compose Guest time Jul 8, 2025 comment 0

David Lamb’s latest video documents his recent solo ride along the rugged and remote Northern Blues and Wallowa Gravel Loop in Washington. Find an encyclopedic look at his 465-mile bikepacking journey in the 37-minute video here…

Words, photos, and video by David Lamb

The Northern Blues and Wallowa Gravel Loop, otherwise known as the “Nubwiggle,” is a 465-mile Pacific Northwest route that starts and ends in Walla Walla, Washington. The route climbs 42,000 feet through arid farmlands, forested canyons, and remote mountain wilderness. Despite the intense climbing, nearly all of it is rideable, and the campsites each night offer ample water resupply and a chance to clean off. The abundance of small towns along the route means that a beer and a hamburger are never too far away. The route was designed by Phil Neumann, an entrepreneur and Walla Walla local, as part of his mission to map big bikepacking routes from his front door.

This ride threw multiple curveballs at me. I was using a new saddle, and I don’t normally wear chamois shorts. I quickly regretted that decision on day one. Luckily, Mark at Mountain Works Bicycle Shop in La Grande agreed to drive me a new saddle and a pair of chamois shorts, which allowed me to complete the ride. You can spend days and weeks trying to anticipate everything that could go wrong on a ride like this, but so often, you end up depending on the kindness of strangers to get to the finish line. That’s what five-plus years of bikepacking has taught me. My sleeping pad also popped on Night 2, but I was able to fix it the next day by dunking the inflated pad in a bathtub to look for bubbles. It feels like such a thrilling victory to solve issues like this—ones that could otherwise cause major discomfort.

One of the highlights of this ride is passing through small towns. Union and Cove, Oregon, are two of my favorites on this route. The Cove Drive-In is a great stop to fuel up on burgers and milkshakes. Passing through towns like these always leaves me with mixed emotions. The people are so welcoming and kind, and life moves at a slower pace—but it’s also clear that many of these towns have seen better days. The pandemic hit this region of Oregon hard, and I’m grateful that places like the Cove Drive-In still exist.

Bikepacking in the Pacific Northwest is a unique experience. Living in Texas, I often forget the rolling hills and vast swaths of green that define this landscape. If you get the chance to take on the Nubwiggle, make sure to take it slow, appreciate every moment—and bring some chamois shorts.

Further Reading

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