> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.novacontext.ai/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Nederland Take 2 - A Solo Bikepacking Adventure - URL: https://www.novacontext.ai/nederland-take-2-a-solo-bikepacking-adventure/ - Published: 2026-10-11T13:57:24.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-11T13:57:24.000Z - Author: Julie Starr - Tags: adventure, bikepacking, camping, mountainbiking, Colorado, personal growth There is a particular kind of excitement I feel when a bikepacking trip is approaching. I start thinking about the ride, the landscape, the campsite, and the feeling of carrying everything I need on my bike. Even the preparation has become part of the experience, although packing still takes longer than I think it should. I have my gear organized, so that isn’t really the problem. On this trip, the challenge was that I couldn’t simply pack the bike at home and ride away. I needed to load some things into the bags, drive to the overnight parking area in Nederland, and then make the final decisions about what belonged in my backpack and what should be secured to the bike. It was a slightly confusing process, but eventually everything found its place. Once the bike was loaded and I started riding, the preparation was behind me, and the adventure could begin. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/a6/afa691c7-589c-43a4-bf34-f4ad2f26a216/content/images/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-11-at-7.48.05---AM.png) ## Returning With More Confidence The beginning of the route felt familiar because I had ridden it during my June bikepacking trip. Knowing where I was going made an enormous difference. Instead of wondering whether I was on the correct road, I could relax, settle into the ride, and enjoy being outside. My hydration plan also worked well. I drank from a bottle on the bike and carried the water I would need for camp and the following morning in my USWE hydration bladder. The bike was heavier because I was riding my full-suspension bike and carrying overnight gear, but the extra weight didn’t bother me as much as I thought it might. The fall scenery was beautiful. The trees were changing color, the day was warm, and a cool breeze moved through the landscape. I stopped several times to take photographs and video because there was so much I wanted to remember. When I reached the intersection with the Switzerland Trail, I had both my Garmin route and cue sheet ready. This time, I went the correct way!! And that felt particularly satisfying after my navigation experience in June. I had expected this section of the Switzerland Trail to be relatively smooth and relaxed. Instead, portions were rocky and sandy, and the route required more effort than I anticipated. There is also a fair amount of climbing before reaching Highway 72 near the dispersed camping area. The climbing wasn’t especially difficult, but this wasn’t a completely leisurely ride, either. There were some fun descents along the way, although a loaded bike encourages a little more restraint than an unloaded one. I wasn’t exactly bombing down the trail with all my camping gear attached. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/a6/afa691c7-589c-43a4-bf34-f4ad2f26a216/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1003.jpg) ## Finding a Place to Camp Once I reached Highway 72, I knew where to turn and begin looking for a campsite. I passed the site where I had camped in June and quietly said hello to it before continuing farther into the dispersed camping area. Campsite 11 looked inviting, but someone had already pitched a tent there. I continued exploring until I found campsite 8, a large site with enough room to set up my tent beneath the trees. Normally, I like having my bike immediately beside my tent. This time, I parked it farther away because I was thinking about possible Skratch residue and food remnants in my snack pack. Since I was camping in bear country, I didn’t want anything potentially scented close to where I would be sleeping. I attached a bear bell to the bike in case anyone tried to move it during the night. Nobody did, but hearing the bell would at least have alerted me if someone—or something—had disturbed it. ## Creating Order Without a Picnic Table I was especially pleased with how I organized my campsite. Primitive camping doesn’t provide picnic tables or other convenient surfaces, so I used my Ursack as a clean place to arrange things while I ate and sorted my gear. Before bed, I placed all my scented items into OPSak bags and put those inside the Ursack. I initially tried securing the bag near the base of a tree, but I wasn’t confident that I had done it correctly. Instead, I decided to attempt a bear hang. For a first attempt, with limited tree options and darkness approaching, it went reasonably well. I got the bag off the ground and tied it securely, although it remained closer to the tree trunk than it ideally should have been. I also wasn’t completely confident in how I secured the rope around the trunk. It worked for the night, but I came away knowing that I want to improve my technique. I also want to become more comfortable using the manufacturer’s recommended method of securing the Ursack directly to a tree. My water setup worked well, too. I filled the entire USWE bladder and used that water throughout the evening and the following morning. It was enough, although I would have preferred a little extra because I like drinking water during the night. I kept the bladder in the tent vestibule, where it remained accessible without taking up space inside the tent. By the time I finished setting up, I felt genuinely good about how I had handled everything. My tent was pitched, my gear was organized, my food was stored away from camp, and I was ready for what I expected would be a peaceful evening. