To Do: ADK Bikepacking
Recently, my sesamoids have come back to haunt me.
I've gradually become more interested in bikes this year.
In the past, bikes were a way to exercise and an easy way to hang out with friends. I'd bike to the beach to avoid parking fees. My friend Kyle spent a lot of senior year of college training for a big bike ride across the country. Semi-Rad listed his bike ride across America as one of his twelve favorite adventures. I discovered The Adirondack Trail Ride (TATR): a 585+ mile, 51,650’ vertical gain, solo, self-supported adventure. Suffering from tendinitis, I turned away from running and towards biking and exploring the local Long Island "mountain biking" trails.
An Adirondack bikepacking adventure was added to my to-do list.
Recently, my sesamoids have come back to haunt me. My tendinitis has been flaring up even with little to no provocation. It's frustrating and scary to have a body that isn't working right, even if the issue is (hopefully) only temporary. One night, while I was bummed out about not being able to hike, run, or even walk, Greg suggested that I plan my bikepacking trip.
Inspired, I began pretty much immediately.
Planning a bikepacking trip was more difficult than expected. Most of my Adirondack bikepacking internet searches just brought up TATR results. Trip reports online were much higher mileage than I intended to pursue on my first bikepacking trip. Bikepacking.com had some suggested routes, but only three for the northeast and none for the Adirondacks. Additionally, I spend most of my time in the Adirondacks exploring wilderness areas. Bikes aren't allowed in wilderness, but they are in wild forest lands.
I stumbled across a YouTube video "Bikepacking to Sand Lake Falls in the Adirondack Park NY 2018". Sand Lake Lean-to seemed perfect. Located in Black River Wild Forest, it is just a 7.2 mile bike ride to the lean-to. The route would cover an old forest road as well as trail. Within 100 feet of the lean-to are beautiful waterfalls.
There are swimming holes located close to camp.
CNYHiking describes this location as a "seldom visited scenic place along the wild Woodhull Creek". "This is a beautiful place in a remote spot in the Adirondacks."
I plan to do this route in August. I'm hoping it will be Type 1 Fun, with only a 7 mile ride each way to the lean-to. I want to be able to test my bikepacking systems, enjoy the camping and falls, and then ride back out the next day. I would also like to challenge myself to see how light I can get my gear.