Adventures in Bikepacking with 20 High Schoolers-Day 1-Part 1

What we have been working toward all year with the Avanti and Envision students has finally arrived! The epic bikepacking adventure! Last year I was doing the Ochoco Overlander, so I couldn’t go. This year’s adventure is the Olympic Bridges Overnighter, a 38 mile loop over the high steel bridge to Brown Creek Campground, then back around to the Vance Creek Trestle parking area. 

Me and the Envision guys ready for them to load their bikes in the van

Ingrid and I were tasked with driving to Brown Creek to snag a few campsites, then we would ride the 8 mile shortcut to the Trestle parking area. We got there before the kids, so we rode out to the trestle. 

Ingrid at the trestle 

The crew had arrived when we made it back to the parking area. They were actually earlier than planned! Bikes were quickly unloaded, bags were put on, and soon we were off!

Pre-ride speechifying 

Of course, with a group this size, there are bound to be a few mechanical issues, and there were, but nothing too bad. Our first big break was at the High Steel Bridge. 

Xavric and Henry

Jak

Me and Flora, who happened to be riding a single speed converted from a fixie with 25mm tires!!!

Nikki and Rowan taking it easy across the bridge

Dunia 

Kingston

Colton and Marcello

Gabe (and the trailer he was pulling

After the bridge, the gravel was a bit thicker, and it was a bit downhill. A couple of kids got up a bit too much speed, and ended up wiping out. Bandaids were applied, and the continued on. 

Top of another climb

We made it to the turn to go down to Lake Cushman and our lunch stop. We were about 9 miles in. As suspected, with the warm weather, some were running out of water. I brought my filter, and several bottles were refilled, then refilled again. Josh, Jenna’s partner, gave an interesting talk about the history of the area, and of the indigenous people that were from this area. Lake Cushman was formed by damming the Skokomish River. 

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Day 1…