You might have heard about Phil Gaimon by now - he’s one of our most enthusiastic public-facing supporters.
Phil comes from the world of cycling and brings with him a passion for the environment.
Phil is a “retired” professional road cyclist, author, podcaster, YouTuber, cookie/whiskey/dog enthusiast and all-around nice (and hilarious) guy. In previous years, Phil ran a campaign to support No Kid Hungry and raised $500,000 for the charity. While he is still incredibly passionate about their mission, in the past few years Phil has been using his influence to support the Angeles Chapter.
He hosts two major cycling events every year– Whiskey Tango Fondo (aka WTF because it is THAT hard!) in the Alabama Hills area of the eastern Sierra in April and Phil’s Cookie Fondo in the Santa Monica Mountains in October. Respectively, at these events participants will find some whiskey and cookies. And, Sierra Club volunteers. And a reason to want to protect our public lands.
Phil is passionate about fighting climate change and mitigating the harms humans cause to our fragile planet. His voice in the cycling community has amplified our mission to get more people outside exploring and enjoying nature – then doing the work to protect it. Phil has helped the Angeles Chapter bring in new supporters from the cycling community - many of whom have learned about local environmental threats then signed petitions to save our public lands and shut down oil drilling in our neighborhoods. Many have donated generosity, adding power to our work and now volunteer alongside us.
The first year we participated in Whiskey Tango Fondo, cyclists were noticeably shy and perhaps even suspicious of Sierra Club’s presence there. The most common question back then was “Does the Sierra Club even like gravel cyclists and mountain bikers?” The answer, of course, was: “Yes, we do!” By following the same standards of leaving no trace and only exploring where the trails permit bikes, cyclists are among the most conscientious adventurers.
Now in its 3rd year, Whiskey Tango Fondo has seen every kind of weather and never fails to bring out the most awesome group of cyclists from all over the country. When we put up our Sierra Club table and welcome riders to aid stations along the route, it’s no longer a shy avoidance of the Sierra Club, but rather it’s like seeing good friends. Cyclists who follow Phil on social media are becoming incredible advocates for protecting our public lands. They keep asking us great questions and continue to be an influence on others on how to respect our recreational spaces.
Protecting public lands especially resonated with the event participants this year. They’re incredibly worried about public lands being privatized and/or exploited. They are worried that regulations will be eliminated or ignored and that the land we treasure will suffer.
Cyclists made some donations, trusting us with using funds to fight for the land we love. When we invited them to join our campaign to protect the Northern Angeles National Forest, they eagerly grabbed their phones to scan a QR code that took them to a letter of support to sign.
The northern section of the Angeles National Forest is a vital landscape that demands immediate protection. Covering 240,000 acres of chaparral-covered terrain, this unique and irreplaceable area offers breathtaking views of towering peaks, magnificent canyons, and complex geology, making it an essential part of our natural heritage. Located just north of Santa Clarita, Castaic, and Agua Dulce, this region is deserving of national monument status. It acts as a biodiversity hotspot and an essential wildlife corridor, rich in both history and cultural significance. Iconic landmarks such as the historic Ridge Route and the Pacific Crest Trail offer a glimpse into the natural beauty and historical legacy of Southern California. Additionally, it encompasses the Santa Clarita Watershed, making it a major source of drinking water for surrounding communities.
Add your voice to the growing list of supporters!
About the eastern Sierra, Phil wrote this after coming home from this year’s event: “...what makes this area (and all nature) amazing is that humans haven’t messed it up yet. The only reason that it’s okay to bring people here is that once you see it, we know you’ll be inspired to help protect it. This area has a lot going on, and the local Sierra Club chapter does amazing work blocking new mining, keeping water in Owens lake, and much more…”
Thank you to Phil Gaimon, the volunteers from the Toiyabe Chapter, Range of Light Group, and Angeles Chapter – and especially to all of the Whiskey Tango Fondo cyclists who explored the eastern Sierra last weekend! Together, we enjoyed some amazing views while actively protecting the environment. They kept the party alive all weekend, and then left no trace (Dept of Forestry employees were really impressed!).
You can find Phil on social media and Strava! You can also donate to Phil’s campaign at sc.org/sierraclubphil. 100% of your donations support the Angeles Chapter.
Photo Credit: Harrison Alpert on YouTube and on IG @the_orange_helmet_guy