AVAILABLE IN 2024!
Bikepacking Experience Overview
This is 50+ miles of backpacking style travel on bikes, “bikepacking”. With five days of travel, all gear and food for the week is carried on the bikes. Trails will include a mixture of singletrack, Doubletrack and a small amount of gravel or paved road. Most of the trails are easy to intermediate in difficulty with some optional expert routes and sections. Vertical climbs are mostly 600’ or less with two challenging climbs of around 1000 vertical feet.
Stops along the way, such as the town of Thurmond, provide an opportunity to delve into the exciting history of the New River Gorge. Thurmond, was once an extremely prosperous town and the hub of activity in the New River Gorge. While you can still arrive to or depart from the train station, the town itself is relatively untouched by modern development and is mostly a ghost town museum to bygone days.
Scouts who complete the trip will be eligible for the 50-miler award.
Program Details
Deep in the Appalachian Mountains, the rugged beauty of the New River Gorge has long been a symbol of American ingenuity and sheer determination for the people who have worked this land. Get the feeling of exploration through backpacking combined with the freedom and exhilaration of mountain biking for an adventure like none other. Bring history alive as you roll through the Gorge seeking out ghost towns, hidden ruins, and abandoned coal mines. Experience a seven-day/six-night “bikepacking” adventure from the Summit Bechtel Reserve through the New River Gorge to the historical town of Fayetteville, WV connecting scenic old roads and purpose-built flowy singletrack.
Eligibility
Registered Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers who are at least 14 years old; and their registered leaders.
Skill Level
Participants should already know how to ride a bike and be comfortable riding 10-15 miles off-road daily.