Where the Journey Begins: A First Ride into Bikepacking
By: Niina Baum
Bio: Niina is a lifelong adventurer, digital creative, has spent over two decades racing sled dogs, is on Team USA, and a world championship silver and bronze medalist. These days, she’s leaning into a new kind of adventure — trading paw prints for tire tracks and finding freedom on two wheels.
Before I dive into the story of my first bikepacking trip, we need to back up a little. I started dogsled racing at the age of six. The sport has been a constant in my life for the past 24 years — it’s taken me around the world, connected me with fascinating people, and shaped my desire for adventure.
Funny enough, it is the reason I got my first mountain bike five years ago - because I simply wanted to bikejor with my dogs. That simple goal unraveled into a whole new passion. At the time, my understanding of mountain biking was narrow. I didn’t know lift-serviced trails were a thing. I had never heard the words “enduro” or “downhill.” I definitely didn’t realize I lived just a couple hours from some of the best riding in the Midwest — Copper Harbor and Marquette.
As my sled dog racing career began to slow down, I found myself looking for a new kind of adventure. Something that would give me the same sense of freedom and exploration and take me places where the dogs couldn't. That’s when I discovered bikepacking.
At first, I kind of scoffed at it.
The only bikepacking I’d seen was on gravel or paved roads, and it didn’t seem all that thrilling. I wanted something more raw — more "challenging". But then I met two accomplished endurance mountain bikers (Corey Kronser and Alex Schultz) who introduced me to a different world entirely: the Colorado Trail, the AZT, and long-distance singletrack routes that whispered a kind of solitude and self-reliance I craved. I wasn’t interested in racing these. I was interested in the routes, being — moving through landscapes slowly and intentionally with only your gear to rely on. It clicked.
Last year, I tried to plan my first tour to Arizona. As the departure date got closer, I realized I had no idea what I was doing and bailed. Soon after, I met my now-boyfriend — an experienced and enthusiastic bikepacker — who helped me avoid more classic beginner mistakes. I had already ordered a squirrel tail bag, which, as a short female with limited rear tire clearance, wasn’t going to work. I tried to force my one xc carbon mountain bike to do everything: bikepacking, enduro racing, bikejoring, the Marji Gesick 100. It wasn’t sustainable. That is where my new Hayduke comes in - a bike for bikepacking.
Through him, I was introduced to a vibrant bikepacking community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A group of kind, rugged, adventurous people who organized trips regularly and were very welcoming. One of those trips — organized by Alex Helman — was set to take place in one of my favorite places on Earth: the Keweenaw Peninsula. It felt like the perfect place for my first bikepacking adventure. Familiar. Beautiful. Rugged. I’d already spent countless weekends exploring the Keweenaw in every season, and I even own property up there. It’s a place that feels like home, and I knew even if things went wrong or got hard, I’d be happy just being there.
The group was about a dozen riders. Aside from my boyfriend and one of his friends, I didn’t know anyone. But Alex had even adjusted the route to spend a night camping on my land — a gesture that made the trip even more special. And to my surprise I also wasn’t the only newbie on the trip. And remember how I thought bikepacking on roads and gravel would be boring? I was wrong. This route was mostly roads, gravel, and ATV trails, and I found myself noticing things I had always driven past in my truck without a second thought. The slower pace made me see the landscape and communities differently — more deliberately. We rode past sandy beaches, expansive cliff overlooks, quiet forest stretches, stunning Lake Superior views, delicious cafes, refreshing ice cream shops, local hole in the wall bars, and rushing waterfalls. We even rode on trails I had previously raced my sleddogs on in the winter. Even without singletrack, it was a perfect adventure — and it gave me a newfound respect for this type of travel. I have decided if you really want to get to know and immerse yourself in an area or community, just bikepack through it.
My first bikepacking trip was the beginning of something. Since then, I’ve planned more tours and collected more gear. But most importantly, I’ve found a new chapter of adventure waiting for me as I begin to step back from the sled dog world. And I couldn’t have asked for a better place to start than the Keweenaw.