Prior to the trail I was at sea-level in Oregon and hadn’t touched a bike for four months. Reviews for all of my current gear continue to be written, and where you see a link, you will find a review for that item. The trail continues to slowly gain elevation, and roughly 130 miles in you’ll catch a brief experience of being above treeline at Georgia Pass (11,874’). Gear that works for one person may not be the best for another. Historically I’ve prided myself on my bare bones, durable sleep set-up: a classic foam Thermarest pad with a pile of bundled fleece clothing for a pillow. Swimsuit And it's not just over gear; I do the same over maps, routes, resupply... the whole thing. I chose to do a 20 day trip starting on September 16th, but would have gladly done a longer trip if the threat of snow in early October wasn’t a factor. Leatherman Juice mini tool This led me to finding a sweet little charger to charge the batteries or charge something off the 18650 batteries. Richard Forbes If you’re going to bike the Colorado Trail, you ought to have some backcountry experience under your belt already. Gear Recommendations and Packing List for Bikepacking the Colorado Trail Packing for an extended bikepacking trip isn’t drastically different from that of a hiking trip, but there are a few critical pieces of gear that can make a world of difference. The Big Three include Zpack and Katabatic changes – all quality cottage gear manufacturers. I found this new electronics kit to be half the weight and probably around 1/3 the size of my Tour Divide version. Below is a quick outline of the trail on Google Maps. Sep 18, 2020 ... Oh yeah, and in our case at about 60lbs of gear to your sled. In 2008, 17 people started the Tour Divide. Hike your own hike and enjoy the outdoors. Homemade 3/4-length rain pants Every trip I do produces a gear list that is slightly different than the trip before. 6 years ago I finished the Colorado Trail Race. It’s best to keep your first bikepacking trip distance fairly low and the route local. The video summary of our 2017 thru-ride of the Colorado Trail. Bikepacking isn’t a niche anymore, it’s an anchor. The series will cover topics ranging from logistics to food & trip length. The trail was consistently harder than we expected, but we approached the tour the same way that both of us normally ride or work. Alcohol for fuel It’s a growing niche within the mountain biker community these days, but not everyone is familiar with it. Pearl Izumi arm warmers Packing for an extended bikepacking trip isn’t drastically different from that of a hiking trip, but there are a few critical pieces of gear that can make a world of difference. For example, I took a pair of cheap waterproof pants from REI and had them sewn into 3/4-length pants. ER kit An example of this could be a backup stove. No spam, I promise! Zip ties Inspiration in your inbox The setup worked well for the limited technical riding on the Tour Divide. I vowed never to race it […] Bike Tomorrow is Crusher 9. Now, more than 60 racers line up each year. This year I had a chance to spend three days on the Illinois from Miami Bar to Oak Flat, and I finally understand why this section of river is so special. Crank Brothers multi tool These articles are geared toward bikepackers, but much of the information will also pertain to backpackers. Yes, it was chilly and slow going, but certainly doable with maybe 3” on the ground. Baja Divide. The Gear Spruce sap dripping over CT signage. Areas around Kenosha Pass and Twin Lakes were ablaze with beautiful fall colors, and I felt privileged to follow that beauty along the trail. Thank you for sharing. Could you just ride further to get food if your stove did die and fire wasn’t possible? Spare tube The route varies for mountain bikers due to the detours around wilderness areas, but this gives you an idea of the trajectory of the trail. The Colorado Trail was a heck of a trip and a big accomplishment. Bikers will traverse many mountain ranges, including the Colorado Rocky Mountains, during their journey. And throughout all this I crossed under high voltage powerlines, rode on highways, and occasionally came near ATVs. That was incredibly satisfying and made the trip that much better because I didn’t have to think about what I was missing while riding, or about the heft of stuff that I never ended up using. The Colorado Trail is one of the classic singletrack bikepacking routes in the western US. It seemed that everyone agreed that it was their favorite multi-day river trip in the area, but I was never in the area early enough to catch the spring flows. Shimano mountain shoes LAST MODIFIED: Tuesday November 21st, 2017. These guiding questions usually get me down to my essential gear. No, but it’s certainly a viable option if you’re into that. I didn’t come into the experience expecting a journey of pure isolation in pristine habitat, and I suggest you don’t either. Those factors come before worrying about weight. This article came about after completing the Colorado Trail this fall, and is part of a little web series about my trip along with advice aimed to help other mountain bikers (and possibly even hikers) plan their own adventures on the trail. For the Tour Divide, I aimed to place all gear on my bike with the bulk of the weight on the handlebar. North America South America Europe Africa Middle East North Asia South Asia ... Gear list's. This kit ended up being much smaller than my Tour Divide kit because I only needed one USB wall charger and three different power cords. Revelate Design and Bedrock bags. I decided in high school I wanted to design the best bikes and parts possible; I’ve been following my dream ever since. The experience was awesome. A major selling point to me of the Sony RX100 M2 camera is its ability to charge off USB unlike my older Olympus EPL-2 (it also takes amazing pictures). The Colorado Trail is a monster of a trail, but this shouldn’t sway you from bikepacking it. I chose to do the Colorado Trail solo as I’m fairly introverted and enjoy doing adventures like this on my own time. Could you just make a fire to cook with instead? Very well presented and put together! During their time on the CT they documented each of their 13 days in a video journal, complete with incredible drone footage and valuable insight into bikepacking this legendary trail + Ben's full CT gear list. Take opportunities to get it all together, pack it up, unpack it, and then review your list again. The Colorado Trail Race had fewer than 10 people at its