Saddling up

Think long-distance back-packing is tough? Consider this next time you’re slogging up a steep switchback: Minnesota’s Jamey Mossengren, aka “The Unicycling Unicorn,” just completed the 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail (CDT) – and he did half of it on one wheel.

In 2023, Mossengren hiked half of the CDT. This summer, he returned to finish the journey “uni-packing” on a mountain unicycle. “It’s just like bikepacking,” he said, “except you only get half a bike to strap everything to.”

Starting in Grants, N.M., in June, Mossengren pedaled and hiked north to finish near Yellowstone National Park on Aug. 9. In doing so, Mossengren is believed to be the first person to hike half and unicycle half of the CDT.

This year’s journey carried a deeply personal purpose for Mossengren: earlier in 2025, his sister died by suicide. “I needed to spend time in nature to help let the mountains heal my broken heart,” he said. When he finished, he donated $1,000 to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (afsp.org).

To navigate the trip’s complicated logistics, Mossengren employed a “seven-wheel” strategy: his Sprinter van, a moped and his unicycle. He would park the van at a trailhead, scooter north with the unicycle strapped to the moped, ride the unicycle south back to the van, then leapfrog ahead – all while making sure he covered every mile.

This is far from Mossengren’s first epic feat. He has thru-hiked the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail, 300-mile Superior Hiking Trail and most of the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail. He has also uni-packed the 500-mile Colorado Trail, 800-mile Arizona Trail and 700-mile Oregon Timber Trail. Last year, Mossengren even set a Guinness World Record by riding a 44-foot-tall unicycle.

Despite a couple of flat tires, worn-out bearings and plenty of “UPD's” (unplanned dismounts), Mossengren completed the journey without serious injury.

To follow his continued adventures, search “The Unicycling Unicorn” online.