Bringing the Yeti Gatherings to Life

Bringing the Yeti Gatherings to Life – Jodie reflects back on her first year of running the Yeti Gatherings

Yeti Gathering – a legendary event, fiercely protected and proudly nurtured by Yeti Cycles for over 23 years. What began as a casual post-race shindig has evolved into a time-honoured tradition, drawing hundreds of Freaks from across the Centennial State each year. It’s as much a part of the Yeti brand as their iconic turquoise frames.

Taking on the organisation and execution of such an adored event is no small feat. With its rich history and deeply rooted traditions, getting it wrong would be – put simply – a disaster. So when Catherine and Euan announced that I would be part of the team executing not just the Colorado Gathering, but numerous regional Gatherings across the US, my reaction was a heady mix of ‘I’m sold’ and ‘should I be doing this?’ – a similar feeling to when you are handed your second Hoogarita of the evening.

Events like Colorado and Vermont don’t come together in a matter of days or weeks – it’s months of hard work and late nights – all fuelled by a collective passion for riding bikes with likeminded people. Routes are scouted and re-scouted a year out, permits wrangled and logistics mapped out to minute detail. There are marketing campaigns to design, booking pages to create, hungry mouths to feed, and the sourcing of enough beer to satisfy a small army. Add in entertainment, trail maintenance, and the little touches that give a Gathering its unmistakable Yeti DNA, and you’re looking at a full-scale production before you even arrive on-site. Lucky for us, we have a team of dedicated staff who know a thing or two about crafting extraordinary experiences on two wheels – and that’s exactly what we did.

Images by

Vermont – Hannah Sourbeer

Colorado – Ben Duke

Hello Colorado!

Deep in the San Juan Mountains, 350 Freaks set up camp on a small baseball field in Lawson – a mere 20 minute pedal from the mountain village of Telluride. As a long-standing location for the Gathering and iconic biking destination in Colorado, it seemed fitting to hold it here given it is their 40th anniversary year.

We arrived a few days out to make sure the trails and the venue were prepped for the arrival of riders on Thursday evening. As soon as riders rolled in, the atmosphere was unmistakably electric. In my years working in the bike industry, I have met a lot of passionate riders, but nothing compares to the bond between Yeti and their Freaks. The connection is real: Yeti pours its heart into the community, and the riders reflect that love right back. It’s more than turquoise frames and record-setting – it’s a living culture of trust, loyalty, and shared passion that you feel the moment you step into a Gathering – I was immediately welcomed into the fold.

Let the Yeti Fun Begin!

From the beginning we set out to celebrate all things Yeti. On arrival, riders could crack open a can of cold Roots Lager, a one-off collaboration with the local Telluride Brewing Co, as they connected with friends old and new, setting the scene for the weekend ahead.

Friday and Saturday brought group rides that balanced challenge with pure fun. The views were massive; sweeping Colorado high country, ridgelines fading into distance and ribbons of singletrack through lush aspen groves all the way down to the valley floor. After a generous uplift to 10,000ft at Telluride Bike Park, we made our way into the backcountry for a proper adventure – because let’s be honest, would it really be an H+I Adventure if we didn’t?

Hoogaritas and mini-bikes!

By the time riders rolled back into camp on Saturday, there was an unmistakable energy in the air – buzzing from the excitement of the day’s descent, we kept the vibes high and got the party started. The camp atmosphere at Lawson Ball Field made it easy to swap stories of the day over a freshly poured Hoogarita. Before long, the field became ground zero for mini-bike carnage. Imagine undersized bikes, oversized egos, and line choices so questionable you couldn’t help but laugh until your sides hurt.

As darkness crept in, the well-known Yeti antics moved away from Sushi-Danny’s pop-up Sushi Bar and towards Justin Reiter’s Speakeasy. As a Gathering first timer – let’s just say these Freaks gave this Scot a run for her money. A life lesson to never mix whisky and altitude together!

By Sunday, the Gathering wrapped with a hearty breakfast, heartfelt goodbyes and a few last laps for those who couldn’t resist squeezing in more saddle time. It felt less like an ending and more like a reminder; Gathering isn’t just about bikes – it’s about community too.

