Desert Bikepacking Load Out - Salsa Spearfish

This is just a quick post on what a high desert packing kit can be.  For this trip, we carried up to two full days of water and food and planned for zero precipitation.  For me, this was one of my lighter loads with minimal extra kit.  Water was carried in a camelback Mule, a spare water pack that could be lashed wherever was practical and a feedbag on the handlebars which always held 24 ounces of water.  The trip was on a FS Spearfish thus minimizing any 'frame' bag space, an obvious location to store mucho water....  Since this is a quick post, fire questions and I will attempt to expand where needed:

Front Roll Bag

1. Bivy (UL Cuben)
2. Pad - Neo Air
3. Small Food Bag
4. Clothes
   1. Cap 4 top
   2. Wool knickers
   3. Spare socks
   4. Rain Jacket/Wind Break

Rear Bag

1. Sleep bag 
2. Down sweater

Frame

1. Pump
2. Tool bag
3. Lube
4. Co2 kit
5. Light headlamp **
6. Fuel (Alcohol)
7. Stove (Trangia)

Handlebars

1. V1 in feed bag
2. Snacks on top tube
3. Snacks, water in feed bag, makeshift
4. Light **

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Eszter admires my shiny new Fish ;-)

Back

1. Camera
2. Cam batteries and filters
3. Electronic ditty (Batteries, cables, etc)
4. Warm Hat
5. Warm Gloves
6. Arm Warmers
7. First aid
8. Knife
9. Shock pump
10. Chemicals
11. Wallet
12. Snow peak pot

On Me:

1. Bib Shorts
2. Jersey
3. Over Shorts
4. Sidi Shoes
5. Socks
6. Vest

Food was stuffed wherever. The Camelback Mule did not provide the flexibility to carry food. I would not choose that pack again.  Also, as noted, this was on a Spearfish. With a Frame Bag, spare water would go there and lighter, bulkier items would go in the backpack where applicable.  Carrying 1 or 2 platypus bags as backup water storage along with your choice of straps for lashing them in different spots is critical.

Logistically or philosophically, I carry only what will be used.  Therefore my on bike clothing is my camp clothing with the obvious exception of my bibs.  Get to camp, take off bibs, add puffy, gloves, hat and I am set.

Below is an image of a similar load out on the Oregon Outback.  With the addition of a full size frame bag I was able to ditch the backpack. Camera gear was carried on handlebars using a makeshift camera bag lashed to the bars.

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Salsa Fargo, Porcelain Rocket frame bags - SUL setup

The Path

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Oregon Outback - Leica MM + 50Lux

I always find that my adventures teach me more than I could ever have imagined and that my images are the words and the memories of all those lessons.  The path, that which we follow, always leads us to new and beautiful places.  Trusting in it, giving in to it, is the way I choose to live my life.

Here, Josh and Erik, contemplate the fact that we see no end in sight.

Thoughts

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Coconino 250, AZ -- Leica MM + 50 Lux & Salsa Cycles

The power of a bike, not only as a form of transportation and recreation, but as a tool to help cleanse the soul.  We climbed hard that day and were rewarded with a vista that required no words to describe -- we simply sat, in awe of the natural beauty.

Not Winter

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Downeast Maine, Winter 2014 -- Leica Monochrom + Lux 50

B&W Fourth of July

Dogue de Bordeaux

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A visitor to the deck, weighing in at a mere 200 pounds -- Leica MM, 50 1,4 Lux

I Wanna Play Too

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Leica MM, 50 1,4 Summilux

Getting Lost, Finding Things

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Selfies are so much fun, especially when you can relax in the middle of nowhere

Converging Lines

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Creek bridge, Pisgah National Forest, Brevard NC -- Leica MM w/50 Lux

Arizona High Desert

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High desert outside of Flagstaff - Leica MM, 50Lux

Endless Beauty

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Horse Country - Kentucky Bourbon Trail :: Leica MM, 50 Lux

Coconino 250 - Slowly getting the story done

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