Who Doesn't Love Packlists?

Packlists are my favorite. If it wasn't for the help of great packlists like Cass Gilber's at While Out Riding or Joe Cruz's at Pedaling in Place, my kit would have gone through some of the errors they went through. Nevertheless here is my packlist from my tour up to Tahoe.

Bags

First let's talk where it all goes. Bags and where to put them is an art that I'm slowly learning to perfect. Last summer's build was a maxamilist approach and built in the wrong places. I upgraded from the bulky pannier rack system on the front to an easier to manage bigger handlebar bag. I also added the tool bag under the seat, which makes getting them convenient on the road and opens up room in my panniers. I was able to manage to pack up food, clothing, and tent all on the rear. It made picking up the bike wonky, which I want to fix in the future, but as of now, I really like the way this is built, it handles very well. All the bags are Detours made. The rear rack is a Tubus Vega (light durable, great). I carry my water in my bottlecages along with hydration bladders buried away, the Klean Kanteen didn't really work as it held coffee flavors that's going to get axed for a lightweight camp mug (or a smaller Klean Kanteen for camp and carrying ice/ice cream to camp!) and put another waterbottle in the cage, that is if I don't have a framebag by then. I also have a Topeak Morph Mini pump pictured here, it broke on tour, but I prefer it to the Planet Bike one I replaced it with. I also carried an REI Flashpack to add some room and take weight off the bags/racks/bike, not ideal on the back, but it was real handy (until a bear tore it in two).

Clothing

Riding clothes.

Camp clothes.

Clothing is usually the bulkiest, but not the heaviest, but it is easy to go overboard on clothing. What I have here might actually be too much. The top is my riding gear, the bottom is camp gear. My riding gear consists of Novarra cycle shorts ($10 at Used Gear Sale!), cheap falling apart Nashbar rain jacket, Canari jersey (looks good, works), cycle shorts (probably cut these next), Ex-Officio boxers (GREAT purchase, dry quickly, hold no smell), gloves, Smart Wool hat, Goodwill merino sweater (5 bucks, why pay more?), Novarra leg warmers, and my North Coast Brewery cycle cap.

My camp clothes consist of a casual t (might get axed for another jersey instead), Smart Wool baselayer (comfortable and can be used when it gets real cold), Smart Wool leggings (pack small retain heat, also good for riding, might go with this or the legwarmers next time, not both), and gym shorts (want to replace with quicker drying active shorts). I wore Salomon water shoes on this tour, I liked them for their quick drying, ability to be worn without socks, and breathability, but I'm not 100 percent sold on them as the go to touring sneaker yet.

Camp Gear

Sleeping

Eating

Camp gear is where weight can really be saved. Sleepwise I've upgraded to a 45 degree LaFuma bag, good for summer, but even on some nights I found myself chilly, probably need another bag to compensate when I'm not doing hot parts of the world. Sierra Designs LightYear One tent, works, but can be tight and the front entrance is awkward, still looking at a Tarptent or Six Moon Design solution possibly. Nemo Zor sleeping pad, comfortable, warm, works.

Cook kit consists of; Trangia alcohol stove, I'm still unhappy with flame control, but alcohol is the way to go (the stove is the one included with it and the alcohol is obvious). Sea to Summit collapsible bowl, great for cutting board and easy to clean, like it. GSI Ultralight cofffee maker, bought this one because I lost the bigger plastic version of this, but I'm glad I did, no filters needed, easy to clean, and makes delicious coffee (downside to it is only one at a time, while the other could make three or four cups). Sea to Summit Ti spork, easy to store, easy to clean, useful. I also have a handkerchief and a gross looking cleaning pad in the shot. I also carried a Platypus 2+ L hydration pack, which gave me plenty of water over the night and into the morning, I even had a cheap free one I got in a giveaway, but if I go to one water bottle next tour I'll get a second Platypus I think.

