42 Spring 2019 LOCALadk Magazine
LOCALadk
Otis, stopping for a quick dip in the Boquet River.
A short pedal back into Elizabethtown, we arrived just be-
fore dusk to park our bikes outside the Deer's Head Inn—
tired, happy, and thoroughly satisfied with our journey.
Over burgers and beer, we shared stories with friends who
stopped by to welcome us home.
When I envisioned bikepacking the BETA region, I was
certain we would enjoy four days of exceptional mountain
biking. What I did not anticipate were the spontaneous side
trips, and the unexpected support and amazing hospitality
we received along the way. When asked for details of our
route —how far, how much elevation, how much pavement
versus trail— I answer that I did not track any statistics. What
I can pull out is my coveted BETA Mountain Bike Trails Map,
with our route highlighted in red pen. The map is tattered
and full of holes (from a dog named Coraline who chewed on
it on Day 2, but that is a stor y for another time). It turns out
that some of the best adventures are found close to home.
This is especially true when home is this amazing Adirondack
community.
