The inaugural Mid-Atlantic Bikepacking Summit took place in late August along the Great Allegheny Passage, hosted by Bikepacking Roots in collaboration with Bikepacking Virginia, Hellbender Bikepacking, and PA Hellbenders Adventure Collective. PEC joined the summit to promote our work in trail development and stewardship.
It was a beautiful weekend for getting outside. About 100 riders attended the summit, hailing from as far south as North Carolina and as far north as Ontario.
The bulk of activities took place on Saturday, beginning with group rides from the Overflow Campground in Confluence to Ohiopyle for workshops, demonstrations, and casual conversations.
PEC staff handed out maps and talked with people about some of our recent trail reports, including “Mountain Biking and Associated Recreational Opportunities in the Greater Pittsburgh Region: An Atlas,” which provides a catalog of mountain bike trails, multi-use trails, and notable gravel cycling areas and evaluates the potential for promotion of the greater Pittsburgh region as a hub for outdoor recreation. PEC approaches this and other trail initiatives with the goal of developing outdoor recreation in a way that also stewards the land and activates nearby communities.
In the afternoon, attendees cooled off with a dip in the Youghiogheny River before heading back to Confluence for a barbecue and panel discussions. PEC Program Manager Helena Kotala took part in a panel titled, Love Where You Ride. She talked about how intentional route creation and community support can enhance local economies and safeguard natural landscapes. She also educated bikepackers on how they can get more involved in stewardship.
Some of the attendees rode their bikes to and from the summit, utilizing the GAP and C&O rail trails.
On Sunday, riders departed on overnight outings of various skill levels. The Hellbender Adventure Collective, a group that supports women and gender-diverse cyclists, led a women, trans, femme, nonbinary & gender-expansive trip.
Noelle Battle, Executive Director of Bikepacking Roots, hopes to make the summit an annual event that rotates around the Mid-Atlantic region.
“Through Bikepacking Roots and our Regional Stewards program, I would love to be able to support other Regional Summits all across the country to support inclusive community building, learning, and adventure,” she wrote in The Radavist. “Thanks to everyone who contributed to such a special weekend to cap off the summer.”