February Bikepacking Trip?

[MTBMaven]

When: February 16-17
What: Bikepacking (meaning fully self supported camping with mountain bikes)
Where: Somewhere in the Angeles

This trip will be a new experience for me. My first backpacking trip was in 1987 as a Boy Scout. Since then I have probably over a thousand of night in the backcountry. I also have been an avid mountain biker for many years. This trip is an effort to combine these two hobbies.

Those wanting to participate in this trip will need to be fully self supported, meaning shelter (tent, bivy, tarp), sleeping bag, stove, cook kit, food, water purification, warm cloths. It is possible to team up with other for things like tent, stove, cook kit, and water purification. I will have all my own gear. You will also need some means of carrying your gear while riding. Rack and panniers, BOB trailer, frame pack, or large backpack. My goal is to ride as much single track as possible, so large backpack and heavy gear will make things difficult. See Ultralight MTB Touring thread for more discussion on gear.

I am looking for thoughts from others on a few issues. 1) Amount of mileage per day. I figure a solid intermediate rider can easily get in 15-20 in a day considering you have all day.
2) Route recommendations? I think Idlehour campground would be a cool place to camp but the riding is just ok.

[donkey]

Looking forward to it....should be a good time.

I'm open to whatever the group decides but would prefer a route that's heavy on singletrack and a campground that's remote(i.e. one that you can't easily drive to:-)

I'll likely have Carol Ann with me.....she's been on a few of these with me and always has a good time.

B

[OffRoadie]

20 miles a day sounds pretty good. I'm interested. I may have to get some gear together.

[Rob]

I'm in!

[MTBMaven]

Possible route idea. I scowed the topo maps today looking for possible route ideas. My current though is the following route.
Strawberry Peak loop from Clear Creek to Red Box
Red Box to West Fork Campground via one of 4 routes,
1) Red Box Rincon Rd
2) Silver Moc Trail
3) Mt Wilson Rd. to Valley Forge Trail
4) Mt Wilson Rd. to Rattlesnake Trail
West Fork Campground to Newcombs Pass
Newcombs Pass to Chantry Flats

This route is primarily a mix of singletrack and some fireroad with little pavement depending on the route after Red Box. With more pavement comes more killer singletrack. West Fork Campground may not be THE most remote campground in the Angeles but it's not bad. While there is a fireroad going directly through the campground I don't suspect we would see anyone. The campground is at the confluence of Shortcut Canyon Creek and the West Fork of the San Gabriel River. I haven't mapped out the route so I don't have exact numbers but I do have a good feel for the trails and know the route offers a lot of great riding (especially if we include Rattlesnake).

Food for thought. Please comment on the route.

[Pain Freak]

If for some reason my Butterfield double century falls through I'll join you guys.I should have my BOB trailer delivered next week.

[Endo Verendo]

sounds cold, possible snow. But then again.. I'm a wuss.

[El Presidente]

I have always wanted to do some bike packing too! I am planning on Mammoth that weekend but if that changes I would like to join you!

Here is a suggested route: Lower Merrill, Mount Lowe Fire road then down either Valley Forge or the Devore Trail. The next day could be down the Gab to Chantry.

You are talking one night and two days of riding right?

[OldDogDan]

I've been wanting to do a bikepack ride for a long time. Haven't met you folks so I'll just lurk for a while. I've got the gear, not sure about the fitness if there's lots of elevation gain. Consider that higher elevation = colder = more gear weight. But not necessarily any less fun. (I think the person who proposed it should pick the route.) Happy trails!

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by Hans

I have always wanted to do some bike packing too! I am planning on Mammoth that weekend but if that changes I would like to join you!

Here is a suggested route: Lower Merrill, Mount Lowe Fire road then down either Valley Forge or the Devore Trail. The next day could be down the Gab to Chantry.

You are talking one night and two days of riding right?

Hans it would be great to have you along. This thing sound like it is shaping up to be a real fun adventure.

Yes I'm planning two days of riding and one night of camping. Honestly that is all the time I could get with the wife and that wasn't easy. Plus this being the first time I will be doing something like this one night is enough.

Your proposed route was one of my original route ideas. I have ridden that route but from Millard as a one day ride. My wife picked my up at the REI in Arcadia and shuttled me back to my car (shuttle monkey I know). Idlehour is a great remote campsite especially now that the Toll Rd is closed. If it is really cold that may be a slightly warmer campsite than West Fork (3,000ft for West Fork and 2,600ft for Idlehour). My big issue is that most of the ride is on fireroad, granted all the downhill is great singletrack.

