Finger Lakes Loop (my first successful trip) – 2 nights

Few days ago I got to finally do my first bikepacking adventure. Starting in Rochester, I made my way around Seneca Lake and camped at the Finger Lakes National Forest. I then hopped from state forest to state forest for that oh-so-sweet gravel, but the ascents absolutely killed me. I found myself walking my bike uphill in the full summer sun for most of the day. I stealth camped in a nature reserve and on the early morning of the final day made the largest ascent of the trip to a beautiful viewpoint and coasted almost the entire way home. But I ended up getting a flat just a couple miles from home and apparently did not pack the wrench I needed to fix it! So after a few miles of walking/riding on the flat a strange picked me up and brought me the rest of the way home.

I definitely learned a lot from this trip. Campsites need to be planned out better, right tools packed, elevation change considered, and fit needs to be checked again because my hand was going numb. But man, I was living.