Galbraith Mountain Biking Elopement in Bellingham, Washington
A few weeks after their North Cascades ceremony, I re-connected with Alison and Mark for a mountain bike elopement photoshoot on Galbraith Mountain in Bellingham, Washington.
(If you missed the first half of their celebration, check out Part 1: Alison & Mark’s Artist Point Hybrid Elopement & Bellingham Basecamp Celebration).
While their first day was all about family and alpine views, day two was dedicated entirely to their shared passion for singletrack. There was no official ceremony this time — just a fun-filled mountain bike wedding session where they hit some of Galbraith's iconic trails in full wedding attire.
Gearing Up with a Custom Wedding Dress
Alison had chosen a pantsuit-style wedding dress with this mountain biking photoshoot in mind. Immediately after their elopement ceremony, she took the dress to a tailor to cut the legs higher so she could comfortably pedal without getting fabric caught in her chainring. Mark rocked his full wedding suit, tie and all.
They both rode e-bikes for the session, while I was on my hardtail. They would be able to get all over the mountain without breaking a sweat, but I had to push hard to keep up on the climbs!
We were just starting to pedal up the south side of the mountain when Mark’s front tire went flat. Rescheduling was on the table, but Mark had a tire insert to protect his rim and keep him rolling, and he felt confident enough that he could ride most of the trails we had planned. So, we decided to go ahead with the rest of the session.
Sending the Wooden Roll on Unemployment Line
We pedaled up the main access road toward Unemployment Line (U-Line), a classic Galbraith flow trail that mountain bikers travel from all over Washington to ride. The trail kicks off with a steep wooden bridge feature that Alison and Mark had been practicing prior to the shoot so they’d feel comfortable riding it simultaneously.
Alison sent the wooden roll in her wedding dress while Mark dropped into the trail underneath it. The resulting photo captured the exact essence of a mountain bike elopement: technical riding, incredible style, and a lot of fun.
PNW Singletrack on 187 & Racing Down Stinky Dual-uxe
Our original plan involved heading to Double Vision for a massive over/under gap jump. Mark was confident riding on his flat, but not so confident that he wanted to catch a ton of air and land right on his rim!
Instead, we traversed over to 187, a simple connector trail that delivers the ultimate PNW backdrop. It’s nestled under towering mossy trees and surrounded by lush green ferns.
From there, we dropped into Stinky Dual-uxe, a dual-slalom track packed with berms and small jumps. Riding side-by-side, Alison and Mark raced each other down the mountain in their wedding clothes.
Sunset Views Over Bellingham Bay on SST and the Ridge
We finished the session with a cruise down SST, one of Galbraith’s most famous downhill trails. For Alison and Mark, SST holds a special place in their hearts since their house is located right near the bottom of the trail.
Halfway down, we hit a clearcut section opening up to spectacular views of the sunset over Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands. It was a final chance to capture Alison and Mark tearing down the singletrack with unbeatable views and the perfect way to finish up an unforgettable day.
Ready to Plan Your Mountain Bike Elopement?
Washington is packed with world-class trail riding, from Galbraith Mountain in Bellingham to the high-country singletrack of the Methow Valley and beyond. If you’re considering a mountain bike elopement to celebrate your shared loved of singletrack, I’m here to help you navigate the day. Get in touch to start planning your adventure.