Interested in winter bike camping but not sure where to start?
The Fairbanks Cycle Club will be offering an Introduction to Winter Cabin Trip. This trip is geared toward fairly self-sufficient people who want to go winter bikepacking but have never ventured out on an overnight trip to one of our local cabins.
Preparations
This trip does not currently have a classroom session. When you sign up, you will receive a gear list which outlines essential and non-essential gear. For those who need to buy equipment, the list will include local shops that carry bikepacking gear. Participants will also get the contact information for the trip leaders for questions. If some one-on-one time is needed, the trip leaders will figure that out.
Participants will be expected to participate in at least two FCC winter bike rides. On at least one of the rides, the participant will need to ride with their bike fully loaded with gear. Going fully loaded on more rides is encouraged. The more you learn how to load and unload your bike, and how to deal with a loaded bike in snow, the easier the cabin trip will be. To find out what winter rides the FCC is offering see the Winter Rides PAGE. (Note: Rides by other groups are listed on this page, but participants must go on official FCC rides.)
Requirements
All trip participants must be members of the Fairbanks Cycle Club. (One-day memberships not accepted for this.)
Cost for the gear list, advice from trip leaders, and cabin trip is $15. (This helps pay for the cabin rental.) The participants will need to purchase their own gear, although some items may be available to borrow, if needed.
Sign up HERE.
The Trip
Experienced FCC winter bikepackers will lead an overnight group trip to a cabin in the White Mountains in mid to late March or possibly early April. Number of participants on the trips will be limited based on maximum cabin occupancy (typically 6 people). The cabin will be chosen later, but the trip length will be between 12 and 20 miles each way. Participants will bring all their own gear, including food, cook kits, and sleeping gear.
Trip leaders:
Erica Betts: Erica has been enjoying winter bikepacking in Alaska for over 10 years.
Jenny Campbell: Jenny has completed several “long” bikepacking trips, winter and summer. She has bikepacked the 2,700-mile Western Wildlands bikepacking route in the western United States.