ABOUT

HISTORY, MEET THE TEAM, EVENT INITIATIVES, & MEDIA COVERAGE

HISTORY

Ruta del Jefe was created and first hosted in 2019 by professional adventure cyclist and advocate Sarah Swallow. The event was hosted at the Appleton-Whittell Research in Elgin, Arizona, in 2019, 2020, and 2022. After the 2022 event, Cuenca Los Ojos invited Sarah to host Ruta del Jefe on their preserve in Sonora, Mexico. Upon the invitation, Sarah asked Karla Robles and Daniel Diaz, Co-founders of Andarres.com, to co-organize the binational Ruta del Jefe event in Mexico in 2024. From the fall of 2022 through the fall of 2023, Sarah, Karla, and Daniel spent over thirty days on the preserve scouting and developing cycling routes, laying out the landscape for the event, and providing feedback to Cuenca Los Ojos for road and facility improvements. Along with their conservation work, Cuenca Los Ojos is making significant investments to increase its outreach and diversify its revenue through eco-tourism and environmental recreation.

Courtesy CATalyst And The Center For Biological Diversity

The event is named after El Jefe, a jaguar that roamed southern Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains from 2011-2015. The long route of Ruta del Jefe traditionally circumnavigated the Santa Rita Mountains, El Jefe’s former habitat. Ruta del Jefe means “route of the boss.” While RDJ has multiple routes for all skill levels, the namesake represents the challenge of the most demanding route. 


In 2015, the jaguar El Jefe was believed to have been killed or migrated south to find a mate, but his spirit lived on through conservation efforts to protect the habitat for threatened and endangered species in the borderlands. During the summer of 2022, a camera trap in Sonora captured an image of legendary El Jefe, alive, healthy, and one of the oldest living jaguars. This image confirmed that El Jefe had migrated south of the border, providing hope and inspiration to all fighting to protect viable habitats for jaguars in the U.S. and Mexico.

Like the jaguar's migratory behavior, Ruta del Jefe has transformed into an event that crosses borders, aiming to illuminate the unique borderland region through environmental recreation and education.

Meet the Team

  • Sarah Swallow

    FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR

  • Karla Robles

    MEXICO EVENT COORDINATOR AND MASTER OF CEREMONIES

  • Daniel Zaid

    MEXICO EVENT COORDINATOR, MEDIA, AND TRANSLATOR

  • Omar Caballero

    CUENCA LOS OJOS COORDINATOR

  • Mary Lytle

    DESIGNER AND ILLUSTRATOR

  • Rodrigo Sierra-Corona

    ADVISOR

  • Adam Gaubert

    TRANSLATOR AND ROUTE DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT

 event initiatives

  • I.

    The event is co-organized by Mexican nationals Karla Robles and Daniel Diaz.

  • II.

    50-50 split registration between Mexican nationals and U.S. citizens.

  • III.

    Priority registration for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color

  • IV.

    Priority registration for people identifying as LGBTQ+

  • V.

    In 2022, our demographics were 46% women, 42% men, and 10% non-binary

  • VI.

    Educational presentations and workshops with live translation in English and Spanish.

  • VII.

    Three route distances for all abilities.

  • VIII.

    BIPOC participation and travel scholarships.

  • IX.

    Aims to be financially accessible

  • X.

    Fundraises at least $45,000, distributed equally among local indigenous, conservation, and humanitarian aid organizations.

  • XI.

    Mexican and U.S. organizations are included as presenters and benefactors of the fundraiser.

  • XII.

    Fosters a noncompetitive community atmosphere. This is not a race. No prizes for fast finishing times. No categories.

  • XIII.

    Upholds and displays the Radical Adventure Riders Guiding Principles.

  • XIV.

    For safety, routes will be marked, aid stations and checkpoints will be throughout each route, and a paramedic team will be on-site all weekend.

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

I.

Ruta del Jefe strives to create an environment where every person feels safe and comfortable at all times. Each participant is responsible for playing a part in making this possible.

II.

To achieve this, we won’t tolerate behaviors of harassment, homophobia, transphobia, racism, xenophobia, unsolicited comments about someone else’s appearance, bike, or gear, or non consensual physical interactions.

III.

Treat others with respect and be aware of the space you take, remember there’s room for everybody!

IV.

Acknowledge individual identities, including gender expressions and use of pronouns.

V.

Respect the space provided by not littering and picking up any trash you see. You can also offer a hand to either the staff or other participants when you consider it to be appropriate.

VI.

Be conscious and considerate of others when consuming alcohol.

VII.

Silent hours at the campground are from 10 pm to 6 am.

MEDIA COVERAGE

The Radavist

Following the Footprints of the Jaguar: Ruta del Jefe Migrates to Cuenca Los Ojos by Sarah Swallow and Daniel Zaid, December 21, 2022

Andarres

“Ruta del Jefe: A weekend of education, cycling, and community” by Karla Robles and Daniel Zaid.

Pedaling the Pueblo

“Ruta del Jefe Bike Event with Sarah Swallow” by Brittne MacCleary

Ride with GPS

“Reflections on Ruta del Jefe” by Beija Flor

The Radavist

“Come together at the 2022 Ruta del Jefe” by John Watson

Bikepacking.com

“Chasing the Jaguar: Reflections on Ruta del Jefe 2022” by Dominique Powers

Breakfast with Boz

Podcast presented by Wahoo: “Women of Ruta del Jefe” by Lael Wilcox

Patagonia Regional Times

Page 11: “Biking where Jaguar may have walked” by Robert Gay