Tools and Toiletries

I put these in the same shot, mostly because they were small and both fit in the same pockets on opposite sides of the bike. The tools consist of the basic Crank Brothers multitool, spare tube, tire levers, patchkit, and spare chain (with spare quicklinks). The things that aren't standards that I really like is my Leatherman Skeletool, great camp tool and easy to have on my belt loop. Anti theft skewer tool on my keychain, it's probably unnecessary, but zero weight for added security? Sounds good to me. Hypercracker, that's a great tool, I can pull off my Shimano cassette to change rear spokes on my bike (spokes not shown because I brought the wrong size spokes with me, d'oh!). Electrical tape, duct tape (wrapped around a pencil), handkerchief, chain lube, and zipties finish off the tool list.

Toiletries are easy to cut, but sometimes are just needed. Sunscreen, Dr. Brommers, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss (good for sewing too, if I remembered my needles!), moist towellettes (my tentmate on the Inca Trail had this great tip for feeling clean on the trail), ibuprofen helped me cure a hangover, and the Band-Aids were to solve my busted thumb. Also in this pic is an emergency blanket, just in case.

Electronics/Misc

Electronics is definitely the things that I carry for comfort. Starting in the top right is my MP3 player that my good friend Eric loaded up for me last summer with some great Americana tunes for riding across the country, it's attached to an X-Mini capsule speaker, good sound for small weight. GPS Etrex 20 was the greatest addition to my kit, it helped me get off the highways and really found amazing things. Steripen helped me carry less water if I saw I would be traveling next to water (which happened frequently on this trip). Gorilla pod camera stand, with camera case, as of now I just have a cheap Fujifilm Point and Shoot, hope to upgrade this winter. The headlamp was a great addition too, don't know why I didn't think to have that last summer, but it makes camp life easier and can be used for nightriding when necessary. The top bag is my chargers, next to it is a AA battery charger for my headlamp and GPS. I carried my laptop this time, but it's really what's going to hold me back from going lighter in the future, it helped a ton, but I'm thinking of going with a tablet next to also replace what's under my laptop, my Kindle, which has been great for carrying, but I also like real books, which is why Cadillac Desert is in the shot (great book too). The final bag is my notebook and pens and pencils, I'm trying to write and sketch more and my little Moleskin is great for it. Oh and I do carry a U-lock, because if you know my story from last summer you'd know why I carry it.

That's the gist of it. It's always a work in progress making things better and lighter.

The List (bold are things I really like and recommend, *s are things on their way out)

• Bags
• Detours D2R Handlebar Bag
• Detours D2R Large Panniers
• Detours Wedgie
• OR Stuff Sack
• REI Flashpack (not picture)
• Clothing
• Canari Jersey
• Peral Izumi Cycle Shorts*
• Novarra Casual Cycle Shorts
• Ex Officio Boxers
• Nashbar Rain Jacket*
• Novarra Leg Warmers
• REI pack towel (not picture)
• North Coast Brewery Cycle Hat
• Smart Wool Cap
• Gloves
• Goodwill Merino Wool Sweater
• Casual T (Broken Rim Records for pop punk fans)*
• Smart Wool long sleeve baselayer.
• Smart Wool leggings.
• Casual shorts*
• Salomon Water Shoes (not pictured)
• Camp
• Sierra Lightyear One
• LaFuma 45 bag.
• Nemo Zor Pad
• Cook
• Trangia backpackers cookit
• Sea to Summit collapsible bowl.
• Sea to Summit ti spork.
• GSI Ultralight Coffee Kit
• Platypus bladder
• Tools
• Crank Brothers Multi 17
• Hypercracker (although goodluck finding it)
• Leatherman Skeletool
• Anti-theft skewer tool (on keys)
• Spare tube.
• Patch kit.
• Tire Levers.
• Spare chain with quicklinks.
• Electrical tape.
• Duct tape.
• Zip ties.
• Emergency Blanket
• Kryptonite Mini U-Lock
• Topeak Morph Mini Pump
• Toiletries
• Dr. Brommers
• Moist Towelettes
• Toothbrush/Paste
• Dental Floss
• Sunscreen
• Painkillers
• Bandaids
• Electronics
• Garmin Etrex 20
• Laptop*
• Kindle*(maybe out depending if I get the tablet)
• MP3 player
• X-Mini
• AA Battery Charger
• Steripen
• Headlamp
• Fujifilm Finepix JX520* with Gorillapod
• Misc.
• Book
• Moleskin with good pens!

