Sure, they had their mountain bikes with them. But with terrain so tough it’s hard to even hike it, what to speak of riding it, the question of what to call this madcap adventure arises. The ragtag group of riding buddies consisting of Kevin Landry, JF Newton, Margus Riga, Kenny Smith, and Peter Wojnar set off on a freeriding adventure deep into British Columbia’s wild and rugged Chilcotin mountain range in search of new freeride lines. The word expedition suits it better than adventure and 'challenge' doesn’t really do it justice. Watch the video below and read the report from the film crew below and maybe you’ll reach a satisfying way to define it. One thing is for sure, hardcore! So Far… We’ve Made It This Far “No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride...and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well...maybe chalk it up to forced consciousness expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten.”― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Niut Valley // North Chilcotins // British Columbia, CanadaLat/long = 51.5900° N, 124.6917° WDay #4 of 810:90 Biking to Hiking Ratio [so far…] “There may as well have been fucking cows grazing over there and it was the hardest shit ever,” Kenny says, looking back at the snarled mess of terrain we’d spent the last two days traversing through, over and around. He was bang on, as compared to the convoluted mess of sheer granite, talus fields, and ancient glaciers that lay before us; where we had come from really did look like an idyllic pasture, one that cows could be happily grazing – and it really was the hardest shit ever. We’d ridden our bikes less than 10 % of the time, pushing or carrying them for the other 90… great bike riding trip. This wasn’t our ‘first rodeo’ as they say but looking down into the ‘venus fly trap’ valley this was the first time we’d contemplated changing our route because the terrain was too complex. Maybe we are getting smarter, realistically we’re just getting softer older. The steady decline in barometric pressure coupled with a few ‘storm warnings’ from our Suunto 9 watches helped to justify our decision while preserving a fraction of our collective egos. “Stuck in the bottom of the flytrap on a sunny day would be soul-crushing, add 20 centimeters of snow, and hell we might still be there.” The route, as planned by Captain Kenny from the comfort of his office back in Campbell River BC would wind its way through approximately 200 km, over eight days through the Niut Valley, a remote northern section of the infamous Chilcotins. The Niut, is where the Coast Range meets the Chilcotin Plateau but unlike the ‘Chill’cotins it has no trail network and rarely sees even the most intrepid hikers let alone mountain bikers. I’m not saying we were the first, but I’d bet we’ll be the last [mountain bikers] to that zone. Since 2016/2017 our little ragtag crew has been refining this style, colloquially referred to as ‘freeride bike packing, by our friend Brice Minnigh. A weird chimera of big mountain MTB riding, ski touring, thru-hiking, bike packing, and mountaineering. The route is usually a point-to-point attempting to link up ridable ridgelines and chutes while minimizing any travel at valley bottom where one must contend with soul-crushing bush. This brings us back to the siren song of the Venus flytrap, which became easier to ignore as the rain’s tempo crescendo picked up outside our shelters. Turning around the way we came was not an option, it was hard enough once, and would only be harder dragging our tails between our legs. It was becoming clear our only option was to head over the pass at the head of the valley we were currently camped in and attempt to link back up with our original route. As the crow flies, this was a ‘shortcut’, but not without its own unique challenges. Specifically, a glacier, which fed into an unstable talus field, immediately leading into a few pitches of grade five scrambling. One hand to balance your bike on your pack, one hand on the rock at all times steep. Topping out we were greeted with sideways rain, and a fresh cutting wind no longer sheltered by the lee side. At least this was the easy way I mused. At the most reductionist, trips in the mountains either work out or they don’t, it's binary once you get down to it. While we didn’t know it yet – the four of us were still shivering in Fraser’s tent at ridgetop – this trip was about to work out. Waiting for us just outside the tent was a phenomenal descent into a valley framed wall to wall with chutes just begging to be lapped. I won't bore you with the details, but we set base camp up for two days and methodically ticked off each one right to left. The weather was beautiful, the dirt was tacky, even went for a few swims in the lake by our camp. Of course, the fireside yarns always worked their way back around to the Venus Fly Trap. Granted, at that time we didn’t know the mellow 15 km “trail” back to the trucks was actually a 25 km overgrown mess of pain and frustration. Bush so thick we had to remove our pedals just to punch through. All images © Margus Riga

