r/bikepack_Adirondacks

Just one bikepack for the month of July. Summer is drawing down. We really only have 2 warm months with light left. October is a last gasp and November can end real fast (last year winter came early).

I thought I'd take it easy and follow some of the TATR. Not that I think the TATR is a rail trail but most of the sections I've been on have been better than my normal life exploration rides. Mainly lacking the constant blow down due to sections getting cleared from time to time each year. This section was very likely the worst I've done and I wouldn't recommend it.

However only about 2-3 miles sucked. Just not sure the juice was worth the squeeze to form a loop.

Once again, total respect to the folks that line up and complete the TATR OG. Keeping in mind I had 52mi planned which is a little less than 10% of the TATR and I was glad when I got through the crappy section.

Some highlights were the lake at sunrise and the absolute silence overnight having the entire place to myself. Me, the dog and the loons. 30 miles with wet feet, including all but 10 minutes of day 2. Hundreds of feet riding/walking through chest high grass (no ticks though). Probably close to a mile of riding through ferns and grass where I couldn't see the ground at all. At least one unbridged swamp crossing. Deer flies for days, and mosquitoes made a solid appearance.

At times I thought "this is pretty nice" and the gravel was very nice. I saw virtually no one. Zero cars passed us off-pavement and the pavement sections were pretty quiet as well.

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Exploring some terrain for an introduction to bikepacking trip later this year.

Really loved the rugged climb these photos are taken on in an otherwise fairly flat area (still did just under 100ft a mile, so not entirely flat).

The climb was 8% average (peaking out around 20%). I was glad not to be loaded on it as I bent a tooth on my 11-48 cassette...so I'm back to 11-46. When I go back to 11-48 or 11-50/51 (requires a shifter and chain upgrade), I'll likely get an ebike cassette.

Ebike parts are more durable, and for bikepacking durability is most important. Marginal weight increases make almost no difference. Broken bikes will cost you more time than a few ounces will. Aluminum cogs are much more prone to damage in the Adirondacks with all the wood and grass getting into the cassette teeth.

Foggy sunrise at a backcountry lake in the Central Adirondacks.

Bikepack Every Month Challenge - UltraMTB

Just an FYI the challenge was/is April 2026 to March 2027. There are monthly prizes and also a prize for completing all 12 months. If you did a bikepack in April, May, June, July you can retroactively submit the route and photos. Those months are closed for monthly prizes but you can still win the yearly prize.

If you're thinking, man I don't need need another water bottle or some lame t-shirt! The prizes are pretty nice. OMM Racks, Fenix Lights, Industry Nine, Revelate Designs, Wolf Tooth, RidewithGPS, and premium stuff like that. I mean $500 in OMM racks is pretty nice for a monthly winner. And all you have to do is ride your bike and camp out.

I know what you're thinking...Ain't no way I'm bikepacking in December in the Adirondacks and I'd rather be boiled in tar than even look at my bike and camping gear in January. I feel you on that. But it's a great opportunity to visit the coast or head down south for a trip. The difference between the Adirondacks and Pennsylvania is about a month. Meaning Dec is November and March is April. If you head a little further south, MD or VA (and Virginia has some amazing riding), it's another few weeks reset. Same with going to the coast. Head to the coast and it resets a month or even two. Personally, I'll be way south if plans allow for at least December. January and February will be the crux but I'm leaning coastal Northeast.

And to me this part is totally cheating...but credit card tours count. So if you do a winter trip, you don't even have to suffer in the cold. It's almost like they just want folks to get out and do multi-day trips.

I can get behind that because that is precisely the intent of r/bikepack_adirondacks, for folks to get out!