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Bikepacking might seem like a sophisticated way of describing that old 10-speed cruiser that’s been sitting behind some old boxes in your garage since 2016, but it’s an actual thing. It means packing up some gear - a tent, some cooking equipment, hydration, etc - into your backpack and hitting the open road for some exploration.

In today’s edition, we’ve got a beginner’s guide to the world of bikepacking. Plus, we’ll dispel some myths about bears from an actual bear expert and celebrate some of the amazing sunrise photographers in the Outdoors community.

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The Outdoors Guide to Bikepacking

Bikepacking delivers all the benefits of mountain biking with the added adventure of exploring deeper into the backcountry or farther on the road than walking allows. As a great way to get more miles under the belt, bikepacking is the perfect activity to cross more adventures off your list as summer winds down. Riders swear by the excellent fitness, stress relief, and confidence boost bikepacking gives them—not to mention the fact that it has less impact on the environment than traveling by car.

If you are thinking about jumping into bikepacking, it can be overwhelming between the gear, repairs, and physical exertion. Bryn Merrell, an avid bikepacker with thousands of miles under her belt, says that all the pain, bruises, and effort are worth it, because it offers a great way to travel, get outdoors, and explore more in the same amount of time as hiking.

Her two-wheeled trail experience has taken her down the coast of California (her longest trip being around 1,000 miles), through the saguaro-filled Black Canyon Trail in Arizona and countless routes around her home in the Sierra Nevada. She loves paved and gravel adventures as much as dirt, saying that a favorite trip of hers was when she and friends created their own route from Florida to New Orleans.

Together with Inside Hotels

Hotels We Love: Scottsdale Plaza Resort

Sprawled under Mummy Mountain in the midst of the Sonoran Desert is Scottsdale Plaza Resort and Villas, a spacious oasis with no less than five pools across its 40-acre campus. No matter why you came to town, you’re sure to relax in the famed desert heat while you take a leisurely stroll through the gardens or to dinner. Located just minutes from Old Town Scottsdale, this resort offers warmly-decorated guest rooms and everything else you could possibly think to need. With four F&B outlets, two tennis courts, a full-service salon and spa, and 50,000 square feet of event space, you’ll love it at your Paradise Valley home-away-from-home.

7 Bear Myths That Need a Reality Check

Bears are some of the most misunderstood animals in the wild, and the mere thought of their presence is often enough to strike fear into the hearts of hikers. That’s likely thanks—at least in part—to books, movies, and news stories about negative encounters that are often sensationalized and blown out of proportion, causing many outdoor lovers to develop a skewed perception of the oft-misrepresented omnivores.

Fortunately, once you separate fact from fiction, myth from truth, bruins become far less fearsome. With the right knowledge and preparation, you can better enjoy your time outdoors in bear country.

Here are seven myths Tom Smith, bear biologist and professor of wildlife sciences at Brigham Young University, says you need to stop believing.

Your Outdoors: Check Out These Incredible Sunrise and Sunset Photos From Our Followers

We asked Outdoors’ Facebook followers to send us the best sunrise or sunset photos they’ve taken. We received hundreds of photos, and combed through them to present just a handful of our favorites.

Check them out at the link below.

Outdoor Gear Checklist

We take pride in uplifting other brands within the Outdoors community. Check out and buy from the brands that support us.

1. Patagonia

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