Final Days: Home

Leaving Tahoe was sad. I didn't want to go. But normal life was calling me back and off I went. I headed back to the free site I hit on the way up at Big Meadows, where I settled in just as one of those infamous Sierra summer thunderstorms started to roll in, luckily this one was pretty mellow. I slept well, dreaming of my breakfast of fresh fruit and coffee in the morning.

When I unzipped from my tent in the AM, I first noticed my Platypus bladder on its side, hm, I don't remember leaving it that way. I picked it up and it started to leak, bizarre. Then I turned to go find my food and all I found was a ravaged mess. It looks like someone else was as excited for my food as I was. Because of a broken food locker, I did like I do when I free camp in bear territory, I stored my food bAGS about 100 feet from my tent on the ground and it looks like a bear found it and had his way. The worst part was it totally tore up my REI backpack, ripped my bladder, and put hole in my pannier, luckily the pannier would live to see another day.

Collecting Passes like Ribbons. Maybe some day I'll catch em all.

With only Carson Pass in my way before a big drop down I decided to press on with no food. I grabbed Luther Pass rather quickly then hurried on to Carson Pass, which would prove to be tougher than expected, with a series of undulating meadows and climbs in between.  To my happy surprise when I got to the pass there was life. An information booth sits right at the trailhead of what are supposed to be stunning alpine hikes (maybe if I had more food I would have participated), but the best news was that the volunteer staff always has food for thru hikers. They hooked me up with fruit, cookies, and a Coke. I was so glad that I didn't even stop at the general stores on the way down Mormon Emigrant to the Valley (which on Mormon Emigrant I didn't see a soul and only saw enumerable dirt roads that trail off endlessly into nowhere, a great place it looks like to explore some other time).

Another intersection neither here nor there.

From Mormon Emigrant I dropped down the amazingly fun Sly Park Road, a fast descent with sharp bends that are perfectly carved that you hardly have to flutter the brakes. Sly Park Road led into Pleasant Valley, whose pizza place had terrible pizza but wifi, at least the fountain soda hit the spot. From there I navigated my way towards Oakland. I buzzed through the next section of my ride across the rolling hills of the valley. into Cameron Park. While enjoying a late afternoon coffee, I found a spot on Google Maps that seemed like a nice place to camp, so off down Shingle Springs Road it was.

Shingle Springs Road was nearly trafficless, but when I hit Latrobe is when the real fun started. The pavement reached left, the pavement reached right, the pavement ended straight forward and that's where I wanted to go. Six straight miles of beautiful gravel roads along stretches of golden grass reflecting off a golden sunset. This is where peace was found.

I wish gravel roads were more prevalent. 

The roughest part was that barbed wire and No Trespassing signs hemmed the road in. I kept looking for any place to camp, but couldn't find any. Whoever said that barbed wire was the death of the West was right. It was such a shame, so many beautiful camp sites beyond reach. I took the only option left to me and pushed on to the next town which would be a huge mistake. I came over the top of a hill and looked and to my left was a huge football field and playground, town parks of small parks are great places to camp, but as I looked closer the whole thing was fenced in by a six foot tall stonewall. Turns out Rancho Murieta is a private community of bizarre characteristic. Amid the dry rolling expanse of the Sacramento Valley was this elite community of dark green lawns and huge fountains in the middle of golf course lakes. The place was dropped here arbitrarily it seemed.

Fairly disgusted and annoyed I tried asking for help, which people seemed to only turn up their noses and tell me they didn't know. Someone suggested near a corn field, which never is a good idea, I scoped it out and decided to keep looking. I finally noticed a gazebo on top of the hill next to the highway and scrambled my way up there just as the sun was beginning it's final descent over the landscape. It was less than ideal, but it would be home for the night. I laid out on the bench and contemplated the fine line between bike touring and homelessness and if I ever imagined myself here. I thought of my suburban upbringings and how they somehow brought me here, sleeping on a park bench outside of a snobbish community. Is this where I belong? I was on the verge of something, but what it was I wasn't sure. I just knew that Rancho Murieta is the kind of place I never want to see myself ending up.

