February Bikepacking Trip?

[OffRoadie]

Originally Posted by lardbutt

Somebody mentioned the Idylwild/Hurkey Creek area. Can you camp up top there? My house is 3 miles from the Mexico border in southern San Diego county so anything a little further south will help me make it for the trip.

I'm in north city San Diego. Perhaps we can carpool. I'm with you though: I'm not sure if I want to go as far north as Santa Barbara, which is why I'm a maybe. I still might, I just don't know.

Can we get a check on gear? Who is bringing stoves fuel? I have everything I need except a shelter and a stove.

I have gone backpacking several times, but I stiill have trouble with types of food to bring. What do you guys usually bring?

[MTBMaven]

Gear:
I have a lightweight tent you can use. I think it is set up in "fast packing" mode. Meaning footprint, poles, fly. I don't expect rain nor bugs so that would be a great set up for you. I have 5 stoves and will bring at least one additional for use by someone if needed.

Food:
For breakfast I would get instant oatmeal and dried fruit. You could also add some powdered milk for some protein. Lunch/snack, just bring whatever you normally ride with. Dinner, you want lots of calories, protein, fat, and sodium. Dehydrated fit this bill pretty well because they are easy and don't require cleaning. I love the single serving Mountain House Pro Packs especially the Beef Stew. I had some of that this past summer in the Sierra and it was DANG good after a hard day on the trail. One of those and some dry salami, mmmm. You need lots of calories to keep you warm at night. A big warm meal with lots of calories will really make a difference keeping you warm at night. I also like to have one single serving packet of Cytomax and hot water, like tea, after dinner. I used to have tea after dinner to aid in digestion and keep me warm but it kept me up at night due to the caffeine. Cytomax helps replenish electrolytes.

Other ideas for food are: Ramen, the real stuff found at Asian stores, with some salami. Lipton soup with canned white chicken or tuna. Instant rice added to the lipton soup. Canned turkey and instant stuffing is killer. Boil water and add stuffing and turkey into freezer bag and let stand for a few. Check out this link for more ideas, http://www.freezerbagcooking.com/

[kanga]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

Gear:
I have a lightweight tent you can use. I think it is set up in "fast packing" mode. Meaning footprint, poles, fly. I don't expect rain nor bugs so that would be a great set up for you. I have 5 stoves and will bring at least one additional for use by someone if needed.

Food:
For breakfast I would get instant oatmeal and dried fruit. You could also add some powdered milk for some protein. Lunch/snack, just bring whatever you normally ride with. Dinner, you want lots of calories, protein, fat, and sodium. Dehydrated fit this bill pretty well because they are easy and don't require cleaning. I love the single serving Mountain House Pro Packs especially the Beef Stew. I had some of that this past summer in the Sierra and it was DANG good after a hard day on the trail. One of those and some dry salami, mmmm. You need lots of calories to keep you warm at night. A big warm meal with lots of calories will really make a difference keeping you warm at night. I also like to have one single serving packet of Cytomax and hot water, like tea, after dinner. I used to have tea after dinner to aid in digestion and keep me warm but it kept me up at night due to the caffeine. Cytomax helps replenish electrolytes.

Other ideas for food are: Ramen, the real stuff found at Asian stores, with some salami. Lipton soup with canned white chicken or tuna. Instant rice added to the lipton soup. Canned turkey and instant stuffing is killer. Boil water and add stuffing and turkey into freezer bag and let stand for a few. Check out this link for more ideas, http://www.freezerbagcooking.com/

One thing I've found with Alpine Air dehydrated meals is that if it says two servings... it's barely enough to satisfy me, and I'm not a big guy (but have a huge appetite)....

Boil in the bag rice from Uncle Ben's is pretty good too.... completely dehydrated, and just throw it in boiling water, open bag and serve...

I rarely use a tent in California at lower elevations... there's nothing like sleeping under the stars (except for bugs). I may or may not bring one depending on weather forecast.

Tuna/salmon foil packs are easier to pack and deal with than cans.

[OffRoadie]

I've had the Mountain House stuff before, and it's true that even though it says "two servings," it's really like almost one. Especially since I'm really hungry after a day on the trail.

[MTBMaven]

I hear you on the serving sizes but I found the Pro Pack to be pretty good portion for one person, especially if add a little salami on the side.

[Schecky]

http://www.ocregister.com/news/dan-c...iting-outdoors

[El Presidente]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

I hear you on the serving sizes but I found the Pro Pack to be pretty good portion for one person, especially if add a little salami on the side.

I will just eat some california rolls, dried fruit and bars. It is only an overnighter so I will not be bringing a stove.

I found out that there are a lot of deep steam crossing on the Buckhorn Trail! Like 20 or more! Also not sure about how this area is holding up after the fires last year?

It is warming up this week so maybe the snow will melt and we can do the original plan?

