Curious about some comments I've read where people are recommending ditching the backpack and carrying everything on the bike. Maybe I'm just not minimalist enough, but that seems nearly impossible with any level of comfort. Having the backpack on all day kind of sucks, but without it I'd be hard-pressed to pack everything I need into the bags I'm rocking.

Using a Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock (1.7DL), no sleeping pad, Jacks R Better Top Quilt, and my lightweight camping gear. I'll continue to do my homework, but I'm going to keep using the backpack until I figure out how to minimize my kit to that point. It's mildly cumbersome and makes my center of gravity too high but affords me a great deal of extra space.

What say you proponents of the pack and minimalists?

Just moved back to CO and have realized how much I love it here and missed the front range. Trying to ride daily to get the fitness up, but the altitude and climbing out here still kick my butt. I'm interested in getting out there, and would like to find someone with similar fitness situation/level of experience. I have lots of gear and am pretty easy to be around. Thinking about heading up to Vedauwoo in SE Wyo next weekend. Let me know if anyone wants to get out there. Cheers!

Director of Engineering & Design for a small Ornamental Railings company. Lots of freedom, great money, but it consumes me as I also oversee project management. Ready for a change - interviewing with four firms in Denver this coming week... Wish me luck. I'd love to make a change to a more balanced career and have time to bike more.

BTW - I found this super cool site to put the gpx files into... rather than browsing through my wonky GPS device: http://www.mygpsfiles.com/app/

So - is this loop easier to climb one way versus the other? Looks like exactly what I was hoping for! Probably make it a 3 night, 4 day adventure, just to get my feet wet. Fun!

Good stuff man, thanks! I'll check out the maps... This coming weekend is all mine, so if the weather's half-decent I'll be up there. I'll be sure to report back.... Thanks again.

Craig - don't have anything scheduled, but welcome you to come up and ride. I'm not a terribly strong rider, so probably 10-20 miles a day, max. Depends on the climbing, honestly.

Dgjessee - Thanks! I'd love to find some good fire roads to start with and work my way up to riding mixed terrain and singletrack. Ideal trip would be 3 days or so, mileage isn't so important to me. I just want to get out there and explore. Any help is much appreciated!

I just donated to MAG. Thanks for making us aware of this effort, and best of luck with the trip. Looking forward to following your site as well.

Also - if you'd like my help, I can assist you with editing the text on your site. Let me know - I'm happy to help. rme3@hotmail.com

Very cool!

Man, that's a beautiful place! Look out for unexploded land mines and other ordnance.

Very intrigued by this thread, but then clicking on your blog - are you back home? Looks like you rode the Himalayas? Still epic - I'll be reading your blog this evening. Hope you get to ride the AK - AR thing. That's beyond epic. What would that be, 6k miles?

Hi guys - I'm Rob from Wyoming, living in Georgia. Spent a few years in Denver, riding the local trails, and now I'm near Chicopee Woods. Trying to find people that are into bikepacking 'round here, so hit me up if you live nearby. So far in the few years I've been here, there are either hardcore race-type bikers, or backpackers. I'm not quite fit enough for TNGA, but want to ride and get out more.

Currently riding an Ogre with panniers and a handlebar bag, but high hopes for transforming this bike into a flat-bar, frame bag, Viscacha bag rig. Love my Warbonnet hammock and down quilts. Going to milk the winter for all she's worth this year. Nice to meet you all!

I've found the TNGA route, which seems like a viable option in sections, but also seems like a really intense-terrain experience. Hoping to find some fire roads in the NF up in the north GA mountains, and maybe some local yokels to ride with. Anyone?

Riding an Ogre with panniers, but working on the kit.

Thanks mate - looks like the brand-specific bags aren't sold direct by RD and therefore weren't part of the sale. Ah well.

Good stuff, Don. I'm in North GA m'self, and looking for bikepack-able terrain. Nowhere near enough fitness level to tackle the entire TNGA, but maybe in small sections to start...

Do you guys know if this is taking place through their distributors? I have been checking out www.bikebagshop.com and the Adventure Cycling page and neither seem to acknowledge the sale. I'd love to hook up a new frame bag for the ol' Ogre... Thanks for any info...