Pilgrim-Retreat Bikepacking Pilgrimage Pilgern Retreat Zen Zazen Glarus
/ Munen Alain M. Lafon / 1 min read

Pilgrim Retreat – 21 Days, 1,690 Kilometres

What remains of practice when it gets hot, strength fades, and the days become really long?

Distance -
Ascent -
Descent -

For 21 days we investigated it: across 1,690 kilometres, among punctures, rocky tracks, exhaustion, and moments of shared happiness.

The task is not to become tougher. Not to romanticise suffering. But to observe what the mind does—especially when things become uncomfortable.

Music: “The White Stag” by Wontolla, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Photos from the Pilgrim Retreat

Before-and-after views of the loaded bike used for the Pilgrim Retreat Bikepacking bicycle and luggage before and after the journey Three pilgrims sharing a meal at a cafe Two smiling cyclists beside their loaded bicycles Sunflowers beside the Pilgrim Retreat route Bikepacking equipment spread across a table during a repair Cyclist crossing a bridge beneath a large metal sculpture Two cyclists with their bicycles on a lakeshore Orange sunset over wooded hills Coffee and a pastry during a Pilgrim Retreat break Long bridge crossing turquoise water Pilgrim cycling across a suspension bridge Loaded bikepacking bicycle beside a river Cyclists repairing a bicycle beside a wooded trail Historic railway bridge along the route Pilgrims taking a selfie on a historic bridge Collage of bridges, trails, and route milestones Two pilgrims with loaded bicycles beside a blue lake Cyclist smiling after a demanding stage Moon rising over water at dusk Collage of navigation, cycling, and lakeside moments Collage of changing skies and a rest stop Collage of cyclists, scenery, and the route ahead Two pilgrims smiling together on a suspension bridge Cyclist riding in warm evening light Pilgrim pushing a loaded bicycle across a narrow bridge Collage of navigation devices, repairs, and cycling Collage of cyclists on bridges and country roads Cyclist passing beneath an old stone arch bridge Loaded cyclist riding along a shaded forest path Cyclist on a narrow road through rocky woodland Cyclist riding beneath a weathered stone bridge Collage of cycling statistics and a hot roadside stage Pilgrim cycling through a quiet village street Loaded cyclist climbing through a stone village Old stone footbridge surrounded by green vegetation View over bicycle handlebars on a steep rocky trail Pilgrim carefully cycling along a rough woodland track Cyclist descending a loose gravel trail Cyclist crossing an exposed rocky path Winding mountain road beneath rocky cliffs Cyclists passing a French safe-passing-distance sign Loaded bicycle resting outside a stone house Cyclist climbing a road beside a stone retaining wall Pilgrim pushing a bicycle across a rocky forest section Cyclist riding through open countryside Hilltop village seen from the Pilgrim Retreat route Bike computer showing distance and temperature Cyclist crossing a metal truss bridge Collage showing a puncture repair on the journey Collage of a rocky stage and cycling statistics Exhausted cyclist resting in dry grass Loaded cyclist continuing along a woodland trail Two pilgrims taking a selfie at a suspension bridge Cyclist crossing a long suspension bridge Two pilgrims smiling together on a bridge Collage of bridges, fields, and pilgrims Loaded cyclist passing beneath a modern white bridge Two cyclists smiling beside flowering bushes Collage of cyclists, modern bridges, and a sunset Cyclist negotiating a deeply rutted forest trail Loaded cyclist on a narrow grassy woodland path Cyclist beside a canal beneath a road bridge Worn cycling shoes after many days on the route Sunlit forest track stretching into the distance Loaded cyclist riding through a green forest Cyclist following a path between vineyard rows Straight cycle path beside water and power lines Mountain road winding between cliffs and fields Pilgrim cycling through open farmland Illustrated route poster for the 1,690-kilometre Pilgrim Retreat
During the 7-day Pilgrim Retreat, we combine zazen with full-day walking meditation in the Glarus Alps. Learn more about the schedule, requirements, and upcoming dates.

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