Taking the Gathering to the East-Coast

After the success of Colorado, we kept the momentum rolling – returning to Scotland with just one month to finish preparing for the very first Regional Gathering. Set in the green hills of East Burke, Vermont, we planned this event to be smaller, more intimate, and for the first time, beyond Colorado. With just a quarter of Colorado’s riders and a brand-new concept on the line, the challenge was clear – deliver a weekend that impressed while keeping the authentic Yeti vibe thousands of miles away from Colorado.

After 2 days of air travel and one very long roadtrip for our Yeti colleagues, we all arrived in Burke. Euan and Tony jumped straight on the bikes to scout and mark the weekend’s routes, while the Yeti staff and I set to work on prepping the venue, organising merch bags, pitching tents, and dialling in every detail ahead of Thursday night’s arrivals. Of course, we had to get some time on two wheels to try out the trails before our guests arrived. I can confirm, they didn’t disappoint!

A Film Night under the Vermont Stars

By Friday, the Wildflower Inn was alive with a mix of excitement and nerves. It was clear the East Coast Freaks were fired up for Yeti’s arrival. We didn’t waste a second before throwing a leg over our Yetis and hitting the trails. Flowy berms, quick singletrack and a taste of Burke’s most iconic trails. It was the perfect way to get everyone acquainted and raring for the weekend ahead.

While riders explored Vermont’s green hills, I was back at base setting up for the evening’s entertainment – a Yeti Cycles Movie Night. As the sun set and riders returned for dinner, the night turned into a perfect Vermont evening set to a sunset of pink, purple and orange hues. As the light left the sky, we dimmed the lights, lit the fire pits, and screened a lineup of films to get riders inspired. The night opened with a warm welcome from Yeti co-owners Steve Hoogendoorn and Chris Conroy, before showing Uphill, an inspiring film featuring Yeti’s talented tech rep Leah. To celebrate the longtime partnership between H+I and Yeti, we then took everyone across the globe with our Bhutan short film – a fitting nod given it is the location of this year’s International Yeti Gathering. The stoke was high and there was an unmistakable buzz, proving once again the power of bikes to bring people together.

If the evening hadn’t already been a hit, we had one more surprise up our sleeves. Yeti Ambassador Jubal Davis and Product Manager Ryan Thornberry took the stage to unveil a sneak peek of the soon-to-launch LTe – Yeti’s newest e-bike. The riders were buzzing, and the reveal quickly sparked an evening of conversation and appreciation for Yeti bikes -new and old- as stories and favourite riding memories came pouring back.

Blackbear, Biblical Rain and Birthday Cake

Saturday brought the ‘big’ ride — 30 miles and 3,000 feet of climbing. We knew the forecast wasn’t great, but nothing could have prepared us for the biblical rain ahead. I took my post at the aid station, fully waterproofed and stocked with snacks and maple syrup shots, bracing myself for miserable riders. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Every rider arrived plastered in mud but grinning from ear-to-ear. Laughter soon filled the field as they blamed us Scots for bringing our bad weather across the Atlantic.

Once refuelled, riders headed to the legendary Blackbear trail – 2 miles of some of the world’s finest singletrack. After packing up, Leah and I hit the trail ourselves and braced ourselves for the most torrential rain I have ever ridden in. As she disappeared ahead at great speed, I followed behind, quickly giving up on keeping her in my sights. My years of Scottish riding served me well, and my grin quickly matched those of the riders – a powerful reminder of how lucky I am to share the sport I love with people from around the world and call it ‘work’.

Despite the rain, the day was a total success. Back at the inn that night, we celebrated the weekend’s achievements, swapped stories of near misses, and savoured in what can only be described as a ‘type 2’ adventure in Vermont – all with a refreshing Hoogarita in hand and a slice of 40th birthday cake!

The start of an exciting adventure with Yeti Cycles!

Being part of the event team and witnessing the joy and camaraderie of the Yeti Gathering was a humbling reminder of my love for mountain biking, the places it has taken me, and the incredible people I’ve met along the way. It reinforced why we do what we do at H+I Adventures and left me inspired to keep creating experiences that leave lasting memories for our riders, all set in the world’s most epic destinations. Here’s to even more adventures in 2026 for both H+I Adventures and Yeti!

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