Driftless Loop: A Spring Bikepacking Story
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ค. 2024
- The Driftless Loop is a bikepacking route created by Nicolette Reker for theNxrth.com. It starts in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where it quickly crosses the Mississippi River into Minnesota. From there, it travels up and down bluffs of the driftless area, meandering through valleys in the low areas and over hilltop farmlands.
I enlisted my friend Ashley (instagram: @ashleybrooksbikes) to bikepack the route in late April in search of signs of spring. We experienced temperatures that were much colder than we expected and some terrific headwinds, but it didn't keep us from finding what we were looking for...signs of spring were everywhere, especially on the sunnier and warmer Day 2.
Thank you to thenxrth.com for sharing this route, and for Nicolette for her adventurous map meanderings. HUGE thanks to Ashley for providing some great photos and video to include in this edit (and for being an exceptional ride buddy!).
Resources
The Driftless Loop description and GPS:
www.thenxrth.com/post/the-dri...
This is Our Life Now: Bikepacking the Driftless Region
article by Nicolette Reker about riding the route
www.thenxrth.com/post/this-is...
Connect with me on Instagram: @birdsnbikesnballet
Thanks for watching! - กีฬา
Glad you enjoyed the route with some tweaks! I'm the route creator's husband and just had this pop up in my recommended. We are both happy to see it getting some use (especially from a fellow Winona alumni) and bring more folks to this region for bikepacking.
I was sorry to have to miss Vinegar Ridge and Rushford! We really enjoyed the spicy off-road sections. Did we get the direction right to go up the grassy hill to get to the road in La Crescent? Thanks for the work you put in!
I don’t recall needing much convincing! 🥶 But gosh if that second beautiful day wasn’t 1000% worth it. I think we got exactly what we asked for…Spring in MN! Thanks for sharing the adventure with me!
Was fun making the video and reliving the adventure! Thanks for being a fantastic adventure buddy 😊
Another great video Katrina, and kudos for all of Ashley’s additions as well. I dig how this one has all your callouts: Birds & Bikes & Ballet (music in the form of the studio piano) - love it, and totally suits a springtime ride in the great outdoors.
I love that you noticed that about the music! And yes, Ashley’s contributions were awesome…I felt absolutely spoiled with material! Thanks for watching 😊
I was biking a short 20 mile ride that weekend near Madison WI. I swear there was more green in the afternoon than in the morning! All the leaves seemed to bud out in a few hours. I don't think I've seen such a rapid change before, even in WI!
Isn’t that cool? One of the best parts of spring, for sure!
Good to see another Katrina adventure! Yeah springtime! 🥴
Awww thanks for watching! Happy trails!
Great narration of your trips
Thank you!
"The vague singletrack trail was lined with brush that barely let our bikes through. It was awesome."
Those alt gravel sections truly are something akin to a cherry on top for bikepacking trips, right? Also rowdy descents are so much fun. 😄
Great vid about your trip, loved the bird sightings too. Spring really is awesome time for bikepacking.
Yes! Love the little surprises along a route that snap you back into adventure mode!
"A taste of everything...." I like a variety of scenery on my bike trips.
You and me both! Thanks for watching 😊
Hum... Good to see you back on the bike Katrina. Your corner of the world sure looks like mine. Cool weather, nice trails, beautiful gravel roads and a mixture of sun and clouds, etc. Spring is always a joyful season for us. ;-)
Joyful is a good word to describe spring! So many new signs of life…just have to look for it in the early stages!
Holy. Crap. That's a lot of climbing!! Nice work!!!
Thanks! I need the practice!
Wisconsin loves their bicycle trails
Guess I’ll have to cross the border more!
Great video! I grew up in that area (live in Saint Paul now) and it was so cool seeing all the backroads I used to drive around with friends. It’s a fun area to bike but the climbs!
Lucky you! It’s such a beautiful area and the drivers were very courteous to bikes. The hills are good practice for this flatlander 😅 Thanks for watching!
I happened upon your channel today. I am now a subscriber great video. Great ride. I aspire to be able to ride as far as you sometime soon.
Thank you for the subscribe! I wasn’t a long-distance rider just a few years back…you can definitely do it!
Thanks for sharing your journey. Don't know how you rode with a backpack on. I'd figure out a different setup. I am hesitant to put a rear rack on my gravel bike but may have to do a Spider rack for RAGBRAI since I'm going 100% self-support.
The hip pack I was wearing only had my camera inside; it was thankfully very light! I’ve had a great experience with my Old man Mountain rack on my full suspension mountain bike. I’ll get to test it more this summer. Have fun at RAGBRAI!
I enjoyed seeing an area I have biked (now trike) many times. In 2012 with 2 friends we left my house, turned left and followed the MRT to New Orleans. I still wake up some nights crying when i dream of "The Driftless Zone" (the Illinois Alps weren't user friendly either). Not enough damage? In 2015 I biked the Iowa MRT......I've now completed the MRT from Itasca to New Orleans, a really great ride (for you to consider?). I will look at your route but it appeared that some of it isn't suitable for a recumbent trike (I'm functionally blind so 2 wheels would be unwise). Thanks, it was an easy video to watch.
WOW Ian…you sure have some stories to tell! And you had me laughing at “Illinois Alps”! You could definitely detour around the few singletrack areas. If you’re ever curious to ride it, let me know and I’ll help you with where they were. Anyway, thanks for the ideas for places to ride and keep on adventuring!!
Excellent! There must be so many routes like this in the amazing driftless area. How do you find out about them? Thanks.
There’s a great website called thenxrth.com that publishes both bikepacking and gravel routes in MN and WI. Start there!
I’m guessing Ashley’s favourite pizza is pepperoni? Mine is a Margherita (pizza slice reflector) 😅 Have you finalised your summer riding schedule yet, Katrina? Happy Trails.😊
Haha…the pizza flag was my bike! I’m sure Ashley would be happiest with a green chile pizza. Thanks for watching, Tim! Summer plans almost certainly involve Colorado 😊
@@katrinahase Crikey, I’d better improve my observations skills on the GDMBR. enjoy CO
No for me..too cold amd gloomy 😢
Well…it did get nice the second day!
@@katrinahase I spoke too soon ..yes it did 🤠