Anyone For Bikepacking?

[stumpbumper]

This was my third and final trial run to check out everything for upcoming bikepacking trips. After a few tweaks here and there and another strap or two added, nothing shakes, rattles or comes loose on the roughest of trails. Today I rode an extremely technical trail with lots of roots and rock gardens and really hammered it in an attempt to shake something loose. Nothing budged.

There was one surprise. I figured the additional weight would really slow me down but I averaged about the same as I usually do on those trails. Due to the additional weight out back I have to move further forward on the saddle on extremely steep climbs in order to keep the front wheel on the ground. When riding drop-offs and extremely steep descents, the rear bag won’t allow me to get as low behind the saddle as I usually do but the weight of the bag seems to make up the difference.

The bike does not feel as top-heavy as I figured it would. One of the things I like about this bike is it corners like it has a mind of its own but with the added weight I have to ride it a bit more aggressively in turns. The added weight makes it handle more like the 29ers I have ridden than a 26er.

Everything is in the two bags except food (I intend to go dehydrated to save weight), camera, water filter and a few light odds and ends. All will be carried a daypack along with a hydration bladder.

Our first bikepacking adventure will be on three consecutive passages of the Palmetto Trail. We will start at the north end of the Lake Moultrie passage, ride through it, then the Swamp Fox and Awendaw passages, ending at the Buck Hall Recreation Area on the Intracoastal Waterway near McClellanville (74 miles total).

Four mountain bikers that I ride with in the Upstate are interested in going but not sure we can all agree on dates. I have pretty much decided on the weekend of April 23 or 30 but that may change.

Are you ready degaddis1? Anyone else?

[dgaddis1]

Awesome.

Yeah, I'm going to try and make it, should be able to I think.

Question - the 74 miles, is that in a day, or total? If it's total, I'm assuming this will be a 1 night out trip, yes? Will this be an out and back ride, or will you be arranging a shuttle to take you back to the start?

The set-up looks good. Could you move the rear bag forward on the rack? Get the weight more on top of the wheel, instead of behind it? Any idea what the whole rig weighs loaded down? I would personally lose the tripod...maybe find one of those little ones you can attach to trees and stuff if you really want one. I've heard good things about this one: www.amazon.com/Pedco-UltraPod-Lightweight-Camera-Tripod/dp/B000ANCPNM

Also...you know folks who have done these sections, right? I shouldn't have any trouble finding places to set up the hammock, should I?

[azdrawdy]

I am really looking forward to seeing your reports and pictures on this section. I have many friends that grew up in Awendaw, and I have spent many summers in nearby Bonneau. YetiChick and I stopped at the trailhead there at Awendaw and talked about riding it this past fall.

Anyway, post away.

MD

[stumpbumper]

Thanks. You and YetiChick should come along. You both would be most welcome.

[stumpbumper]

Mar 3, 2011 7:02:27 GMT -5 dgaddis1 said:

Awesome.

Yeah, I'm going to try and make it, should be able to I think.

Also...you know folks who have done these sections, right? I shouldn't have any trouble finding places to set up the hammock, should I?

I have one of the Gorillapod camera tripods somewhere but could not find it for that ride, hence the big tripod.

Should be plenty of trees for your hammock on the Swamp Fox passage but not sure about Lake Moultrie. Search the web for “hike reports” on that passage and you might find photos of the countryside posted.

Total one-way mileage is 74 miles. Maps available online are Lake Moultrie (two maps, Sections 1 and 2), Swamp Fox (four maps, Sections 1-4) and Awendaw (one map)

Present plan is to arrive at the parking area at north end of the Lake Moultrie passage (near Santee Cooper power plant) on a Thursday afternoon. If we get there early enough we will ride about 8 miles in and overnight at the second primitive campsite on the Sandy Beach Spur Trail on the shore of Lake Moultrie. If we don’t arrive early enough for that, we will overnight at the first campsite which is about one mile in. Depart from one of those sites early Fri morning.

It is possible that we will have completed the entire 74 miles by Sat afternoon, but on the chance that something unforeseen prevents that (or we eat up a lot of time shooting photos and playing tourist), we will have Sunday as a cushion in our schedule. Any in the group who decide to ride faster and finish earlier than the rest, no problem with that. Ditto on doing a there-and-back on part of the ride rather than a straight-through 74 miler.

Have not worked out logistics, i.e. shuttle back to the starting point, or park a vehicle at the end point. A hiking friend of mine who lives in Charleston may be of assistance, if he is in town. Do you have any ideas?

So far there are five of us from the Upstate; one has through-hiked the Appalachian Trail with his wife. Another has bikepacked across the state of Alaska (he has also done Swamp Fox before). A bikepacker friend in Lexington, SC who did Swamp Fox several years ago may also go.

Dates are April 14-17 unless rain postpones to April 28-May 1.

PM your e-mail address to me and I’ll add it to the info update loop along with the others.

[dgaddis1]

I like the idea of a one way ride, it's all new scenery and trail the whole way. No suggestions on the shuttle issue though. Easiest I think would be to find someone to give you a ride back after you finish...but finding a willing person, who has the ability to carry all the people and bikes, may be tough. So you might have to drop some cars at the end.

I'm a definite maybe

PM sent, add me to the e-mail chain, and I'll let you know if I'm in for sure closer to time.