First bikepacking trip

I finally got out this weekend for a trip with a rockhopper I have spent the past several months building into a bikepacking rig. I kept it shot at about 4 miles one way so that I could walk out easily in the event of any catastrophic bike failures. I also brought the dog with me and she had a great time chasing after me as we went down the trail.

The spot I went to is the Essex chain lakes complex in the Adirondacks. It’s a fairly new land acquisition in the last ten years or so. It has a number of old double tracks that are open for biking and a lean to on third lake you can stay at. We parked at the deer pond access, which is at the end of a somewhat rocky and pot holed dirt road.

Weather was beautiful with highs in the low 70s and lows in the 40s. There were a couple of trees that had been cleared and pulled to the side of the road that I was able to carry to camp and cut up for fire wood. Overall, it seems like a good flat area to bike into. The lakes are very weedy and would be difficult to fish, at least the areas I saw. The wildlife was spectacular, with lots of loons on the water at dusk and owls at night.