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 Wednesday, June 4. Anyone driving or arriving prior to June 4 can report to San Jose Airport by 2pm or directly to Via Services West Campus by 2:30 p.m. PST on Wednesday, June 4.
*DO NOT BOOK YOUR FLIGHT TO SAN FRANCISCO (SFO)*
Once your flight is booked, all cyclists must complete the Travel Confirmation Form.
Crew Travel Information
All crew members must arrive at San Jose International Airport (SJC) for Journey of Hope Crew Training no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, May 27. Transportation from SJC Airport will be provided.
*DO NOT BOOK YOUR FLIGHT TO SAN FRANCISCO (SFO)*
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 7 at 5:00pm. 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 8 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 7 at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. Team member accommodations will be provided by The Ability Experience. Family and friends are responsible for booking their own accommodations while in Seattle and are welcome to book a room at this hotel or any other hotel in the area.
If you have any questions about the kickoff events in San Francisco, please contact Andrew Matznick.
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
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 Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver
Family and friends can book a room at this or any other nearby hotel in the area.
Rooms for all team members will be provided.
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 and register for Arrival!
Arrival: Saturday, August 9, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
This year’s Journey of Hope Arrival weekend in Washington, D.C., is August 8-10, 2025, with the arrival at the United States Capitol taking place on Saturday, August 9.
Family and Friends Meet and Greet
Where: Grand Hyatt Washington, D.C.
When: Saturday, August 9
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 9
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: Grand Hyatt Washington, D.C.
When: Saturday, August 9
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.
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!
Arrive by June 11, 2025
American Family Insurance Company
c/o Kadee Mason
808 College Pkwy. Ste. 106
Carson City, NV 89706
Attn: Journey of Hope – (Team Member Name)
Arrive by June 18, 2025
Christ United Methodist Church
2375 E. 3300 S.
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Attn: Journey of Hope – (Team Member Name)
Arrive by June 27, 2025
Mountaingate Capital
Attn: Sarah Rickenbacker
1225 17th Street
Suite 2575
Denver, CO 80202
Attn: Journey of Hope – (Team Member Name)
Arrive by July 4, 2025
Westwood Church
c/o Kara Willems
13056 Atwood Avenue
Omaha, NE 68144
Attn: Journey of Hope – (Team Member Name)
Arrive by July 18, 2025
North Suburban YMCA
c/o Kim Nyren
2705 Techny Rd.
Northbrook, IL 60062
Attn: Journey of Hope – (Team Member Name)
Arrive by July 29, 2025
Ken and Michelle Sutter
649 Marilyn Drive
Rossford, OH 43460
Attn: Journey of Hope – (Team Member Name)
North Route 2026 Roster
| NAME | POSITION | CHAPTER (UNIVERSITY) |
|---|---|---|
| Cole Ames | Cyclist | Eta Rho (Texas State) |
| Oscar Baza-Cabrera | Cyclist | Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro) |
| Chris Brown | Cyclist | Beta Epsilon (Missouri-Columbia) |
| Layne Chapman | Cyclist | Eta Rho (Texas State) |
| Isaias Crisotomo | Cyclist | Kappa Sigma (Colorado-Colorado Springs) |
| Dain Crnojevic | Cyclist | Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro) |
| Colin Dang | Cyclist | Zeta Sigma (California-Davis) |
| Jacob De La Torre | Cyclist | Epsilon Nu (Cal State-Sacramento) |
| Anthony DeGuzman | Cyclist | Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro) |
| Asher Early | Cyclist | Kappa Sigma (Colorado-Colorado Springs) |
| Ronan Geoffrey | Cyclist | Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro) |
| Jack Gips | Cyclist | Alpha Tau (Rensselaer Polytechnic) |
| Kadin Hadzic | Cyclist | Delta Delta (Truman State) |
| Mitchell Long | Cyclist | Alpha Tau (Rensselaer Polytechnic) |
| Skylar Ludazer | Cyclist | Eta Rho (Texas State) |
| Ryan Pirro | Cyclist | Omega (Purdue) |
| Nathan Pulling | Cyclist | Delta Delta (Truman State) |
| Oscar Watstein | Cyclist | Alpha Tau (Rensselaer Polytechnic) |
| Sebastian Wedemeyer | Cyclist | Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro) |
| Landon White | Cyclist | Theta Alpha (Southern Mississippi) |
| Nathan Won | Cyclist | Alpha Lambda (Mississippi) |
