SAGLE — Chilly White and his 89-year-old father, Gordon, stood just a stone's throw from the Mexico/American border in Yuma, Ariz., on May 25.

The plan was for Chilly, Gordon and two friends to take mostly dirt roads from the Mexican border to the Canadian border before they returned home to Sagle over the course of two weeks. Both Chilly and Gordon’s wives accompanied them in a van on paved roads, which they thought they might also need for Gordon White. 

As it turns out, White never needed to jump in the chase car. He rode the entire time, around 180 miles a day, with his son and friends. 

“I was happy with my body that I was able to make that many miles in one day on, you know, primarily dirt roads,” White said. “I know I can always ride with the girls in the chase truck, but my biggest concern is whether I could really do that many miles still in a day, to average over 200 miles a day, and as it turns out, I could, and I was very happy about that.” 

Standing in Yuma, however, White said he was the furthest thing from confident that he’d be able to conquer the ride. Despite skiing at Schweitzer three mornings a week and frequently walking along the Long Bridge, White said the intense mileage was a taunting task. 

However, as he got into the ride, his confidence continued to build thanks to a secret helper: sleep. Once their group made it back to the motel, White said he quickly found his way to bed after dinner. 

“I am in bed for 12 hours, but then in the morning I totally recover at night, which is really good,” White said. “I've got a lot of problems, physical problems, everybody my age does; I've lived way longer than I should. So, you just have to learn to put up with those, but every day is a new, fresh day, and I'm good.” 

A highlight day for White was a day when the team rode 271 miles, which pushed his body to the limit, but he was happy he was able to do it. 

Both said some of their favorite days on the ride came during their time in Nevada, where both said they hadn’t spent much time. Whether it was riding through abandoned ghost towns or finding the scenic views of Bear Creek Summit near the town of Jarbridge, those moments stood out to both. 

“In Gold Point, Nev., the old bar is still open with one old guy there, but it's still open,” Gordon White said. “We got coffee, can't drink booze when we're on the road.” 

The idea for the ride began with Chilly White, a professional worldwide dirt bike racer and tour guide, taking time off from his usual adventures to build one with his family. White said his favorite part of dirt bike riding is the outdoors aspect, which made this trip perfect. 

“It's the ultimate outside experience in so many ways, because you get to see so much terrain,” White said. "You get to go to places that are really remote and do that all the time, so just the love of being outdoors is a lot of it. 

For Gordon White, the rationale for another trip at his age was simple. 

“I wanted to go on another big adventure,” White said. “Maybe I'm not through with big adventures yet.” 

White is no stranger to dirt bikes or adventures. Dirt bikes have been in their family since 1921, when Gordon White’s father bought his first Harley-Davidson dirt bike. White raced the machines extensively throughout the decades, starting in the 1970s, winning several national championships along the way. 

Though White doesn’t race as often as he used to, he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. This weekend, they both plan on heading to Wyoming for a three-day rally event, which will take them throughout the state’s wilderness. 

“I'm way past my life expectancy right now, so I have to work out year-round. I'm working out now, so I'll be in shape for ski season and in ski season working out then, so I'll be in shape for motorcycle seats or bicycle season,” White said. “The doctor knows enduro racing. He understands that, and that's fine ... Now, good racers will be standing up on the page, but I'll be sitting down, I guarantee you.” 

    Chilly White takes a selfie with his team of riders near the Canadian border after wrapping up the ride.
  

    89-year-old Gordon White rides his dirt bike on a trip from the Mexico border to the Canadian border last month.