A few members from the Adventure Cycling Tours Department recently struck out for a bikepacking weekend trip. We were on a low-key mission to test some gear and explore some of our local surroundings. We kept the adventure close to home and had extremely modest goals. Such an attitude, we found, can help ease the stress of a new adventure. I also find it's best to put the journey ahead of the destination when trying something new like this. We were completely self-contained, which further reduced the stress of a having to plan for a destination. We also chose an area with a lot of options for camping and exploring. We drove to Rock Creek, only about 40 miles east of Missoula, MT (home of Adventure Cycling). Our main option for travel was a hard-packed gravel road (shared by cars), but with lots of single-track side trip options. (Finding a route that doesn't initially require a car can additionally help to reduce stress. We would have been even more satisfied had we been able to leave right from home via bicycle ... Next time!)
Our route, shown above in red, involved exploring the Grizzly Creek Drainage and then heading down the hard-packed road to the Siria Campground. Our loop was rich with options, from creeks for swimming, to campgrounds every few miles, fishing if we desired, and many hiking/biking trails.
Since this was only my third bikepacking adventure, I thought I would test a few things; here is what I learned:
- I prefer riding the trails to the road, which made the single-wheel B.O.B trailer a bit unwieldy. It was also easily hung up on downed trees while bushwhacking or circumnavigating deadfall. However, the trailer was great on the bumpy gravel road, and very easy to pack.
- I need lighter gear that can be more easily compressed and fit better in bikepacking bags.
- I would be more comfortable over longer distances carrying gear on a mountain bike, as opposed to on my cross bike.
I asked the extraordinary Paul Hansbarger what he learned, and he had this to say, "I learned that I can get by with less, but I would like to improve my options for carrying more gear on the bike and less on my back." Wise words. Steve has left us for the summer, but I'm pretty sure he would say that he learned he is even more awesome than he thought he was (just kidding Steve!). Actually, I interviewed Steve by phone and he had this to say: "I would never use a trailer for bikepacking, ever ... and that I dittos Paul's comment." Hmmm, maybe Steve had to help me just one too many times get unstuck from the downed debris and log crossings.
I think we are all getting ready for our next bikepacking adventure. It's really all about trial and error and refining the system. Find a fun, easy place to go for an initial trip, take some notes, and enjoy the experience.
Bike-Packing Post Script:
Paul and his partner-in-craft have since purchased a sewing machine and will soon embark on creating customized bags for their bikes and friends' bikes (right?).
Mo has purchased a super-light sleeping bag that is highly compressible and a single person tent. A new mountain bike is on the way.
Steve is also planning to fashion some custom frame bags.
Now all we have to do is find our next adventure. Got any ideas?
Photos by Paul Hansbarger
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ON THE ROAD is written by the tours team -- Mo, Paul, Madeline, and Steve -- tours specialists and intrepid bicyclists, covering all things related to Adventure Cycling's Tours Department. Check out our 2011 guided tours today.
Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/08/bikepacking-close-to-home.html
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