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/a6/afa691c7-589c-43a4-bf34-f4ad2f26a216/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1008.jpg) ## When Solitude Gets Company The peaceful part didn’t unfold quite as planned. Three carloads of younger women arrived and established themselves at a nearby campsite. The dispersed sites aren’t especially close together, but sound carries—and these campers were remarkably loud. Their voices continued until approximately 10:00 or 10:30 that night. I had fallen asleep around my normal bedtime of 8:30, but the noise woke me repeatedly. I considered walking over and asking them to quiet down. Then I thought about the fact that there were three carloads of them, while there was one of me and my only transportation was a bike. I also reasoned that people who were inclined to be considerate probably wouldn’t be making that much noise at that hour in the first place. I decided not to approach them. Eventually, the campground quieted enough for me to fall asleep again. Then, sometime around 12:30 or 1:00 in the morning, a car pulled directly into my campsite. I woke immediately, grabbed my headlamp, unzipped the tent, and walked outside. I don’t think the driver expected anyone to emerge from the darkness, and I may have startled him. I asked whether they were looking for a place to camp. When he said yes, I replied, “Well, are you loud? Because those people next door were really loud.” He seemed confused and asked why I was concerned, so I explained that I was already camping there. He looked around and asked, “Where are you?” Then he noticed my tent and realized that its color blended into the surroundings. Without a vehicle parked at the site, he genuinely hadn’t seen me. He apologized, and I told him that he and his girlfriend were welcome to share the campsite if they could be quiet. We talked for a few minutes, and they were both very nice. Ultimately, they decided to continue looking for another site. Unfortunately, I was now fully awake. I lay in my tent listening to the wind, which was actually quite beautiful, until sometime around 3:00 in the morning. There was nothing to do but rest, listen, and wait for sleep to return. Eventually, it did, and I think I had some good dreams before morning. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/a6/afa691c7-589c-43a4-bf34-f4ad2f26a216/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1013.jpg) ## Waking Up in the Mountains Morning arrived with sunlight filtering through the trees. It was chilly, but not unbearably cold, and I had remained comfortable for most of the night. I don’t know exactly how low the temperature dropped, although I would guess it reached the upper 40s or low 50s. My Patagonia puffy jacket and hat kept my upper body warm, but my legs became cold during the early morning hours. That experience showed me that my Icebreaker 200-weight merino wool base layers are near their limit at those temperatures. Because I want to continue bikepacking into colder months, I decided to invest in the 260-weight Icebreaker top and bottoms. The new set is Midnight Navy, while my existing layers are black, so I’ll be able to distinguish between the two weights easily. The purchase was almost $300, which was more than I wanted to spend right now. Still, warmer clothing feels like a worthwhile investment if it allows me to remain comfortable and continue camping as the temperatures fall. After waking, I practiced Transcendental Meditation and then walked over to retrieve my bear bag. Everything was exactly where I had left it, and I hadn’t heard any concerning wildlife during the night. The animals I encountered were considerably less dramatic than a bear. I met a dog named Murphy, who belonged to another camper named Arthur, and watched a very curious baby chipmunk investigate my tent while I ate breakfast. Fortunately, I had zipped the door closed, because I suspect the chipmunk might otherwise have invited himself inside. I heard a few crows, too, and later saw two deer along the road. That was the extent of the wildlife—unless the noisy neighboring campers count. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/a6/afa691c7-589c-43a4-bf34-f4ad2f26a216/content/images/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-11-at-7.55.50---AM.png) ## The Satisfaction of Packing Up I made coffee, ate breakfast, and began breaking down camp. Surprisingly, I enjoy this part of bikepacking as well. There is something satisfying about taking a temporary home apart, organizing each item, returning everything to its proper bag, and preparing the bike for the next part of the journey. Once everything was packed, I rode back toward the overnight parking area in Nederland. There was a little climbing, but the return trip was predominantly downhill and took approximately 30 minutes. It was a quick ride back to the car, but it gave me time to reflect on how different this trip felt from my June overnight. I was returning to familiar terrain, but I was also returning with more knowledge, better systems, and greater confidence. ## What This Trip Taught Me Driving to a trailhead adds complexity to packing, and I want to continue refining that process. Ideally, I’d like to make more decisions at home so that I’m not standing beside the car reorganizing bags and wondering where everything should go. My navigation system worked extremely well. Using both the Garmin route and a cue sheet helped me feel prepared, and correctly navigating the Switzerland Trail was a satisfying marker of progress. I also have a more realistic understanding of the route. The ride toward Highway 72 includes more climbing and rough terrain than I initially expected. It is enjoyable, beautiful, and manageable, but it isn’t necessarily an easy ride when the bike is carrying overnight gear. The hydration strategy was successful, and the USWE bladder gave me enough water for camp and the return ride. Next time, if conditions allow, I may carry a little more so I can drink as much as I want during the night. I was pleased with my campsite organization and how comfortably I operated without a table or other amenities. My food-storage system worked for the night, but the bear hang remains an area where I want more skill and confidence. My sleeping system was comfortable, and the greatest disruption came from people rather than weather or wildlife. The chilly early-morning hours also helped me identify the temperature range of my current base layers and make a deliberate choice about what I need for colder trips. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/a6/afa691c7-589c-43a4-bf34-f4ad2f26a216/content/images/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-11-at-7.55.07---AM.png) ## Becoming More Comfortable Out There What stays with me most is how much I enjoyed the entire experience. I now genuinely look forward to bikepacking trips, and I feel excited when another adventure begins approaching. Packing still requires patience, and not everything unfolds perfectly. Routes can be rougher than expected, neighboring campers can be loud, and unexpected visitors can pull into a campsite in the middle of the night. Yet none of those things diminished the larger experience of riding through fall colors, managing my own camp, waking beneath the trees, and traveling with everything I needed on my bike. Returning to an area I had visited in June made my progress especially visible. I recognized the route, navigated the Switzerland Trail correctly, organized my campsite more confidently, and felt increasingly capable on my own. Each trip teaches me something practical about gear, navigation, food storage, water, warmth, and preparation. More importantly, each one strengthens my trust in myself. I came home tired and pleased, already looking forward to wherever I might ride next.