In late October, when the wear and tear of a long summer has accumulated and winter starts closing in, we head south, nearly as far south as is possible within the U.S. Patagonia is the place we go, in Arizona's San Rafael Valley. Here, among the sky islands of a plateau that spans our border with Mexico, we get re-centered and refreshed at Spirit World Gravel.
In fact, this is the first event that Ripton ever attended in a formal capacity. Right away, the group of core gravel riders, combined with music, a welcoming atmosphere, and a mission to support the local community, felt like the perfect fit.
With Spirit World Gravel around the corner, October 23-26, 2025, we wanted to share some imagery that captured the experience, along with some thoughts from event organizer Zander Ault.
"2025 marks the seventh annual Spirit World 100 event in downtown Patagonia, Arizona. This type of outdoor recreational tourism is working for our rural corner of southern Arizona. Patagonia's raw ingredients — small town charm, access to thousands of acres of open space, and just the right amount of modern amenities — are developing a beautiful story that is unique unto itself and people are enjoying every minute they spend here. The San Rafael Valley and the Sky Islands are two of Arizona's most incredible assets. People from around the world are traveling to experience the immense beauty, the deafening quiet, and slow pace of life we all need more of in our lives. These raw ingredients define life across Patagonia's majestic mountain empire, and as the story of this place continues to be the driving force behind it's tourism based economy. Little by little, the community, local leadership, and Patagonia's downtown business sector become more resilient as a result."
"From the moment we first experienced the San Rafael Valley we knew it was a deeply special place. So special it's hard to put your finger on it as you tell stories or recount an experience on your bike or camping out below the endless star filled sky. We often reflect on our life in Patagonia, asking ourselves, 'Will we ever get tired of the same rides or such small town life?' The answer is always, nope! The Sky Islands ecosystem is vast, teeming with biodiversity, and offers Heidi and I the space to be creative, feel centered, and connect with others and ourselves in an elevated way. I feel this same magical sense of awareness becomes a part of anyone's experience when visiting Patagonia — bringing them back time and time again — to experience Patagonia's access to one of North America's most incredible high desert playgrounds."
"Patagonia has always been a trail town. Pack horses, ranching, early mining outfits, hiking, trail running, mountain bikes, and gravel roads — trails bringing us through a landscape that defines who we are as humans, giving us reason to fall in love with these wide open spaces. This connection to mother nature is worth every ounce of our effort in maintaining it for our future generations. This is why Spirit World brings us all together to celebrate these wild places that make us whole and offer an opportunity for the outdoor community to give back to the Arizona Trail Association, Arizona's legacy trail organization dedicated to offering all of us trails to escape, recreate, and connect with Arizona's diverse desert environments."
Photography by Shannon Christine.