That effectively turns half the trail into a hike-a-bike. Having lived in the state for the past five years I got to see small communities, forest roads, lakes, and campsites that I never knew existed. Organizing your gear into groups can be a good way to remember to pack what you need: Bike gear: This includes things like your bike, helmet, packs and lights. As a mountain biker you’ll pedal and hike a minimum of 540 miles with roughly 82,000 feet of elevation gain to do the full trail. 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. My ambition is to hike the Colorado Trail in July-August 2018. 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. I typically bring Crocs on my trips but didn’t this time. 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. Typically hikers will exit this route via New Hance Trail, but exiting via Tonto & Grandview gave us an additional night of camping and let us take in the landscape around Horseshoe Mesa. The Peak Elite AC served me well but I should have replaced it years ago. The Colorado Trail is a multi use trail that runs 500 miles (529 by bicycle) from Waterton Canyon in Littleton, Colorado to Durango, Colorado. Extra quick-link 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 best gear out there is the gear that does its job and allows you to focus on the reasons you are on the adventure in the first place. More in depth details such as resupply points, suggested gear, and food will be covered in later posts. Hyalite Peak Elite sleeping pad, Homemade alcohol stove, double-wall ER kit KAVU has been making awesome hats since their start in 1993, and the Chillba continues the trend as an iconic, functional hat. Patches, Princeton Tec EOS headlamp This summer my brother and I did a 25 day bikepacking loop around the NE of the US, starting and finishing in Washington, DC. Read this introductory article for a brief description of the trail as well as my experience, then continue on to the other posts. Sign up below for an email newsletter from the site. Could you just make a fire to cook with instead? 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 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. It’s best to keep your first bikepacking trip distance fairly low and the route local. Find his story of seemingly impractical bike choices, trail magic, evading lightning bolts and heavy rain, and more here… Bikepacking isn’t a niche anymore, it’s an anchor. The Colorado Colossal trip was also the best experience I’ve had with electronics so far. Bikepacking The Colorado Trail | EP 6 Sargents Mesa. And throughout all this I crossed under high voltage powerlines, rode on highways, and occasionally came near ATVs. It wasn’t the relaxing bike tour that I imagined, but it’s always good to push yourself, get uncomfortable, and figure out what your limits are. I purposely didn’t reveal a whole lot when I first posted my accolades above as the post was about this bike trip… But if it is of any interest to others I cycled across the Nullarbor Desert Adelaide to Perth in Australia with a very minimalist set up- often doing 165 (100 miles) kms per day between road houses. Updated Gear List for the Colorado Trail. Colorado Trail Race Gear List (Work in Progress)-While preparing for the Colorado Trail Race, I re-organized my gear placement to account for more singletrack riding. Another example might be to consider your rain jacket also to be an additional insulation layer, and skip bringing some other layering item. The Colorado Trail Foundation bills the Colorado Trail as “mile for mile, the most beautiful trail in America.” There’s truth to that, but it doesn’t come for free. Cracked but alive, we made it through and dropped down to a faster rally segment of the trail, which brought us into the San Juan region. It’s an entirely personal decision, but taking a rest day may allow you to recover and operate at a higher capacity compared to continually pushing through everyday. POSTED BY: Sean on Thursday October 16th, 2014 The Colorado Trail is a monster of a trail, but this shouldn’t sway you from bikepacking it. Or if the weather really was that bad couldn’t I just stop and make/take shelter instead of continuing to ride in it? When I started researching the Colorado Trail I had a lot of questions and I hope this guide can both help to point you in the right direction and get you stoked as you start planning! Ultrapod, 18650 batteries (x3) with charger & cord If you have the luxury it might be worth factoring an extra day or two into your trip to accommodate for weather like that. 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. That’s a challenge in itself, but the thin air at elevations ranging from 6,000 to 13,000 feet certainly doesn’t help. Even if roads or towns are nearby, there’s often a feeling of remoteness, and it’s good to keep this in mind from a safety standpoint too. I had one very cold, soggy afternoon/night involving a mix of rain and hail around the Spring Creek Pass area and a full day of snow past Molas Lake coming out of Silverton. The final additions are the extra items necessary to make that specific trip possible/better. I like to plan for almost the worst and hope for the best. The rest time allowed me to recharge and build up my strength after those first six days on the trail. I thought that might make uncomfortable in camp but I didn’t really notice it at all. These items are based on riding type, terrain, season, longevity, weather, planning, foreseeable issues, partners, etc. We live in such great times now incredible gear, much of which is reliable, durable AND lightweight. Overall, I was really happy with my gear on the trip. I use them in and around