I know you know the area better than I do, what do you think about the route I proposed earlier, half Strawberry, West Fork, Chantry route? It's go a mix of fireroad and singletrack climbs and killer singletrack descents in some pretty quite areas. Plus the elevations are pretty low. The lowest elevation of the ride (other than the exit trailhead [trailtail?]) is the campground.

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by OldDogDan

I've been wanting to do a bikepack ride for a long time. Haven't met you folks so I'll just lurk for a while. I've got the gear, not sure about the fitness if there's lots of elevation gain. Consider that higher elevation = colder = more gear weight. But not necessarily any less fun. (I think the person who proposed it should pick the route.) Happy trails!

Dan,

You've got the gear and we've got all day. Come along. The route I've proposed thus far has a few shorter bailout points after Red Box to get to West Fork if the rest of the group wants more riding. The highest point of the ride is below 6,000.

[stjunkie]

I'm thinking of jumping in on this as my first dirt overnighter. I'll be pulling a trailer though. What is the plan for water, filtering? That's the one thing I don't have is a water filter.

[MTBMaven]

COOL. I was hoping you could make it. The trailer will work fine. However you will have to haul in the pony keg. It may be a bit hard on some of the real tight switchbacks but as you know the BoB's track freakishly well around tight switchbacks.

There is water at Red Box, West Fork Campground, and from Sturtevant to Chantry. Filtering or other means of purification is the way to go. I have a pump if you need.

I ordered a product called KlearWater. 32ml and only 2.89 ounces. Add to water and it's clean in 15-30 minutes depending on how dirty it is. At West Fork I will give it 30 minutes due to really cold water and septic systems up stream.

That goes for others. I have plenty of other gear. I think I have like 3 stove and can make my cat food can alcohol stove for other prior to the trip. I have a few lightweight shelters as well. If anyone wants recommendation on lightweight camping gear please ask. I have been backpacking for over half my life, so I have a decent idea of what works and what doesn't.

[kanga]

I have water filter. It's not a lightweight, but I've often carried and used it on longer rides (not overnighters), but with several people going we could coordinate and share so that only one filter is needed for the group, just as one stove, one pot, etc.

I'm gonna need to invest in some ultralight gear for my big trip in April so it will be good to do some testing on this.

[dstepper]

Good if you guys bring all that stuff all I will need is a sleeping bag and food...I don't have any trek equipment but this sounds like fun. May need to get a rack for the back of my bike. I also have a water filter.

Dean

[MTBMaven]

Sorry a bit more from an overly detail oriented event planner... It was recommended to me via a PM I might want to explain more what I mean about the concept of fully self supported. If you have ever backpacked then read no further.

Where we are going there is no clean running water, toilets, electricity, taco stand, beer, etc. From the moment we leave the vehicle you will need to have everything you need to survive and remain relatively comfortable for two full days and one night. This means you will need to carry cloths, food, shelter, stove, and tools. And you will need to carry all of this stuff either on your person and/or bike.

So far it seams like most people get the picture. If there are any questions about what I mean by bikepacking or fully self supported please send me a PM or post here. I will gladly share my knowledge of what I know about fully self supported travel in the backcountry and what I have learned about bikepacking from my research. I have never done this so I am far from an expert.

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by kanga

I have water filter. It's not a lightweight, but I've often carried and used it on longer rides (not overnighters), but with several people going we could coordinate and share so that only one filter is needed for the group, just as one stove, one pot, etc.

I'm gonna need to invest in some ultralight gear for my big trip in April so it will be good to do some testing on this.

Regarding "group gear" like stove, pots, filters. It really will depends on how many people we have committed to the trip a week before, or even at the trailhead. I agree not everyone needs a stove, pot, and filter. However if the group is more than 4 I think we should have 2 of each, more if 6-8. When I organized my Mt. Langley trip with friends we had 8 people and 3 groups. Each group had a stove, pot, and filter.

[OffRoadie]

I have used Potable Aqua for water purification in the past. Takes four hours, so it's a good thing to do before hitting the sack. Weighs very little, takes very little space, and easily obtainable.

[OldDogDan]

MTBMaven, count me in. There's definitely interest, ~ half a dozen so far. Maybe you should put this on the calendar to keep track. Thanks!

[HUGH]

Oh what do we have here!!??