I wanted to post this because Mtn Bike Backpack Camping is going to be the new rage with bikes and I haven’t seen it covered here on the RM yet – I’m sure it is going to catch on throughout the world just like building hamster stunts on trails, or the come back of dh racing and it might even become as radical as DJs in the city while listening to Rise Against and will soon be covered by Decline and mastered by Mark Weir.
Anyway… So this past weekend Amy and I went out for the trip we’ve been talking about for a couple months now - and we didn’t have to go any further than the mountains up behind our house here in South Lake. The intent was to pack our overnight gear as light as we could and get on our bikes and pedal the Rim Trail from Heavenly Stagecoach Lodge to Star Lake, spend the night there and then continue on to summit Freel Peak then to Armstong Trail to Corral Trail to Trout Creek Trail and then finally pedal back to our house here in town. And maybe to pass a few backpacking hikers along the way to make them jealous of how much more ground we can cover while having more fun!
We usually do this ride or variations of it as a day ride when it's fast and flowy - but it’s a different story with 30 pounds of gear on your back swaying back and forth over anything tech in the trail. The biggest difference was riding much slower than normal: If I would normally be pushing my big chainring I was in my middle – If I would normally be pushing my middle I was in my small – If normally climbing in my small chainring I was walking for sure.
Rough stats from the gps were: 5,200 ft of accent – 6,100 ft of decent – 30 miles. Here are some pics:
Amy pedaling out of Killebrew Canyon with Carson Valley 3000 feet below
Heading West below Monument Peak on the Rim Trail
Amy riding past the big tree with Freel Peak and the rest of the ride looming ahead
One of the many reasons the Nomad is so badass
Our camp at Star Lake
Fresh dinner
Sunset from camp
Leaving Star Lake in the morning
Climbing up to the Freel Peak summit trail
On top of Freel Peak with South Lake Tahoe below - 10,880ft
Pedaling away from Freel Peak towards Armstrong Pass
Coming down towards Armstrong Pass
Anyway… So this past weekend Amy and I went out for the trip we’ve been talking about for a couple months now - and we didn’t have to go any further than the mountains up behind our house here in South Lake. The intent was to pack our overnight gear as light as we could and get on our bikes and pedal the Rim Trail from Heavenly Stagecoach Lodge to Star Lake, spend the night there and then continue on to summit Freel Peak then to Armstong Trail to Corral Trail to Trout Creek Trail and then finally pedal back to our house here in town. And maybe to pass a few backpacking hikers along the way to make them jealous of how much more ground we can cover while having more fun!
We usually do this ride or variations of it as a day ride when it's fast and flowy - but it’s a different story with 30 pounds of gear on your back swaying back and forth over anything tech in the trail. The biggest difference was riding much slower than normal: If I would normally be pushing my big chainring I was in my middle – If I would normally be pushing my middle I was in my small – If normally climbing in my small chainring I was walking for sure.
Rough stats from the gps were: 5,200 ft of accent – 6,100 ft of decent – 30 miles. Here are some pics:
Amy pedaling out of Killebrew Canyon with Carson Valley 3000 feet below
Heading West below Monument Peak on the Rim Trail
Amy riding past the big tree with Freel Peak and the rest of the ride looming ahead
One of the many reasons the Nomad is so badass
Our camp at Star Lake
Fresh dinner
Sunset from camp
Leaving Star Lake in the morning
Climbing up to the Freel Peak summit trail
On top of Freel Peak with South Lake Tahoe below - 10,880ft
Pedaling away from Freel Peak towards Armstrong Pass
Coming down towards Armstrong Pass
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That view from the top was kick azz.
