The ultimate adventure: Crossing the Caucasus Mountains by bicycle (VIDEO)

Imagine navigating more than 200 kilometres on a mountain bike through unmapped pastures, walking up and sliding down ice and snow-capped mountains, out riding wild dogs while enjoying some of the most breathtaking views on the planet.

A group of four avid mountain bikers – three American’s and one Canadian – experienced all this and much more when they came to Georgia to cycle through unchartered territory along the Caucasian ridge, in an adventure that turned out to be much more than the riders imagined.

Watch the video below.

In a video piece for Bike Magazine, the four adventurers documented their journey through the barren Georgian mountainside, from quaint Omalo tucked deep within the Tusheti wilderness, along the Russian border of Dagestan and Chechnya to one of Georgia’s most iconic and renowned places – Kazbegi.

We’re all here for slightly different reasons but the same goal in mind; to transect the rugged natural barrier that is the Caucasus Mountains,” said rider and videographer Joey Schusler.

Along their self-supported journey the team came face-to-face with rolling green pastures and the occasional rabid dog, locals riding horseback and border guards, and towards the end of their journey they experienced the harsh reality of the changing weather as thunder, lightning, wind and rain crashed down on their flimsy tents. They also realized Georgia’s hospitable culture and said the people of Georgia were some of the friendliest and most generous in the world.

But these things did not deter the men; the journey gave them the chance to explore some of the world’s most remote and unchartered areas. The paths they took were used by shepherds now and hundreds of years ago. Perhaps they were the first people to bike along the ancient trails?

The group hit a road block at a border crossing towards Atsunta Pass and was forced to abandon their original plan. They’d come all the way to Georgia to cycle along some of the most beautiful mountains in the world and these men were not going to give up.

Their journey was documented in a self-made video uploaded to YouTube yesterday, December 14.

The enthralling clip has viewers hooked right from the first scenes, and gives viewers an insight into the marvel and wonder of Georgia and its mountains.