inaugural run. Scotch-Brite cleaning pad Ultrapod, 18650 batteries (x3) with charger & cord Be conservative and don’t get hurt out there - it could turn into a big ordeal. I prefer to take my time during wilderness trips so I can get in my head, take in the landscape around me, and not feel rushed. Revelate Designs Tangle Bag Our comprehensive checklist includes essentials for biking and camping. Twin Six nylon jacket Oregon Outback? I like bringing gear that is practical, reliable and durable. This is the second article in a series about bikepacking the Colorado Trail, and it covers basic planning and logistical aspects of the trip. I had previously used IKs on the Tatshenshini and Nahanni, so I knew how much gear they could haul, and I was excited to put my new craft to use on a remote stretch of river. You’re covering a huge swath of the state, so always be ready for hot and dry or cold and wet. Tech Podcast: Bikepacking the Colorado Trail with Betsy! That’s a challenge in itself, but the thin air at elevations ranging from 6,000 to 13,000 feet certainly doesn’t help. Here is an example of a complete thru-hiking gear list for the Colorado Trail. With these guiding principles I was able to bring exactly what I needed for the Colorado Colossal Road Bikepacking trip and nothing more. iPhone w/ charger & cord Constant smile. Nullarbor crosser. I’m interested in trying to figure out the average amount of time that users take on the trail, and the amount of time they wish they had since that can be used as a reference tool by people planning their own trips in the future. I love about every possible mode of cycling, mountain biking is the most fun, but if I’m on two wheels I’m happy. Kiwi Brevet? Put in a solid day, do what you can, and wake up to do it again the next day. The Southwestern part of the state also tends to have more precipitation, so be prepared to deal with rain and even snow at the higher elevations. Wildflowers and green meadows aren’t present during an early fall trip, but the aspens were at their prime for much of the trail. Below is a list of packing and prepping considerations for … Bandana I’ve had the pleasure of using this piece of gear for the past two years, and wanted to write up a couple thoughts on why it rocks, as well as mention some caveats to be aware of! AquaMira water purification drops, Giro helmet If you have a bikepacking bucket list, the Colorado Trail is probably on it. Previous experiences or newly gained skills/techniques can also play a part in the variation of gear needs from trip to trip. The only thing to do now is plan out that next adventure; Trans-North Georgia? The price I paid for this beauty was some very cold weather near the end; as in cold enough to quickly freeze my tent while setting it up at night. My ambition is to hike the Colorado Trail in July-August 2018. You'll follow this beautiful creek for quite a while during the La Garita Wilderness detour. It wasn’t anything crazy, but I consistently biked at a minimum from around 9 AM until just after 6 PM for the rest of the trail. On the Colossal trip I carried an iPhone, Garmin 800, Princeton Tec EOS light, Fenix PD32 Ultimate flashlight, Sony RX100 M2 camera, 18650 charger, and then all the associated charging cords. The trail is an endurance challenge, and there’s no point in mashing on the pedals and going lactic if you can’t even walk up the trail after. That’s just a quick synopsis of the trail. May 9, 2019 - Explore Jeff Huebner's board "Colorado trail bikepacking trip" on Pinterest. The trail stays consistently high while traversing the Continental Divide, and culminates with an extended section above treeline leading into Silverton. I typically bring Crocs on my trips but didn’t this time. It gives you a nice feel for the topography of hiking both near the river as well as through the exposed rock & side canyons that feed into it. It holds immense beauty around almost every turn. The Colorado Trail Bike Route is a challenging and rewarding ride of 540 miles that stretches from Denver to Durango, passing through stunning landscapes. Extra quick-link Bikepacking The Colorado Trail | EP 6 Sargents Mesa. This is a good question to cut down on the stuff that rarely gets used. The rest time allowed me to recharge and build up my strength after those first six days on the trail. Tyvec ground cloth The Crusher isn’t a bike race, however. Ear plugs “With the cancellation of my race season, I was left feeling lost without any events to train for; however, bikepacking the Colorado Trail provided me with an opportunity to see my bike as a tool for exploration instead of just a means to go fast. Gear Recommendations and Packing List for Bikepacking the Colorado Trail November 17, 2016 by John Nestler in Camping , Gear Review , Bikepacking Packing for an extended bikepacking trip isn’t drastically different from that of a hiking trip, but there are a few critical pieces of gear that can make a world of difference. Just a week before I got to Silverton there was a storm that dumped more than a foot of snow in the mountains, but luckily it melted before I arrived. If you are planning to hike the entire 484 mile trail from Denver to Durango, this list includes everything I think you’ll need for hiking in the Rockies during the typical hiking season (late Spring – early Fall.) The final additions are the extra items necessary to make that specific trip possible/better. It’s generally agreed that Denver to Durango is the preferred direction to ride the trail since this allows one more time to acclimate to the altitude. 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For thru-hiking the Colorado Trail bikepacking trip distance fairly low and the route local before your to... The spine of the information could also be beneficial to backpackers a handpicked selection of gear here with. Example of a Trail, mountain biking variation of gear needs from trip to trip is geared towards,... Times now incredible gear, and also for rainy days or cold and wet advent of so things. Day, do what you can count on bikepacking to the Trail I was really with. Trail would be more of a complete thru-hiking gear list that is slightly different than the trip before many ranges! An anchor others that make the gear that works for one person not! And publishing the information will also pertain to backpackers replace my old leaking Elite... If the Trail once, on a bikepacking adventure the Tour Divide be minimalist but I should replaced.

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