camp, and also for rainy days or cold mornings when first getting started. Thank you for sharing. You'll follow this beautiful creek for quite a while during the La Garita Wilderness detour. I was born and raised in the hills of Tennessee. Getting ready to head out on a bikepacking adventure? So here goes: hikers carry all their gear on their backs, and we call them backpackers. The nature of the trail varies significantly between Denver and Durango. So that’s my background - I’m a capable 23 year old, but like to go slow to take it all in (however, I also enjoy the occasional sufferfest!). Richard Forbes If you’re going to bike the Colorado Trail, you ought to have some backcountry experience under your belt already. Of course this metric is going to include both the faster thru-hikers and those sauntering along, but my hope is there will be a happy medium in between. I think as long as my riding shoes don’t get soaked or muddy before stopping it was fine not having camp shoes. I love about every possible mode of cycling, mountain biking is the most fun, but if I’m on two wheels I’m happy. Yes, it was chilly and slow going, but certainly doable with maybe 3” on the ground. Very well presented and put together! Gorgeous fall colors alongside Cebolla Creek. I'd love to hear from you, just leave a comment below. It's not too early to be obsessing over my gear list for that hike... because that's what I do. I’ll add links below as the articles come together. Bug spray. Crank Brothers multi tool Would I encourage it? The Escalante Route is reportedly one of the more difficult, non-technical routes in the Grand Canyon, but it offers a sampling platter for all the Canyon has to offer. I have picked up a Big Agnes sleeping pad since the trip to replace my old leaking Peak Elite AC. Sony RX100 camera excellent minimalist list. Sep 18, 2020 ... Oh yeah, and in our case at about 60lbs of gear to your sled. I did enjoy having the trail to largely to myself (aside from the occasional day hiker), and would certainly consider that a perk of doing a thru-bike at the end of September. 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 haven’t already you should read the introductory article which gives a brief overview of the trail as well as my experience bikepacking the trail in the fall of 2016. I first arrived in Southern Oregon as a raft guide back in the summer of 2016, and I kept hearing about this river called the Illinois. Pearl Izumi arm warmers I usually end up doing this three or four times prior to a trip and this process helps me find redundant items or things I just don’t need. Could you just ride further to get food if your stove did die and fire wasn’t possible? Bikepacking. And it's not just over gear; I do the same over maps, routes, resupply... the whole thing. That’s just a quick synopsis of the trail. Ibex Woolie long sleeve shirt Revelate Designs Mountain Feedbag, Big Agnes Pitchpine SL sleeping bag With the advent of so many things charging off of USB it’s made this a lot easier to achieve. You’re covering a huge swath of the state, so always be ready for hot and dry or cold and wet. An inflatable backpacking pillow was the last thing on my wish list at the time, but I splurged recently and purchased the Fillo by Nemo Equipment. Garmin Edge 800 GPS July 26, 2019 by Grizzly Adam. The Colorado Trail was a heck of a trip and a big accomplishment. North America South America Europe Africa Middle East North Asia South Asia ... Gear list's. Oware tarp tent The setup worked well for the limited technical riding on the Tour Divide. Below is a list of packing and prepping considerations for … Betsy walks us through her choices. Twin Six nylon jacket This led me to finding a sweet little charger to charge the batteries or charge something off the 18650 batteries. AquaMira water purification drops, Giro helmet If nothing else, I think it will be interesting! Can I plan better so that I don’t need to bring it in the first place? Simple, that’s it. Slowly trudging through snow near the intersection of the Colorado Trail and Engineer Mountain Trail. How Much Time Does it Take to Hike the Colorado Trail? I also picked up a Fenix flashlight for night riding (or camp light) that runs off of 18650 batteries. My goal after doing the Tour Divide several years ago was to reduce the amount of E-crap and take along a better backup power source. This article is part of a series about bikepacking the Colorado Trail. Be conservative and don’t get hurt out there - it could turn into a big ordeal. For example, taking zip-off trousers and leaving the shorts at home, paring down tool kits/spares and transferring chain oil into minute 2oz bottle. Topeak mini pump Gear: Trek Supercaliper MTB. In summary, be safe and have fun on the adventure! While some of the uphills could seem like a slog, any memory of that was always wiped away as I took off on the descent, feeling euphoric. Homemade windscreen For over 500 miles, the mostly-singletrack route runs down the spine of the Rockies from Denver to Durango. The Gear Spruce sap dripping over CT signage. Sign up to receive a monthly newsletter from the site. Bikepacking 2019 Colorado Trail Gear. Packrafting has always interested me, but it wasn’t until I won an AIRE BAKraft at Gauley Fest last year that I seriously considered putting a lightweight river trip together. 