I had trouble sleeping and was interrupted by an elderly man hiking up around midnight, which only made me more worried that he might call me in, thankfully he didn't. The full moon kept me company, illuminating the valley. It was in between my interrupted sleep at around 4 AM that I noticed a floodlight over the cornfield I chose not to habitate, what a good decision that was. Then by 5 I was up and out to the local coffee shop where I waited for the sun's presence, before moving forward.

The wind would be my demise on this day. It was gusting down my nose for a good part of the morning, but I could do nothing but push through it. By the time I got to the Delta the wind was worse and making me feel worse, so I stopped at my favorite watering hole in Locke, Al the Wop's where a Bloody Mary helped clear my mind. I followed that up with Chinese food.

That combination of alcohol and Chinese food would be my unraveling in the 90 degree heat. Somehow I ended up avoiding most of the traffic on the skinny levee roads, but the ride was still rough going with my stomach in knots. I threw on some tunes hoping to distract myself. It helped and before I knew it I had hit the Famer's Market outside Rio Vista, where delicious organic local peaches and iced tea returned my vitas.

The wind would pick up for the rest of the ride. So windy I couldn't even set up my tent where I wanted to and instead chose to make that night my last and pointed towards Pittsburg BART. The wind was constant in my face and started to wear on my spirit and body. My headache forced me into one final Starbucks stop to rest up, where a confused woman could not get my order right and was nothing but irritating. I tried to be nice, but my patience was thin and all I did was come off as rude. Guess we all can't be winners all the time. The rest of the ride zipped by and before I knew it I was on BART heading home. Another tour over and no foreseeable bike touring in the next six months and that's hard to swallow.

A Week by the Lake; 6,000 Ft Up

Lake Tahoe, I made it. Now what? That was the question when I got here last week. I wasn't quite sure. It seemed that Lassen was out of reach, but going around the lake? That seemed possible. So off I went.

A beautiful campsite overlooking NV.

In my quest for more adventure, my first day brought me to the Tahoe Rim Trail, a backpacking and somewhat mountain biking trail that circles the lake (parts are closed to bikes). I decided to give this trail a try. It would prove to be my downfall. The beginning of the trail from Kingsbury Grade was nothing but rocky steps, in which I hauled my bike over time and time again. By the time I was finally ready to ride the rocks were going the other direction. The front suspension MTBers were popping right over them, but fully loaded on a rigid cross bike I worried, rightfully so, at some point I looked down and had a snapped spoke and my toe clips had the same fate. I was not too pleased. I forced the bike over the hill and walked a lot more of the trail than I wanted to, that by the time I reached the scenic overlook I was exhausted and unhappy. Lesson learned, my bike is not a mountain bike. The original plan was to continue on to the Flume Trail, the classic Tahoe mountain bike trail, but once I found pavement again I bailed back into town and felt utterly defeated. I was ready to head home. My mind was fried I couldn't decide what to do. I went to the local bike shop (called The Bike Shop, actually), where Pete, a friendly fellow talked me up some and pointed me in a better direction, sending me on paved roads up to a dispersed campground at Mosquito Lake, a brilliantly quiet camp, where my head fell back into place and I felt ready to keep going.

The Tahoe Rim Trail, it all didn't look this good.

Surly at the bench of Tahoe Rim Trail.

