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Mountain biking the Ho Chi Minh Trail through the remote central mountainous region of Lao P.D.R. proved to be much more than a detailed scouting trip for mountain bike adventurer Kevin Gibson and fellow travel expert Nick Ascot. It came to them like an explosion from the past.

Kevin and Nick set off for what they believed would merely be a challenging 10-day bike trip along the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail. Not only did they encounter yet-unspoiled portions of Southeast Asia, but witnessed first-hand previously undiscovered aspects surrounding a seldom-discussed tragedy of 20th-century history.

A 20,000 kilometer patchwork of paths running north-south through Lao P.D.R. into Cambodia along the mountainous border of Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh Trail for decades remained shrouded in secrecy by those illegally conducting vital aspects of the Second Indochina War fought over Vietnam and involving the U.S., China, and the former Soviet Union. Now, with one book published on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1999 and two due within the next year, this often-misunderstood aspect of the conflict is taking its rightful place as a major focus of the fighting and, arguably, the key to the outcome of the war.

By all accounts, official and unofficial, the Ho Chi Minh Trail was the most heavily bombed piece of real estate ever in history.

The Trail circumvented the heavily fortified and impenetrable demilitarized zone along the 17th parallel to allow North Vietnam to supply troops and equipment for the communist insurgency against the U.S.-backed government of South Vietnam. Despite having to endure a decade of the heaviest firepower the U.S. could muster, the trail still allowed the North to deliver an average of 4 tons of war material per day into the south for more than ten consecutive years. After the fateful LAMSON 719 expedition signaled the end to U.S. bombings over Laos in 1973, the trail matured into a veritable highway reducing what was once a six-month trip to only 11 days.

The gentle and graciously generous tribal peoples of this land who endured the years of bombing are surprisingly forgiving about the past. When Kevin asked why they did not leave and go elsewhere a Bru village chief was incredulous, and explained, how could we possibly leave? We are like the water and grass of this land.

Today, the trail is quiet and at peace except for the sudden and unexpected explosions from the past. Unexploded ordinance remains hidden among the less developed areas, too often with deadly results.

Can you imagine walking to the corner store with your child and having to tell him or her to walk only on the sidewalk because there are bombs just off to the side in the yards and gardens? This is why we are now working with a group of bomb squad guys to try to help out. Maybe we can't do it all, but we can try to help the communities we work with.

Beautiful, yet somehow tragically fragile, the portions of the trail Kevin explored run through some of the world’s most rugged and unforgiving terrain along single- and double-track bicycle and tractor-cart paths now well-enough traveled to be safe from bombs. After years of peaceful neglect, it is doubtful that any 4WD vehicle in production today could survive parts of difficult stony routes with its bombed-out bridges, washed-out passes and now dense, 30-year jungle growth. Mountain biking while challenging represents the most authentic way to experience the timeless, pristine beauty of the land. That it is the safest way is an added bonus!

We have scouted and selected routes that provide cyclists with a choice of challenge levels from intermediate to expert. The routes are planned so that you are sure to expand your mountain biking horizons. Kevin, a recognized expert and author in skydiving goes on to explain, "You know after years of high-level professional skydiving I thought I had done it all. Then we discovered the stunning beauty and simplicity of this region and the lessons it holds for the rest of us. Now I'm keyed for The Trail."

Cyclists, adventurers and mountain bikers looking for the ultimate ride are encouraged to contact us for more information on how to visit this amazing place both safely and with the right respect for local customs and cultures. The ethnic minorities who have lived here forever still rely primarily on subsistence farming and local barter. Foreigners are so few local people are apt to gawk, albeit in a charming and shy manner.

A final hint for the would-be traveler, this is not recommended for those who are unprepared for challenging rides and multiple nights in rustic villages and basic guesthouses.

The reward though for your efforts will be immense, as you are bound to leave the Ho Chi Minh Trail with a new, life-enhancing perspective on Southeast Asian culture and history.

Click here to see an itinerary for the Ho Chi Minh Trail trip.