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by El Presidente

It is warming up this week so maybe the snow will melt and we can do the original plan?

I have next week off and will be checking local trail conditions at some point during the week. The forecast is for mid-70s for the next several days. That will go a long way to melt snow. Unfortunately the problem areas are well protected from direct sun so we will have to rely on ambient temps to melt snow.

[kanga]

I might be up for checking trail conditions with you....

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by kanga

I might be up for checking trail conditions with you....

Shoot me an email. If I remember correctly you are available after Wednesday. Thursday may work for me. It would be good to wait as long as possible in the week.

I was thinking about parking at Red Box and riding the Strawberry Loop backwards to the bottom of the backside and back to Red Box. After that ride up and check out Valley Forge.

At the same time I need to drop off fliers for the Middle Merrill maintenance event on March 9th. I want to post at JPL and Eaton Saddle.

[kanga]

Thursday works for me.

Overnight temps last night stayed in the 40's so if the trend continues we might be able to ride locally. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/KMWS.html

[stjunkie]

I'm still thinking of going but it depends on the route. I would rather do a mostly dirt road trip for the first time pulling a trailer.

The SB thing sounds interesting. I camped and rode in the area a few times about ten years ago. One time I camped at P-Bar flats and rode Blue Cyn trail with a side trip out past Jameson Lake. I also rode out to the hot springs at the end of Agua Caliente cyn. They even had a little concrete box to sit in. If you guys are going to do Buckhorn I would just head out Camuesa Rd and meet up with you guys. It is 14 miles to Mono CG and 23mi to the hot springs but all dirt road. I guessing you would start at Upper Oso CG.

I was just up at Pt. Magu last weekend and there was very little mud and not a whole lot of water running. This was originally going to be my first spot for an overnighter but I was going to take the pavement from my house up the coast, camp and come back the next day.

As of right now I'm still a maybe.

[kanga]

Originally Posted by stjunkie

I'm still thinking of going but it depends on the route. I would rather do a mostly dirt road trip for the first time pulling a trailer.

The SB thing sounds interesting. I camped and rode in the area a few times about ten years ago. One time I camped at P-Bar flats and rode Blue Cyn trail with a side trip out past Jameson Lake. I also rode out to the hot springs at the end of Agua Caliente cyn. They even had a little concrete box to sit in. If you guys are going to do Buckhorn I would just head out Camuesa Rd and meet up with you guys. It is 14 miles to Mono CG and 23mi to the hot springs but all dirt road. I guessing you would start at Upper Oso CG.

I was just up at Pt. Magu last weekend and there was very little mud and not a whole lot of water running. This was originally going to be my first spot for an overnighter but I was going to take the pavement from my house up the coast, camp and come back the next day.

As of right now I'm still a maybe.

Awww.... come out and play

I hear you on the trailer, but I just hauled one down a technical single track for the first time (Ken Burton Trail) and can honestly say the Bobs really ride well. Surprisingly well, in fact. Don't let some single track hold you back! But I agree, an easy fire road climb (followed by ST) would be nice....

[MTBMaven]

Please RSVP for the trip here.
Bikepacking Trip 2/16-2/17

[kanga]

Here's a great resource for thinking light:

http://www.the-ultralight-site.com/l...ackpacker.html

It is about backpacking, but the same things apply to thinking light for bikepacking.

I've been doing preparations for a much longer trip, and this has been a great resource. We've been doing our provisioning based on recommendations here:

http://www.andrewskurka.com/GWL/diet.php

I know our trip is only two days, but hopefully we'll be inspired to do more....

[donkey]

If this weather keeps up we should be good for the San Gabes. Fingers crossed.

B

[MTBMaven]

Heading up there to check out the trails on Thursday. Let me know if you want to join me. Steve (aka Kanga) might be joining me as well. Not sure if I'm going to go ride the trails on the MTB or ride the road bike up to Wilson.

[El Presidente]

Originally Posted by stjunkie

I'm still thinking of going but it depends on the route. I would rather do a mostly dirt road trip for the first time pulling a trailer.
.

I seem to remember you pulling one of the CORBA BOB Trailers on a Mount Zion Trail maintenance day?

[stjunkie]

Originally Posted by El Presidente

I seem to remember you pulling one of the CORBA BOB Trailers on a Mount Zion Trail maintenance day?

I did pull the trailer up there one day and it was no fun going up to Zion. I was thinking of taking my new bike, and it isn't as singletrack friendly as the others.

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by stjunkie

I did pull the trailer up there one day and it was no fun going up to Zion. I was thinking of taking my new bike, and it isn't as singletrack friendly as the others.

New bike? What did you get?

If we do the original route, which I suspect we will be able to do, all but one climb is fireroad. The one singletrack climb is on the Strawberry Loop. That should be pretty doable except for the very bottom part of the climb, which I can't do without a trailer.