Surly Cross Check at Mosquito Lake

The following morning I was to descend into Tahoe City, the main tourist spot on the lake, but before I could make it there the road was closed. It seems that a mountain bike race was taking place, so I popped my bike down and watched some of the race. It was a qualifier for the Leadville 100 and these guys and gals were moving. I watched them at this gravelly corner where some took it with great skill and one guy ate it pretty hard. Then I went to the top of the hill where the MTBers were complaining and utterly torn apart, which was funny when I saw how short the hill actually was, funny how much a "mountain" can take out of a mountain biker. From there I headed into the Main St of Tahoe City, where I overheard about a festival down at Squaw Valley and feeling adventurous headed in that direction. It turned out to be a yoga festival, what an interesting place to find myself. The best news though is that yoga people love vegan food, so I was able to get some great vegan food and great vegan free samples (SO Delicious Ice Cream! yes!). But I could only take so much granola crunching hippies and upper crusties, that I headed back up River Road to town (which River Road is a fast road in either direction, I ended up passing most of the weekend traffic on my way into town), where I had a beer then headed to camp out at DL Bliss State Park.

Caught in a MTB race!

The Truckee River.

The Lake.

DL Bliss was a blast as I was invited to join a fellow Nick who fed me beers, whiskey, and tequilla til 1 in the morning. Apparently the whole campsite was one big group of people, who wandered in and out sharing adventurous stories of mountain lion scares hiking stories and what not, it was pleasant to meet such hospitable people. The following day at DL Bliss I decided to walk some instead of ride, taking the extra night at DL Bliss to avoid Sunday traffic. Hiking along the lake was beauiful, and at first peaceful, until I hit the beach full of loud boats playing loud country music, putting a foul taste in my mouth, so instead I walked back trying to find a quiet place along the way, which was hard to find. Oh well, back to my campsite where I spent the rest of the afternoon reading and having a few beers.

The beers would be a bad idea as my goal of waking up early this morning failed because of a hangover/dehydration. It reminded me of the sickness I had in the Salt Flats of Bolivia a few years ago, I bet the elevation had something to do with it. So today, I'm taking it easy, drinking iced coffees and snacking out in South Lake Tahoe. All in all, Tahoe is a pretty incredible place. I'm already sad to be leaving, but I can't vacation forever, now comes the fun part (the downhill) and the very unfun part (the Central Valley). I'm already planning on what comes next and I'm not even home yet!

Ebbetts Pass Scenic Highway

The day between the Sierras and the East Bay was not a pleasant one; 88 miles, not enough water, not enough food, not enough stretching led to cramping which led to a terrible camp spot right outside of Copperopolis.

This is how I felt after 88 miles in the hot hot valley.

In the morning I grabbed some coffee in Copperopolis which helped regain my energy. That on Highway 4 was not much to write home about either. It was some highway riding up to Angels Camp then a back road up to Murphys. Murphys was a quaint little boutiquey town with a handful of high cuisine. I was tempted, but decided to hold on to my cash and ride on. Using my GPS I found a work around the highway up Sheep Ranch Road. Sheep Ranch Road goes straight up and I mean straight up. I was in my smallest gearing 28 in the front 32 in the rear and I was still pressing hard on the pedals. By the time I had gotten about halfway there I was torn apart and sweating like crazy. I found a quick place to pitch camp and had another rough night on my body. Luckily this time I took the time to cook which would be the major plus for the next day.

The next day would be the most exciting and toughest. I woke up feeling the best I had yet, climbed some more, hopped down the Santo Domingo Trail, which was ill maintained and cost me a front tube at one point (and my pump was busted, oh great). Pumping through over grown thickets I finally popped back out to 4 and climbed up to Avery, where Sheep Ranch Road would have dropped me off, probably not the best cut off, but at least now I know. From Avery, I went back up Sheep Ranch Road to the Arnold Rim Trail. I was following the reverse of the signposts and I think it was noticeable. At first the ride was pleasant, rolling through single track in lush shrubbery, then dropped down to the creek bed, where I cooled my toes for a second. Then from there it was up and up and up. Most of it too steep and rocky to ride, so I ended up pushing and carrying my bike a lot. But the views were well worth the push and when I did get to point my wheels downhill it was exhilirating.

Beginning of the ART.

X-Check ready for dirt.

Idyllic single track.

Panroma at Top of the Rock

Thankfully, no bear sightings for me!

