Search activities
Bikepacking Session #3 - Benchmark ride

Field trip: Basic Bikepacking Course

Bikepacking Session #3 - Benchmark ride - Snoqualmie Valley Trail

This is a fun out and back ride of approximately 20 miles on an easy gravel route designed not only to assess bike worthiness for gravel conditions, but a chance to socialize with other students and leaders.

Contacts

Garth Lien
Garth Lien
Primary Leader
  • Bikepacking Gravel I
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 20.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 700 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 500 ft
  • Pace: 5-10 mph
  • 7 (7 capacity)
  • FULL (3 capacity)
  • Wed, Dec 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
  • Sat, Apr 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM
  • Cancellation & Refund Policy
  • iCal Google

(Click on [MORE...] to view the whole description.)

Bikepacking Course students are required to sign up for ONE benchmark ride. This is a fun out and back ride of approximately 20 miles on an easy gravel route designed not only to assess bike worthiness for gravel conditions, but a chance to socialize with other students and leaders. It will be at a pace that is comfortable for the entire group. Bicycles will NOT be loaded with overnight bikepacking gear. All rides follow the same route and length.

3 main goals for this ride:

  • Besides meeting again some of your fellow participants, you will gain some familiarity with the format of Mountaineers outings, if you're new (or rusty) to our club.
  • It will allow you to gauge your personal "gravel fitness": riding an off-road bike, on fairly rugged terrain, presents different challenges from riding a road bike, and for some of you it will be the first time you venture on wheels in more challenging conditions: il will be nice to do this in low-stress conditions. This "benchmark" will give you a starting point to gauge how well prepared you are for the upcoming rides that are part of the course (a one-day "shake-down" ride with loaded bikes where we practice setting up/breaking down camp and go riding for a couple hours on a gravel road with your fully loaded bike, and the overnighter where you actually confirm that you can effectively carry all you need on your bike to spend a comfortable night in the great outdoors.)
  • And it will allow us to give you some feedback "in the field" on your gravel bike and maybe on the physical fitness required to tackle the upcoming rides. Before the ride, we will provide you with some practical pointers on riding a bike off-road, and we'll be on hand to answer your questions during the ride.

You can view the track on RideWithGPS.

More information will be shared by leaders nearer the time regarding weather, 10 essentials and snacks etc for this fun day ride. 

Nick Loutsis Park in Carnation, WA.

Pedals up at 10:00 AM, trail talk at 9:45 AM. Make sure to leave plenty buffer time to set up your bike and prepare you and your bike for the ride.

Route/Place

Snoqualmie Valley Trail

Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

  • Gravel Riding Bike in excellent riding condition
  • Helmet, Biking Gloves, & Eye Protection
  • Bike Toolkit, Spare Parts, Tire Repair Kit, & Pump
  • Water, Energy Snacks, and Lunch. Depending on the pace we set, you might need lunch on this trip. With a gentler pace and stopping for pictures at trestles, we could finish at 2:00.
  • 10 essentials
Trip Reports