Bike-packing; Second Attempt, Day 1

With various other rides and the delights of life absorbing my attention recently, it had been a while since the last [and first] foray into bike-packing. While formulating my plan for my next over-night trip, it dawned on me that I’d be riding the two days prior to my 39th birthday. What a great way to celebrate the end of one year and the dawn of the next.

Riding west from the Ghost Town for about 80 mins, the north-blowing cross-wind was fierce. Not as fierce, however, as the four hours I would soon spend riding uphill and directly into the wind’s wrath.

While my route would again take me well into the Big Bend Ranch State Park, I would not head west towards the Sauceda Ranger Station nor south towards Madrid House and the Fresno Creek as before. Rather, once reaching the top of the Pila Montoya climbs, I went east and south into The Solitario. While from the air it might resemble a huge crater, this remarkable geologic feature is the remnants of an eroded laccolith. It’s also an area of the Park I’d never yet visited.

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Considering all the tourists and their SUV’s at the trail-head for the Spring Break holiday, the only people I saw all day were friends who were actually doing work in the Park. Chatting for a couple of minutes, Tim gave me some advice on the route I should take within the Solitario to where I planned on making camp.

Once crossing through the various hills and ridges, I was spat out into a vast, flat expanse with those hills now surrounding me. It was such a different place from the Park I knew so well. Rather than looking up and down the creeks and canyons, I was now looking around me, in all directions. It might not sound like a big deal, but when the landscape loses its familiarity, it can be quite exciting! Riding the rough jeep-roads west then south, I did find myself back within those hills, some proving very difficult to traverse, particularly with my bike laden with gear.

After nearly eight hours and about 48 miles[78 kms] I finally reached my destination for the day; a mile down-stream from the Lower Shutup Trail-head. Here, I would quickly set camp, get changed and eat! As we did last time, I opted to bring pre-cooked food rather than bring cooking equipment. While this was fine for dinner, it would mean starting the next day without coffee. But I’m tough, I’ll suffer through the withdrawal symptoms.

As the sun fell behind the Flatirons, Fresno Peak and Needle Peak, the temperature started to drop. By 8:30 pm I was in bed, by 9 pm I was asleep, resting for the next day’s big adventure. I was going to visit The Other Side of Nowhere…..

Isabelle ready for battle. Notice the newly-added toe-strap to prevent the water-bottle from bouncing loose as it did on the last bike-packing trip. Thanks Bevin.