2026 North Route Team
2026 North Route Team & Family Information
Journey of Hope is an exciting and distinctive opportunity, and this year’s team is well-equipped for the journey ahead. This page contains an overview of this summer’s North Route experience, including key dates, travel information and other helpful details for participants and their family members.
2026 North Route
Follow the North Route team on social media
North Route Dates and Details
Orientation offers a chance for team members to get acquainted, learn about people with disabilities and participate in skills assessments, training rides and safety training to prepare them for the life-changing events ahead.
Cyclist Travel Information
Cyclists on the North route must arrive at San Jose International Airport (SJC) for the Team Orientation no later than 2:00 p.m. PST on Tuesday, June 2. Anyone driving or arriving prior to June 2 can report to San Jose Airport by 2 p.m. or directly to Via Services West Campus by 2:30 p.m. PST on Tuesday, June 2.
*DO NOT BOOK YOUR FLIGHT TO SAN FRANCISCO (SFO)*
Once you have booked your travel to San Jose, please complete the Journey of Hope Orientation Travel form.
Crew Travel Information
All crew members must arrive at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) for Journey of Hope Crew Training no later than 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 25. Transportation from SEA Airport will be provided.
Getting Your Bike To Orientation
All cyclists should bring their bike on the plane with them as a checked bag. Check with airlines when booking your flight to confirm fees, but most major airlines charge a standard checked bag fee for bike boxes.
Your bike should be packed in a cardboard bike box. Any team members using a hard-case bike box will be required to ship it home. Contact your local bike shop for help packing your bike. They should be able to provide you with a box for free or pack it for a small cost. Here is a video of how to pack a cardboard bike box yourself. Write your name clearly on the outside of the box to be able to identify it at orientation.
Journey of Hope North Kickoff Dinner
The Journey of Hope North Kickoff Dinner will be hosted by The Ability Experience on Saturday, June 6 at 5:00 p.m. Dinner location is to be determined.
Check back here to register for the North Kickoff Dinner
Journey of Hope North Kickoff
The Journey of Hope North team will depart for Napa and their first day of cycling on Sunday, June 7 at 7:00 a.m. sharp from the Golden Gate Bridge Visitors’ Center near Fort Point National Historic Site. The team will hold their morning circle up and then depart at 7:00 a.m. Please arrive by 6:30 a.m. to allow plenty of time for photos prior to the team’s departure.
Joining your Team Member for Orientation and Kickoff
Family and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend the kickoff; however, it is important that any family or friends planning on coming to San Francisco understand that Orientation is for the team to prepare as a group for their time on the road. Availability to be with family during this time will be limited. Most family and friends take this time to see some of the different sites around San Francisco. In fact, some team members and their families arrive early to sight-see.
If you have any questions about kickoff events, please contact us.
Hotel Accommodations
Team members will be staying in San Francisco on Saturday, June 6 at San Francisco Marriott Union Square.
The Ability Experience will provide accommodations for team members.
Family and friends are responsible for booking their own accommodations while in San Francisco. We have secured a discounted room block at this hotel. The cut-off date for this room block rate is Friday, May 15.
You can book here.
Sights to See
The Bay Area is a wonderful place full of history and things to do. Remember, if you want to explore these sights with your team member, it must be done before Orientation; there will not be time during Orientation. Below are some local attractions in San Francisco and the surrounding areas:
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Fisherman’s Wharf
- Alcatraz
- Lombard Street
- San Francisco Cable Car System
- Ghirardelli Square
- Muir Woods National Monument
Distance Cycled: 70 Miles
Friendship Visit: Napa Challenger Baseball League
Napa Challenger Baseball League has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2000!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 70 Miles
Friendship Visit: Meristem & UCP – Sacramento
Meristem has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2024!
