Sarah is a Founder and co-director of The Cairn Project. She works as a PhD research scientist studying land-use and global change impacts to soil health.
Instagram: @sc_castle
100+ Miles of North Dakota Badlands
In late May, Sarah is setting off on her first-ever bikepacking trip! Starting at the northernmost point of the Maah Daah Hey Trail, she will pedal south through rolling prairies and steep clay buttes to the town of Medora, ND. With 100+ miles of singletrack and 10K+ feet of climbing and descending, the trip is guaranteed to be both challenging and rewarding.
Fundraising Goal: $3,000
About this Landscape
In total, the 150 mile Maah Daah Hey Trail traverses the North Dakota Badlands, Little Missouri National Grasslands, private land and the North and South Units of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The trail name, “Maah Daah Hey”, comes from the Mandan Hidatsa Tribe and means “Grandfather”. Designated by the International Mountain Bike Association as an IMBA – EPIC trail for the unique backcountry riding experience, the multi-use trail is maintained by the Maah Daah Hey Trail Association.
Why Give Out & Give Back
“The outdoors have been my greatest source of curiosity, creativity, and learning. The Cairn Project passes those outdoor and wilderness opportunities on to our next generation of girls, and my hope is that spending time in wild places will bring them joy, self discovery, and connection.”
Sarah Castle
Sarah Castle grew up in a small mountain town west of Denver, Colorado, and has spent most of her adult life a stone’s throw away from the Rocky Mountains. Though she held a fascination for wild places at a young age, it wasn’t until late high school that she became captivated by the high elevations and unbeaten paths of the mountains in her backyard. Merging her love for both exploration and grit, Sarah pursued a career in soil science, studying the effects of global change and land use on natural and managed ecosystems. Currently living in Saint Paul, Minnesota, you’re likely to find her either trail running or logging one of many 70mi. weekend bike rides. Sarah holds B.A. and M.S. degrees from the University of Colorado and a Ph.D. from the University of Montana.