The Enchanted Mountain Trailer

[Lola Bergo]

TheBikepacking Journal is our biannual printed publication. Each issue features a collection of inspiring writing and beautiful photography. Find details on the three most recent issues below, join the Bikepacking Collective to get it in the mail (anywhere in the world), or click here to find a collection of selected stories in digital format.

In the first week of September, my fiance, Kim McNett, my brother, Clay, and my long-time best friend, Mark Teckenbrock, and I caravanned from our homes in southern Alaska into the interior of the state to hunt caribou by human power. We would ride bikes with trailers into the enchanted mountains of the Alaska Range, camp, catch grayling, drink cold water, wake up early, try to outmaneuver cunning and fleet-of-foot creatures, and rekindle our ancestral genes. Our two and a half million years of hominid, hunter-gatherer evolution hungered for the opportunity to be expressed.

We began our harvest season this spring in the burnt rubble leftovers from the 167,200-acre Swan Lake fire, just north of our home. Morel mushrooms often fruit after a fire, and fruit they did. We filled up with gallons upon gallons of this highly sought-after fungal delicacy.

After mushrooms, we switched gears to harvesting salmon and other fish. Alaska boasts of intact and mostly healthy salmon populations of all five species. In our region, two species are abundant enough to allow for commercial and personal use fisheries, as well as sport fishing. Sockeye (red) salmon are the staple in our region. Management of our personal use fishery allows for the use of hyper-efficient dip nets for Alaskan residents. Coho (silver) salmon run later in the season, and in our area, there is a personal use set net fishery, which allows an individual to catch 25 per person, plus 10 more per household dependent. We rounded out our salmon harvesting with a few Chinook (king) salmon, which we caught with rod and reel.

In Alaska, 95% of the food found in grocery stores is imported from out of state. This importation comes at a high ecological cost, which is never factored into the price at the supermarket. Much of this food, produced halfway around the world, is also grown in nutrient-depleted soils, fertilized by petrochemical fertilizers, and often sprayed with glyphosate-based herbicides. Industrially raised livestock is pumped with hormones, antibiotics, and fed a diet of GMO grain, which radically alters and diminishes its nutritional value.

Moments later, Mark walked back uphill to inform Kim and Clay of our success and enlist their help. I embraced the moment to be alone, and to offer my solemn thanks to the caribou. After the violent outburst from my rifle, the valley was again silent. I knelt down beside the fallen animal and let a wave of emotions wash over me.

With sharp knives and a bone saw, we portioned the field-dressed caribou into thirds and, along with the organs, packed them into cotton game bags. A short walk brought us back to our bikes, where we loaded the trailers and tightly lashed down our sacred quarry for the ride back to camp.

BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. More here.

We are located on 89 acres of forest land off Carmel Valley Road, just 5 miles from HWY 1. Nestled within oaks, Monterey pines, and redwoods, Saddle Mountain offers a great peaceful getaway for those seeking a break from the bustle of life.

Enjoy Saddle Mountain Ranch and the surrounding areas with all the amenities and comforts of home. Our cabins have a variety of layouts and amenities to accommodate the different needs and desires of our guests.

Experience Carmel Valley where the climate is tempered by the ocean just 15 minutes away. Our RV village offers 30-amp hook-ups, restrooms, free hot showers, wifi, cable, playground and we are pet-friendly.

Pitch your tent on our cozy mountain amongst the trees and beautiful settings. Enjoy a short walk to our sparkling pool where you can relax under the gazebo with a propane fire pit. We also have fire pits (burning Duraflame logs only) for your campsite use as you gaze at the stars.

Saddle Mountain has over five miles of hiking trails leading all the way to the very top of the mountain. There are incredible vistas all along the trail as you make your way up through our enchanted forest. The real reward is found 2.5 miles up the trail to the very tippy top of the mountain where you will find 360 degree views of the mountains of Big Sur, Carmel Valley and the Pacific Ocean.

We stayed at Saddle Mountain RV park for 3 nights in an RV. It was quite the find. We loved everything about this place. The bathrooms and showers were very clean, the staff extremely friendly and helpful. The park has a beautiful pool and the grounds are beautiful. There are many areas to sit with gas firepits under gazebos for evening socializing. Do not hesitate to stay here.

Welcome to the Enchanted Forest Mountain Redwood Retreat! Make sure you follow our directions to bypass the road closure! We are deep in the mountains so be prepared. The road is all paved but it can be narrow, bumpy and steep in some areas. There is no cell phone service in some areas.

We are a meditation retreat center with 45 acres of some of the most gorgeous redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains to enjoy hiking, creeks and small water fall exploration, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, star gazing, relaxation, meditation and more.

Our campground has running water from a natural spring, Men and Women's Restrooms each with 2 toilets and 1 hot water shower, laundry shed with sink and hot water, and an outdoor amphitheater, (the kitchen and washer/dryer is Staff Only not for campers).

4-6 guests maximum with 1 car included in the nightly rate. Each additional vehicle is $15 per day and will be added at checkout once you add the correct number of vehicles you will be bringing. You can bring a maximum of 2 cars.

Pets are $10 per day, 1 pet per group ONLY. Please add this as an extra at the time of booking, you will see the option to add extras once you begin the checkout process. Dogs must be on leash at all times!

Quiet hours are 10pm-8am. No drugs of any kind including marijuana allowed. No loud music allowed. This is a private property so no visitors are allowed, only paid guests. Our onsite staff will go around and enforce the rules.

NOTICE REGARDING RVs and TRAILERS: While we can not offer hookups, theoretically we have no problem with RVs, the road is steep in a couple of places getting down to the campground and VERY narrow in one spot (10ft). If you feel you're willing to take this risk (we won't be held liable), you're welcome to reach out to us and we can see if the site is good for RV/trailers.

Only sites 8, 12 and 5 are good for trailers. No vehicle can drive into Site 7, 9, 10 11, 14 (the parking area is separate). Other sites may be ok with small trailers. Check with the host. Any trailer larger than 20ft, take your own risk, there is a narrow point only 9ft wide.

3a8082e126