UCP – Sacramento has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2024!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 50 Miles
Friendship Visit: The Arc of Amador & Calaveras Counties
The Arc of Amador & Calaveras Counties has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2003!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 90 Miles
Friendship Visit: Access Tahoe, Tahoe Bike Coalition, Senior Inc., Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, McIlwain Mobility Solutions
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 45 Miles
Friendship Visit: Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 65 Miles
Friendship Visit: Northern Nevada Human Services
Northern Nevada Human Services has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2012!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 110 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 80 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 100 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 60 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 95 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 125 Miles
Friendship Visit: Utah USTA
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 40 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 85 Miles
Friendship Visit: Duchesne Lions Club
Duchesne Lions Club has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2023!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 65 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 125 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 45 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 90 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 70 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Family Visit Event in Denver
The Ability Experience is pleased to offer the family and friends of our team members the chance to experience life as a team member. Family and friends will get to see what the men have been doing by joining the team for events in Denver. There is free time set aside on one of the days for team members to spend time alone with their friends and family visiting. Learn more about visiting your team member in Denver.
We also invite family and friends to our arrival celebration in Washington D.C.
Tuesday, June 30
12:30 p.m. – Arrival at Colorado Capitol Building (west side)
2 p.m. – Check in to hotel and free time
4 p.m. – Pedal for Pennies event at Denver City Park
11:45 p.m. – Team Curfew
Wednesday, July 1
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast with Mountaingate
10 a.m. – Free time
12 p.m. – Optional team lunch
10:30 p.m. – Team Curfew
Thursday, July 2
6:30 a.m. – Team circle-ups and team send-offs from lodging
Hotel Information
Both teams will be staying at the Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver. Rooms will be provided for all team members. All team members are required to stay in their assigned team room.
Family and friends can book a room at the Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver hotel at our discounted group rate.
The deadline to book is June 1, 2026.
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 95 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 90 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 95 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 95 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 60 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 95 Miles
Friendship Visit: Arc of Lincoln
Arc of Lincoln has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2003!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 55 Miles
Friendship Visit: The Ollie Webb Center & Nebraska Spina Bifida
The Ollie Webb Center has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2005!
Nebraska Spina Bifida has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2013!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 60 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 100 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 80 Miles
Friendship Visit: Arc of Marshall County
Arc of Marshall County has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2002!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 80 Miles
Friendship Visit: Arc of East Central Iowa
Arc of East Central Iowa has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2003!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 35 Miles
Friendship Visit: Arc of Southeast Iowa
Arc of Southeast Iowa has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2010!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 70 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 110 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 110 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 80 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 100 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 25 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 100 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 80 Miles
Friendship Visit: Arc Community Advocates
Arc Community Advocates has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2014!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 85 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 70 Miles
Friendship Visit: Eisenhower Center
The Eisenhower Center has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2006!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 60 Miles
Friendship Visit: Sunshine Communities
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 70 Miles
Friendship Visit: Ability Works
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 65 Miles
Friendship Visit: Cleveland Children’s Clinic
Cleveland Children’s Clinic has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2007!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 65 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 100 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 60 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 85 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 70 Miles
Friendship Visit: Potomac Center
Potomac Center has been a Friendship Visit partner since 2000!
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Distance Cycled: 50 Miles
Summer Ride Along registration closes 14 days prior to your intended ride.
Arrival Information
Join us as Journey of Hope arrives at the U.S. Capitol and we celebrate their accomplishments! The arrival weekend is the culmination of a life-changing summer. Upon building hope for many individuals across the country, one cannot help but get caught up in the emotion surrounding such a special day.
Read on for additional information.
Arrival: Saturday, August 8, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
This year’s Journey of Hope Arrival weekend in Washington, D.C., is August 7-9, 2026, with the arrival at the United States Capitol taking place on Saturday, August 8.
Family and Friends Meet and Greet
Where: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
When: Saturday, August 8
Time: 8:30-10 a.m.
This is a time for family and friends to come together ahead of the Arrival. Coffee and light breakfast items (i.e., donuts or similar) will be available. The Ability Experience staff will also be there to answer any questions you may have during this time. The group will depart for the Capitol together at 10 a.m.
This is included as part of your Arrival registration.
