For my upstate New York trip I had gotten some experience with bikepacking, and had a few ideas for equipment and technique tweaks. During training I’d also discovered a local camping option (Sibley Backpack Camp) I hadn’t known about, and combined with the bike/hike site at Samuel P. Taylor, that seemed like an opportunity for a quick local adventure. While I was planning that trip, a friend who couldn’t make the first two nights suggested a third night at Anthony Chabot Family Campground. Great idea!
My plan was to head out Sunday afternoon for the quick ride up the hill to Sibley, then, if the trail conditions were OK, take as much gravel as I could along the ridge to Richmond, head over the bridge to camp at Samuel P. Taylor on Monday night, then take Bolinas Ridge towards the Golden Gate, heading into SF and taking the ferry across the bay, then rolling along the East Bay shoreline and cutting across to Anthony Chabot.
Because of plans for gravel, I went with frame bags and a seatpost rack rather than panniers. And because the weather was predicted to be pretty variable, I brought a full tent and rain fly. Gear weight, including racks, bags and my Camelbak, wound up being 32 pounds.
