The Trail to Kazbegi

‘The Trail to Kazbegi’ follows four riders on an epic bikepacking expedition through the Republic of Georgia’s Caucasus Mountains. shot by Joey Schusler, the film beautifully captures the culture, adventure, suffering, and incredible singletrack found along the way …

The Caucasus Mountains are situated in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. The rugged and extremely steep range forms a natural barrier between Russia and Europe. In the summer of 2015, a four-man crew made up of filmmaker Joey Schusler, photographer Ross Measures, BIKE mag editor Bruce Minnigh, and Sam Seward set out to traverse these mountains from east to west and finish at a place called Kazbegi, a breathtaking town high in the high Caucasus. The trip resulted in a beautifully produced film that recounts their trials and tribulations — including terrifying lightning storms, raging-river crossings, countless snow-covered glacial passes, mind-melting descents, chase scenes with Tushetian sheep dogs, and tense encounters with over-zealous border-patrol guards. It’s all here… a must watch 15 minute film:

  • Trail to Kazbegi Video, Joey Schusler
  • Trail to Kazbegi Video, Joey Schusler

A mid-story outtake from the story featured in the September, 2015 BIKE Magazine sums it up well: “We were alone in some of the world’s most remote wilderness, carrying everything we needed to survive. And we were shredding some of the sweetest alpine singletrack any of us have ever seen. This was what bikepacking is meant to be.” – Brice Minnigh

About The Route

This route has since been ridden by three of our editors. Cass spent several months in Georgia working on and perfecting the Caucasus Crossing route, an epic 800 mile bikepacking route crossing the Republic from west to east in a serpentine pattern. After seeing the photos Logan and Virginia one to Georgia in the summer of 2017 to ride east from Kazbegi. You can read that story here.

Cinematography/Aerial: Joey Schusler and Ross Measures
Motion Design & VFX: Paul Harrison (Shotgun Infinity)
Art Direction: Drew Pautler (Good Fortune Collective)
Photography: Ross Measures & Joey Schusler
POV Footage: Sam Seward
Editor: Joey Schusler
Associate Producer: Brice Minnigh (Bike Magazine), Travis Rummel (Felt Soul Media), Ross Measures
Post Production Sound: Keith White (Keith White Audio)
Expedition Logistics: Sam Seward, Tato Nadiradze, Tito Tomasi, GeoLand Maps

See the full digital feature at BikeMag.com

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