Journey of Hope Arrival
Where: West front lawn of the United States Capitol building
When: Saturday, August 8
Time: The teams will arrive promptly at 11 a.m., but the time is subject to change based on weather conditions.
IMPORTANT: Friends and family must arrive at the Capitol building by 10:30 a.m. It will most likely be very warm, so dress comfortably and bring water and sunscreen! Absolutely no alcohol is allowed at the Arrival event on Capitol grounds. Please stay off any structures and respect the Capitol grounds.
No registration required.
The Ability Experience Celebration
Where: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
When: Saturday, August 8
Time: Doors open at 4:30 p.m. with a program beginning at 5 p.m.
This event will highlight the teams who just finished their event while also celebrating The Ability Experience’s history. Displays will be set up around the room to showcase some of the special people, places and events in The Ability Experience’s history. The event will also be a meeting place for The Ability Experience family to reflect on their experiences. The Ability Experience has grown throughout the years and shaped many lives of people of all abilities, and we hope you will join us for the celebration!
This is included as part of your Arrival registration.
Heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. Dress is business casual.
Hotel Accommodations
Team members will stay in Seattle on Saturday, June 8. Team members will be staying at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.
The Ability Experience will provide accommodations for team members.
Family and friends are responsible for booking their own accommodations while in Washington, D.C. We have secured a discounted room block at this hotel. The cut-off date for this room block rate is Friday, July 17.
You can book here.
As the Journey of Hope routes are making their way across the country, team members may need that little extra push from you in the form of a care package to get them through some hard miles between now and Washington, D.C. Below, you will find the mail drops for the Journey of Hope teams. At the end of each address block, please remember to include “Attn: Journey of Hope (Team Member Name)” in order to ensure that the team member receives his package. Your mail/packages MUST arrive by the “Arrive by” dates listed below; there will be no forwarding of mail that has arrived after the deadlines. Please contact The Ability Experience office with any questions!
Dates and locations will be shared once confirmed.
2026 Journey of Hope North Roster
| NAME | POSITION | CHAPTER (UNIVERSITY) |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Coleman | Cyclist | Alpha Theta (Michigan State) |
| Jack Coleman | Cyclist | Eta Tau (Kentucky) |
| Dain Crnojevic | Cyclist | Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro) |
| Colin Dang | Cyclist | Zeta Sigma (California-Davis) |
| Jacob Delatorre | Cyclist | Epsilon Nu (Cal State-Sacramento) |
| Anthony DeGuzman | Cyclist | Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro) |
| Saidou Diallo | Cyclist | Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro) |
| Richard Escobar | Cyclist | Zeta Beta (California-San Diego) |
| Ronan Geoffrey | Cyclist | Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro) |
| Cameron Geranlos | Project Manager | Alpha Lambda (Mississippi) |
| Jack Gips | Cyclist | Alpha Tau (Rensselaer Polytechnic) |
| Isiah Greene | Cyclist | Iota Iota (Cal Poly-Pomona) |
| Jackson Holmes | Cyclist | Theta Psi (RIT) |
| Joe LoPiccalo | Crew | Iota Rho (Western Illinois) |
| Skylar Ludazer | Cyclist | Eta Rho (Texas State) |
| Kaleb Payne | Cyclist | Alpha Delta (Washington) |
| Ryan Pirro | Cyclist | Omega (Purdue) |
| Danu Regalado | Cyclist | Iota Mu (Arkansas-Fort Smith) |
| Thatcher Rortvedt | Cyclist | Kappa Omega (Utah) |
| Trevor Ryan | Cyclist | Zeta Beta (California-San Diego) |
| Nicholas Strickland | Cyclist | Alpha Delta (Washington) |
| K.C. Thompson | Crew | Beta Omicron (Northwestern State) |
| Oscar Watstein | Cyclist | Alpha Tau (Rensselaer Polytechnic) |
| Jude Welsch | Cyclist | Upsilon (Illinois-Urbana-Champaign) |
| Ian Zimmerman | Cyclist | Theta Psi (RIT) |
