I got a text a few days after Hurricane Helene swept through the Eastern US causing catastrophic destruction, specifically in Western NC, our backyard. “Know anyone that can donate old climbing rope, carabiners, or harnesses … they’re rope-bridging people out and need more supplies”. People up and down the east coast had started to mobilize and Human Powered Movement would take a leading role to help our neighbors in need.

Exactly one year ago, I had just completed a 650+ mile solo bikepacking trip through a hurricane from Charlotte, NC to my hometown of Montoursville, PA. Reactions to that adventure from the HPM community varied. Many were inspired to knock out their own multi-day beatdowns while others responded along the lines of “Yeah, I could never do that”. This Journal and Short Film aim to address the latter and provide inspiration to get you started on your own adventure, in your own way. Join me as I take my boys, ages 5 and 7, on their first bikepacking trip … in our backyard.

(For the record: Yes, you 100% can do more than you think. Stop making excuses, set a goal, and work feverishly to achieve it!)

There’s a lot of chatter on cycling specific webpages, bike shop banter, trailhead discussions and wandering daydreams about bikepacking but what exactly is it? Wikipedia has a few entries, but the tried-and-true Merriam Webster Dictionary hasn’t even recognized this term in its lexicon yet. We’ll peel back the layers on this bikepacking thing and share tips on how you can get started but know that this sport is simply another amazing way to get outside and move from point A to point B in a new way.

Author: Adam Bratton
Read Time: 4 mins

As of this Journal Entry, we’re just over halfway through the #FindYourSummit elevation challenge. It’s been invigorating to watch people from around the world participate in this monthlong elevation challenge in collaboration with Summit Coffee. Watching everyone stack up vert left and right brings brought back fond memories of a visit to one of our goal summits … Haleakalā. Bombing down 10,000+ ft from the top of a dormant volcano was certainly one of the most amazing cycling experiences of my life.