Ulaan Taiga Protected Areas – Mongolia | Rider Location

As an 8 year old I didn't eat school lunch so I could buy my first motorbike. I had no idea my early love for riding would eventuate into a mission that might do someone some good in the world in majestic places with outstanding people. This task has tested every measure of my motorsports/driving instruction background, paired with great support from blessed team members. I still pinch myself to be involved in such a beautiful endeavor that would be so much fun! I treat Rally for Rangers as a pivot or jump start to a vivid perspective of great things in life......

Wesley is a founding member of the Rally for Rangers. Since its inception, as an avid motorcyclist, Wesley spearheaded the Rally for Rangers, raised awareness internationally about the National Parks of Mongolia, and rode in all rallies.

Wesley is the founder of Trend Digital, www.trend-digital.com, which specializes in post-production imaging services for e-commerce clothing and fashion retailers. Wesley is also a photographer, adventurer, and traveler and has documented the tribes of Omo Valley, Ethiopia, to the nomadic shamans of Mongolia. He currently lives in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Tom Medema developed a passion for national parks at a young age on family vacations throughout the American west. This passion turned into a career as a park ranger spanning nearly 30 years. Tom is equally passionate about national parks and public lands around the world and has worked with parks and monuments in South America and Europe as a subject matter expert in the field of interpretation and education. The opportunity to support the protection of natural and cultural heritage of parks and protected areas around the world is an opportunity he is excited and humbled to be a part of.
Tom is a sports and outdoor enthusiast, spending much of his free time enjoying two-wheeled travel by mountain bike, road bike, and motorbike. Over the past 20 years he has owned Harley-Davidson and BMW bikes and is currently riding an F800GS on the back roads and trails of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia in preparation for the next epic and compelling adventure protecting the worlds special places one motorcycle at a time.

Motorcycling is in my family, and even though I and my brother was raised without them, we somehow both ended up with motorcycles being a major part of what defines us. My father used to ride dirt bikes (and race) in the army, and I have photos of my grandmother riding in WW2. Since I was 14 I knew the bike I wanted was a R1150GS Adv - big enough to travel long distances and adventurous to take me to places I have never heard of. I got my license at the earliest opportunity and have been riding daily since. I study maps during work hours (guilty) of places I wish to explore, spend hours figuring out how to mount my soft luggage, and day dream about seeing what nature, geology/geography, ecosystems/fauna the world has to offer. The motorcycling nature of RfR puts it in its own league of adventure travel.

I was raised on a 17,000 acre cattle ranch in Central Oregon, I am semi-retired from the wind Turbine industry and currently do handyman work around Bend Oregon. I still compete in masters, city league and nastar ski racing. I water ski, wake surf, snowmobile. ride motorcycles and race cars. I admit that my drug of choice is adrenaline and seek it out continuously. I work out 5 days a week to keep in shape so I can do the things I love to do.

I love to create in many many forms. What gets me up in the morning is connecting with the people in my life and actively engaging in creativity. I’m here to inspire and be inspired with my fellow humans. I’ve raised two beautiful kids who are out in the world doing beautiful things.

While growing up in St. Louis, Mo I found an excitement on 2 wheels on BMX bikes. This eventually caused me to be chased of the Jefferson National Expansion Monument a number of times… When I saw my late teens motorcycles were my passion and have taken me to many amazing places. From Amateur Road Racing, Moto Traveling, Adventure riding thru Baja, visiting most of the United States and currently brushing up on my Enduro skills. I have always been in my happy place on 2 wheels.

I was first introduced to Rally for rangers by dear friends of mine who are National Park Ranges and motorcyclist themselves. Immediately hearing fo the first ride they told me I had to go and it would be perfect for me. After reading about the work and the support Rally for rangers gives I knew I had to be part of it. Helping provide equipment and gear to Park Rangers to do what they love to do is an honor and the least i could do to.

Growing up in Reno, NV, Bryon grew up taking full advantage of the outdoors. Hiking, camping, fly fishing, and mountain biking filled Bryon’s childhood and it wasn’t until he moved to Berkeley, CA for college that he got his first taste of motorcycles. While at the University of California Berkeley, Bryon helped to build the world’s first autonomous motorcycle, Ghostrider. Working on that project got him hooked on motorcycles for life. One bike led to 2, then 3 and is currently at 9, although most don’t currently work (but will soon). In 2013 he completed an Iron Butt ride around NV and still looks for any opportunity to take on a new challenge or adventure on a motorcycle. When not spending time working on motorcycles and cars, Bryon has a real job working at a company building agricultural robots.

After watching “The Long Way Round” Bryon put Mongolia on the top of his bucket list of places to travel. It was a quick decision to join Rally for Rangers after finding out he could ride motorcycles and do something valuable for the national parks of Mongolia.

His love for the outdoors and National Parks started at a very young age. A large part of his childhood was spent with his Grandparents at their vacation home 5 minutes from the entrance to Zion National Park in Utah. As a young kid, it was truly a magical place to explore. As an adult, he still finds himself hiking, biking, running and canyoneering in the many nooks and crannies that have rarely been seen inside the park by many people. He has a great understanding and appreciation for the rare and “finite” resources these precious places are.

Joshua, like many others, was forbidden to ride or own a motorcycle when growing up. As a result, his motorcycle education (or addiction) was obtained at a young age riding his friends’ motorcycles with flip-flop shoes and of course no helmet or other protective gear. He didn’t purchase his first motorcycle until long after he was married (and have since obtained the proper safety gear). He has however acquired a decent size fleet of bikes for himself and kids ever since.

When he heard Tom’s interview on “Adventure Rider Radio Podcast” with Jim Martin, he knew that this was the perfect way to blend two of my greatest passions (the wild outdoors and motorcycles) into a charitable and important cause. He says “I am really looking forward to being able to be part of a great mission that I believe will benefit the present and future generations to come”