As dawn broke, so began the exhilarating journey of my first bikepacking trip. Nerves had danced in my stomach leading up to the trip, , but I woke up with a refreshed mindset, ready to embrace what came my way. I met up with my enthusiastic coworker, Zach, at the office to triple check our gear and ensure we were fully equipped for the adventure. Spoiler alert: we soon discovered we’d overlooked a couple of essentials—classic rookie mistakes!
Fueled by anticipation, I was thrilled to have Zach along to immortalize each moment of the adventure as he photographed it for this blog and to have him there as a sage guide bringing experience and prior knowledge of the area we were riding. While I’ve grown up around bikes and done my fair share of riding, I’ve never called myself a cyclist. The thought of tackling 20 miles of fire roads and singletrack, with a fully loaded bike, on day one, loomed large. I couldn’t shake the concern that my legs might not keep up. Yet, I was determined to approach the challenge with optimism and give it my all. This was destined to be an unforgettable experience, and I was ready to embrace every pedal stroke! After loading our bikes into his truck, we set off toward Sisters, a quick 20-minute drive from Bend, our launch pad for this adventure. I was ready to dive in!
As we transitioned into the next five miles, the trails narrowed from duff covered roads, to overgrown double track, and onto singletrack. The trail lead us through lush thickets and sun-dappled clearings. I started to meld with the bike, feeling in tune with it, understanding the balance of the load I had on the bike. But I was accompanied by a hint of fatigue, I tried to find my place on the saddle. I tried out two different seat heights, took as many water breaks as needed and allowed my joints and muscles to warm up and stretch into the rhythm.
We continued the climb, cruised by Zimmerman Butte and made our way up and around Black Butte, a series of switchback climbs we did a company work party on a few years back. By the time we hit the ten mile mark the rain began to fall. It started out a soft drizzle but that quickly turned into heavier drops which turned the central Oregon cinder trails slick and treacherous. Luckily we both kept our bikes rubber side down but there were some close calls, and a few moments where I was struggling for traction. We navigated the trail carefully, the slick surface testing us as Zach expertly guided us through the challenging (for me) terrain.
It wasn’t all bad though, the vibes remained high and the trail led to us shouting out “woo-hoos” here and there. As we left Black Butte behind, we got down the trail and continued pointing our bikes toward Camp Sherman. Our next trail was singletrack that is also used as a horse trail so it was a bit of a bumpy ride.
We made a pit stop in Camp Sherman to take a break from the rain, fuel up on snacks, and buy a couple of Gatorades but it turns out that the rain affected them too as it had messed up their card reader somehow and it wasn’t working. Note for next trip; always bring a little cash.. Lucky for us, and my knowledge from camping a lot in Camp Sherman over summer, I knew there was a Hola nearby (a local Mexican restaurant). We stopped in to grab burritos and dry off a little before heading to our dispersed camping spot just outside of the area.
The evening air was cool, and we were thankful for a break in the rain as we set up our tents. We caught up about the day and laughed at ourselves for not bringing any fun supplies for camp; cards, beers, etc. We had the space on our racks after all. By 7:30 PM, we both laid down, the weight of the day catching up to us. I usually don’t fall asleep early but I couldn’t help but surrender to the sleepiness by 9 PM, with dreams and reflections of the ride dancing in my mind.
The night was marked by a damp chill, and I found myself tossing and turning, awakening every couple of hours to the loud whispers of the forest and some pretty decent body aches. Morning arrived, cloaked in a shroud of dew—a classic Pacific Northwest scene. Everything glistened under the muted light, the world around us alive but silent. That’s one of the benefits of dispersed camping, you’re not likely to have any neighbors around. Just crickets, a frog or two calling in the distance, and the critters nearby awaking alongside you.
We quickly packed up camp and pedaled over to Suttle Lodge, opting for a full, hot breakfast since we missed a key item in our packing – a lighter. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee calling our names. The warmth of the lodge contrasted the cool morning air and slightly frozen hands as we sipped our drinks, steam rising from our mugs like a fog. As we finished our breakfast sandwiches we weighed our options for the rest of the journey. My legs, weary from the previous miles, and as a new cyclist not prepared for a quick recovery, were already answering for me. I knew I had given my all yesterday, completing over half of the planned loop. My mental resolve shook alongside my legs. I went back and forth multiple times. I tried to really focus on my state of being. Not just surface level but on my body and mind. Did I want to give up? No. Did I want to push myself too hard and risk injury? Also no.
After some long contemplation and some brutal honesty with myself and how my body was feeling I made the final call. Phoning in a rescue pick-up felt bittersweet, but as Zach’s wife Molly arrived and held onto a swell of pride for what I had accomplished.
The ride may have been cut short, but the experience, the camaraderie, and the stunning landscapes were treasures I will carry with me. The goal of this ride was to test my gear, to test my setup, and I found that I am a part of that. I’ll make some tweaks to my gear, create a better checklist so I remember to bring a lighter, some fun camp games or cards, and more rain gear. I’ll also remember to prepare myself. Ride one is done but now the training begins for number two!
In the heart of the Pacific Northwest, amidst the trails and the rain, I found a sense of achievement I hadn’t expected. This was my first bikepacking trip and it certainly set the bar high, but it also gave me some notes for next time. Like maybe a shorter mileage per day so that I can make it through the whole trip and remember to pack a Bic lighter.
GEAR RUNDOWN
Seeker Gravel Bike
OMM Divide Rack
OMM Ponderosa Panniers
OMM Axle Pack
OMM Hemlock bags and FLIP Cages (Launching early 2025)
Road Runner Half Wedge Frame Bag
Six Moons Lunar Solo Tent
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