey in Banff on June 20 and hope to finish about 75 -80 miles a day and end in Antelope Wells around July 27.

"I'm doing this ride for my great-grandpa, who passed away from Alzheimer's," Monique said. "He was my best friend. I was only five years old when he died, but I remember things he taught me.

"As I got older, I did research on Alzheimer's," she continued. "It's an awful disease."

When she was five years old, she also told her father she wanted to ride a bicycle across America.

"When I was a freshman in high school, we started planning a ride down the Continental Divide Trail," Monique said. "Dad and I have been bicyclists together for a long time."

They've had several adventures on their trek down the trail. At Flathead Canyon in Montana, they were going off a 2016 map, "but since then a bridge has gone out. We rode through water for five miles. We also had to cross it, about 40 feet in width, in mid-thigh high water."

The day before she called, they had run into a large thunderstorm that pelted them with 45 minutes of hail. They took shelter under a tree.

She said the trail angels had been fantastic. "Our first experience with one was north of Helena, MT. We stayed at a lodge in a cabin that was fully stocked with food. We have met super kind, welcoming people."

At Ovando, MT, they stayed in the historic center, and had a choice of the old jail, a tepee or a wagon, paid for by donation.

In northern Colorado, they stayed at a lodge, where the owners made them dinner and breakfast. "It's set up for bicyclists and had everything we needed."

When asked about adversities they had encountered, she said the ride and walk through the river near Flathead filled her internally cabled bicycle with water. "I had to empty it, and we had to restore the derailleur and externally cable it. We've had a lot of flat tires."

Her career goal is to study neuroscience and perhaps go into neurosurgery.

"This has been my first real backpacking trip," Monique said. "My goal after this is to complete the Pacific Crest Trail."

She said the trip and the scenery have been "gorgeous, and the people you meet so wonderful."

Monique's goal is to raise at least $10,000 for the Alzheimer's Foundation. "It's a great foundation with a great message."

As of July 16, the amount raised is over $7,300, with about 16 days to go on their trek. Those interested in donating to the cause, can donate from Monique's blog at https://bikeforalzheimers.com.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.