The ART let out right in White Pines Lake, where I'd set up camp for the night. The following day would be a forest road cutoff up to Camp Connell, which from Camp Connell it was all Highway 4, with little traffic. I slowly climbed enjoyably, embracing the stunning views off to the south, looking toward Yosemite valley. I settled in til Alpine Lake, where at the Alpine Lake Lodge I grabbed a snack before setting up camp in the National Forest, another quiet serene campsite.

Coffee on White Pines Lake.

Fast gravelly descent on NF roads.

Looking South over the valley.

Alpine Lake Lodge snack, much needed.

Alpine Lake.

Then the final day was hitting the pass. The climbing was once again anything but tedious, setting into the right gearing and pressing on. The beginning of the day had me building up to Pacific Grade Pass and Mosquito Lake. Over Pacific Grade Pass was a fast flying descent on a single lane highway which dropped out to steep cliffs, it was definitely a death defying road where I hit 46 MPH! Luckily I kept the wheels on the road and made it back into the final climb to Ebbetts Pass. The climbing all day was peaceful and enjoyable and by the time I reached the pass I had the energy to hike up to the summit.

Smaller, but much more peaceful Mosquito Lake up from Alpine Lake.

A cabin on Mosquito Lake, so pretty. Maybe some day I'll have a cabin on a  lake or in the woods or on a mountain.

The road was narrow and beautiful and dropped off to nowhere.

View from the summit.

Highway 4 was a last minute decision but when I saw that there was no commercial traffic and mostly recreation traffic I decided to take it, and I am glad I did. The ART was fun, but probably would have been better going the other way and all the alpine lakes were stunning. It's understandable now how the Sierras have changed so many peoples lives, the beauty and serenity are unmatched. I would highly recommend doing Highway 4, I took my time and still feel like there was more to see.

Black Diamonds Mines Regional Preserve

Everything felt like it was holding me back from tour. The night before I was originally supposed to leave, I got called into work. Then I spent all day waiting for my camp stove to arrive from Camp Mendocino, which would never arrive. As 5 o'clock rolled around and I got the official word that my stove did not come back, I mustered up my energy to get going. My month turned into a mere 2.5 weeks, but a short tour is better than no tour.

Jim's Place, maybe a cozy place to live. Probably not.

The sun going down over the Oakland/Berkeley Hills.

Ridges lit up by the setting sun.

After the Delta, I realized that there was more to see at Black Diamonds Mines Regional Preserve and that it would be worth while to head back, plus they had a backpacker campsite, so that's where I pointed my wheels. The six miles through Concord and Clayton was about as enjoyable as it usually is (harrowing traffic and lots of road rage), but once I was back on the dirt, the sun was arching it's way downward and my mind relaxed. The stress of camp stoves, work, rent, money, everything just melted away. I powered up the hills, and rocketed right back down them. I hit up the sweet scenes in the park and made it to the Backpacker site just as the sun settled in for the night. A tasty meal and a comfortable camp and I rested real easy on my first night out, looking at the black sky, listening to the coyotes yip and the owls hoot.

The sky was brilliant colors in the park.

The campsite. I had a weird dream about someone shining a bright flashlight on me at 3AM, but all was good otherwise.

The morning, I was up early. Behind camp was an overlook, so I left my gear and climbed up before the sun was hardly peaking over the hills. This park is so photogenic I couldn't help but keep snapping photos of long stretches of brown rolling hills. A quick enlivening decent and I loaded back up to hit the dirt roads once more. The fire roads stretched out to backroads stretched out to closed roads, and then eventually I was back in with traffic.

The sun was hot even early.

Diablo always makes it's presence known.

The valley out to the burbs out to the Bay.

I down know if this stuff was more fun going up or down. Ouch.

Prospector's Tunnel, you could walk about 200' into the tunnel.

I was amazed as this flower was reaching out onto the road how no cars destroyed it.

Then I realized the road was closed to vehicular traffic.

If only every day of tour could be like these first two. It would have been the ultimate overnighter trip, but my directions were onward from there and the rest of the day would not shape up as well (details to come later). Black Diamonds Mines Regional Preserve is definitely going to become a regular spot for me now, for day rides, overnighters, what have you. This park is a serene setting to photograph, mountain bike, hike, or just get away.