Solo Bikepacking to Salida, Colorado on a Budget - My Experience + Bikepacker Tips

Описание: Join me as I pedal across Colorado’s rugged mountain passes on a budget — from the wide-open plains to the pine-covered slopes leading to Salida. In this episode, I share my experience bike-packing through the Rockies, including tips on how time town stops to save money as well as advice to safely navigate thunderstorms while climbing mountain passes in the afternoon.

Along the way, I meet kind strangers, dodge hailstorms, and navigate a building thunderstorm on my climb up Marshall Pass (10,842 ft).

🏕️ Key Moments & Bike-packing Tips:

⛰️ Budget strategy — skip expensive ski-resort towns by passing through mid-day and sleeping at cheap or free campsites in or around public lands.
🌲 Safety tip — know where the treeline ends on your mountain pass climbs, and minimize time spent above the treeline on summer afternoons.
🚴‍♂️ Cow gate advice — walk your bike across them on slow climbs to avoid mishaps
💧 Generosity on the road — stories of strangers offering water and encouragement
🔥 Camp life — $15 campground with showers, laundry, and stories from fellow bikers
🍔 Reward — finally reaching Salida for a well-earned burger!

📍 Route:

Cochetopa Pass → Highway 50 → Sergeants → Marshall Pass → Salida, CO
Approx. 70 miles of mixed pavement and gravel, stunning views, and unpredictable weather.

🧭 What's in Store?

How to plan a bike-packing trip through mountain terrain

Tips for budget travel and finding cheap or free camping spots

How to read mountain weather and handle storms safely

Why bike-packing Northbound on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route feels totally different from Southbound