While living in Flagstaff during the summer of 2024, I discovered bikepacking and was hooked on the idea of combining backpacking and biking — two of my favorite things. I immediately started doing research on what equipment I would need and the best way to carry all of my backpacking gear onto the hardtail I've had since middle school. A quick Google search of "bikepacking gear" led to overpriced tents, frame packs, and handlebar bags made especially for bikepacking. This, along with the fact that I was off on other adventures and having an abundance of mechanical problems with my bike led to me putting off planning a trip until December of the same year, when my brother expressed an interest in trying to go bikepacking with a friend. I quickly found a local overnighter loop on bikepacking.com and purchased a rear cargo rack, hoping that it would be enough to carry everything that wouldn't tie onto our handlebars or fit into our day packs. On the first day of 2025, we set off on the Looking Glass Loop Overnighter.
We decided to tackle the route counterclockwise so we could ride through most of Brevard first and enjoy a fast few miles downhill through Bracken Preserve towards the end. During the first forty five minutes of the ride, we stopped probably six times to adjust the gear that was tied to our bikes with paracord and shed layers as it quickly warmed up from our starting temperature of 20°F. By the time we reached the Davidson River, we were feeling confident in our abilities to make it to a campsite well before nightfall.
It was at the river that we began to see evidence of storm damage from Hurricane Helene in September. The river was full of sand and down trees, and many of the bridges on the trail were freshly rebuilt. As we continued to ride up Avery Creek Road, more storm damage was evident
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