{"id":4011,"date":"2014-07-06T04:29:07","date_gmt":"2014-07-06T04:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gonesouthblog.com\/?p=4011"},"modified":"2014-07-06T04:29:07","modified_gmt":"2014-07-06T04:29:07","slug":"prep-and-packing-for-idaho","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rideeatcamp.local\/prep-and-packing-for-idaho\/","title":{"rendered":"Prep and Packing for Idaho"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After a two-year hiatus, we’ve finally managed to scheme up a new, extended bicycle tour. In 2012, we had a fantastic time cycling along a portion of Adventure Cycling’s Great Divide Mountain Bike Route<\/a> (GDMBR) from Banff, Canada, to Whitefish, Montana. Touring off-road was a completely different experience. Instead of hugging a white line along a highway with the sound and smell of motor vehicles whizzing by, we were hogging forest service roads with the sound and smell of the wind through pine trees. Needless to say we wanted more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

So when Adventure Cycling produced a new off-road route in Idaho<\/a>, it didn’t take much thought to know where we’d be touring next. All I had to do was mention Carrie’s favorite phrase, hot springs<\/em>, and the decision was made. It took an all out effort from my wrinkled body to pull Carrie out of the Blue Lagoon<\/a> during our 2008 Iceland adventure<\/a>. With over 50 hot springs along this new route, we may end up spending more hours soaking than cycling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With three weeks allotted to make the 500-mile counter-clockwise loop, we feel that we should have plenty of time to avoid putting in big miles every day. Unlike many folks in the bikepacking world, we’re not out to make this an epic<\/em> adventure of stamina and grit. You won’t be catching us passed out in bivy bags by the side of the trail with uneaten pizza and gummy bears oozing from our mouths. You may however catch us eating pizza and gummy bears just before plunging into our third natural hot spring of the day. While those who race this route (it’s bound to happen soon) may complete the loop in about four days, we’ll be content with a 17-day pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s not to say that the Idaho Hot Springs route will be a walk in the park. Off-road touring, as we found out on the GDMBR, requires more preparation and planning. We’ll need to review how to properly hang food to keep it away from bears<\/a>. We’ll need to plan out our potential resupply locations so we don’t run out of food. We’ll also need to plan what clothes and equipment to bring and how best to carry it on our bikes and bodies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By nature, I’m not a planner. I like to go with the flow and see what happens as each day progresses. When it comes to bicycle tours however, I love to analyze every aspect of the trip. More specifically, I love to analyze and optimize my gear selection. Yes, I admit, I’m one of those<\/em> guys. The gear nerd. The guy who knows the weights of every article of his clothing. The guy who you may think enjoys thinking about gear more than absorbing the experience of the trip. But in defense of myself, and in defense of all the gear nerds out there, I feel that the better my gear is optimized for the trip the more likely I will enjoy said trip, as my little bundle of stuff is perfectly suited to the task at hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So without further ado, I’m going to break down what I’ll be packing for this trip. Warning. Please stop reading this post now if you could care less about pack lists. We’re about to reach peak geek here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clothing Worn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Based on weather reports, the parts of Idaho we’ll be visiting seem to have a high desert climate: hot during the day and cool to cold at night, with a potential for random thunderstorms. This is great cycling weather, as minimal clothes are required to be comfortable on and off the bike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n