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. An example of this could be a backup stove. Revelate Design and Bedrock bags. Wish I would have access to this sort of info prior to setting off. Previous experiences or newly gained skills/techniques can also play a part in the variation of gear needs from trip to trip. I didn’t come into the experience expecting a journey of pure isolation in pristine habitat, and I suggest you don’t either. Well, I soon discovered that the trail would be more of a full-on physical effort than I imagined. The insight and publishing the information adds to the body of knowledge. Grab your bike, grab your pack and hit these Colorado trails for days Colorado is a mecca for multi-day cycling, known as bikepacking By Ryan Wichelns , Special to The Denver Post Oct 7, … Here are some things that might be helpful to know if you’re interested in bikepacking this legendary route. I decided in high school I wanted to design the best bikes and parts possible; I’ve been following my dream ever since. Salsa cycling cap Shimano mountain shoes Total Base Weight – 12lb 9oz (5.69 kg) Pack: Waymark ĒVLV 35L – Shelter: ZPacks Altaplex Tent – 10 Easton Nano Stakes – Sleep System: UGQ Bandit XL … When planning out my gear I like to ask myself several questions to decide if I need it or not: It seems like a straightforward thought but I think many of us get used to always bringing something that we “figure I’ll probably use it at some point”, when in reality the chance of using it is incredibly slim. Wildflowers and green meadows aren’t present during an early fall trip, but the aspens were at their prime for much of the trail. Every trip I do produces a gear list that is slightly different than the trip before. For example, could I just plan out my stops and food grabs better so that I don’t even need a stove on this trip? Now, one more disclaimer. LAST MODIFIED: Tuesday November 21st, 2017. Bikepacking does require a more selective pallet as space is more limited than with hiking. Revelate Designs Gas Tank In 2015, there were more than 150. Salsa bib shorts Tyvec ground cloth It can snow even earlier in the year, so conditions in the fall are really a toss up. The Middle Fork of the Flathead had never been on my radar before, but a quick Google revealed a gem of a river that actually inspired the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act back in 1968. The author enjoying a prime section of the Colorado Trail, which overlaps briefly with the Monarch Crest Trail here. iPhone w/ charger & cord My gear list for the Colorado Colossal trip was a slightly slimmed down version of the gear list I’ve developed over the years on other bikepacking trips. Canister of sealant The video summary of our 2017 thru-ride of the Colorado Trail. This is the consequence of human development, and it’s both educational and humbling to see the effects of habitat fragmentation due to human development and roads. The experience was awesome. Stuff sack for electronics The trail stays consistently high while traversing the Continental Divide, and culminates with an extended section above treeline leading into Silverton. this setup can’t keep up with a smartphone charging draw in real time, but you can charge up the battery while you’re riding & then charge from it when you’re not. It holds immense beauty around almost every turn. OFF-ROAD EXPEDITION / WORLD TOURING / CREATIVE THINKING, Colorado Colossal Bikepacking Trip - Gear List. Do you just need to buy a new stove you can count on? Regardless, when I started researching the Colorado Trail I had a lot of questions and I hope this guide can both help to point you in the right direction and get you stoked as you start planning. May 9, 2019 - Explore Jeff Huebner's board "Colorado trail bikepacking trip" on Pinterest. .7 Liter Titanium pot Bikers will traverse many mountain ranges, including the Colorado Rocky Mountains, during their journey. Kiwi Brevet? In 2008, 17 people started the Tour Divide. There are significant sections of exposure as well as the rock wall at Papago, so be prepared for those sections to be the crux of the trip. 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. Swimsuit And as a side note, to the people who do the trail in 4 or 5 days for the Colorado Trail Race - you’re not human. For the Tour Divide, I aimed to place all gear on my bike with the bulk of the weight on the handlebar. few things i discovered preparing for a pyrenees/alps cycling tour this past summer which you might want to know about if you don’t already: ...paired with July 12, 2019 December 9, 2019 by Grizzly Adam. Most of the weight was taken up by the […] Great post. 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. I’ve found that I have a foundation of items that are usually taken on every trip; certain foods, safety gear, cooking items and sleep system. I do produces a gear list for the Colorado Trail experience I ’ m introverted... Head out on a bikepacking adventure Colorado 14ers is currently being written and published.. 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For an email newsletter from the site special to see the many different of... Could turn into a Big ordeal first six days on the Trail even... As much as I ’ m fairly introverted and enjoy doing adventures this. My essential gear and around camp, and in our case at 60lbs. Electronics kit to be half the Trail into a hike-a-bike beneficial to backpackers not having camp shoes and. `` Colorado Trail in July-August 2018 my strength after those first six days on the.. Are thriving, as are others that make the gear that makes bikepacking more fun I crossed under high powerlines! Pad since the trip before 2 years prior with a few ideas in mind I out! Bikepacking, Trail, Colorado Trail is probably on it bikepacking adventure terrain. Was that bad couldn ’ t carrying something that only gets used once mountain biker community these,., join our subreddit, and skip bringing some other layering item ’.

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