Bicycle sports, including bikepacking, have boomed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With travel abroad mostly out of the question we’ve taken to exploring our own backyards. The urge to discover new territory cannot be quenched!  Bikepacking is the equivalent of backpacking only done on two wheels rather than two feet. It allows you to cover far greater distances in less time than ever possible with hiking. What’s not to like? Yes, flat tires suck. But master tire repair and the world is yours! Maybe you’re considering buying a new bike so you can go on awesome multi-day bikepacking adventures. If yes, this article is for you. We talked to Suunto ambassadors Sami Sauri and Anton Krupicka – both seasoned bikepacking aficionados – and found out the essential things you need to know. “I prefer to think of it as ‘bike camping’,” ultra runner, bikepacker and climber Anton Krupicka says. “You carry everything you need on your bike for one night or several nights of sleeping outside and riding your bike during the day. I love it for the same reasons I like doing anything outside – moving my body, and experiencing my natural surroundings.”   Sami's ongoing Into the Atlantic Islands project mixes bikepacking and surfing. © Sergio Villalba   Bikepacking vs. bicycle touring Before we jump in, let’s look at the difference between bikepacking and biketouring. Bikepacking really became a thing just over a decade ago. It’s the young buck in the world of bicycle sports. Both involve travelling with bags on a bike. So what’s the difference? In a nutshell, touring bikes are heavier, more robust, and designed for carrying heavier loads and for travelling further and primarily on paved surfaces (but not always). Think of it more as tourism by bike. Bikepacking, on the other hand, synthesizes mountain biking and minimalist camping; it's the bike form of distance hiking or trekking. Bikepacking bikes are generally lighter, and designed for off-road excursions. The bags are usually smaller and more aerodynamic. It's more about outdoor advneture than tourism. “The road is a comfortable place,” Spanish bikepacker and surfer Sami Sauri says. “It gets you to your destination faster and is easier, but the off paved or gravel roads are what I’m always searching for and trying to ride.” Consider which – bike touring or bikepacking – is what you really want to do. Do you want to go travelling by bike, or do you want to get out in the hills and ride?   Anton is always devising epic bikepacking adventures. © Fred Marmsater    Test the water first Before you pillage your savings, and impulsively click buy on a fancy five grand bike, take a breath, step back, and look at what you really need. “The best bike is the one you already have,” Anton says. If you already have a mountain or trekking bike, Anton advises testing the water with that before making a big financial commitment. Rather than buying pricey bike bags, do a few overnight trips with your gear in your backpack, and see if it really is your cup of tea. “For your first trip, it’s possible to strap simple stuff sacks to your handlebars and saddle and then perhaps carry the rest of what you need in a backpack,” Anton says.   Don’t break the bank, but choose quality “I don’t think bikepacking HAS to cost a lot of money, but it does require a bike and some basic camping gear, such as a sleeping bag and mattress. In order to save money, the main thing you can compromise on is bikepacking bags,” Anton says. Sami acknowledges a complete bikepacking setup isn’t cheap. Which is why she recommends investing in good quality gear. “If you buy good equipment you can have that for life,” she says. “The equipment you are going to use will probably be tested in harsh conditions so it’s better to buy good gear that can survive it and last longer than cheaper gear that will only work twice.”   Sami cycled and surfed Madeira Island, the first destination in her island hopping adventure. ©Sergio Villalba   What bike is best? For beginners, Anton and Sami recommend choosing an allrounder. “I recommend a comfortable bike, suitable for all terrains and that allows you to put on nice and strong tires, a good saddle and a comfy handlebar,” Sami says. “Before doing a long bikepacking trip make sure to do a proper bike fit so you avoid injuries” Anton recommends looking for a good deal on a gravel bike. “Right now the bike industry is in a bit of a renaissance where it is prioritizing very capable all-around bikes,” he says. “These are often referred to as ‘gravel bikes’, though that is a very broad categorization. Generally speaking, these bikes retain the efficiency of road bikes with drop handlebars while also having the ability to fit larger tires – say, 40-55mm – which increases their comfort and capability as off-pavement vehicles. I believe an all-around bike like this is the best bike for a beginner, because it is so versatile. But, again, if you already own a bike, you can probably make it work. Just fit it with the biggest tires you can, and go!”   Sami and Anton keep their adventures on track with Suunto 9 GPS watches. © Fred Marmsater   What other gear do you need? There is a long list of helpful gear you could take with you. Firstly, a good helmet is a must. Then you need to decide on whether you want clip in or platform pedals. If you haven’t used clip in pedals before it’s good to start gradually by testing them on easier rides first. They take some getting used to. Water bottle mounts and water bottles are also essential. “Test everything you will wear before taking them on a big trip,” Sami says. “Don’t wear a brand new bib short, for example, but one you’ve tested on previous rides and you know is perfect for you. And it’s the same with shoes; get used to them properly before you do a long trip with them.” “A basic repair kit for your bike is essential,” Anton says. “Spare tubes, a tube patch kit, a small pump, tire levers, and a small multi-tool (allen keys, etc) are the bare necessities.” Anton and Sami both track their adventures with Suunto 9 sport watches, which offer 120 hours of battery life. Then they can look back and see where and how far they’ve been.   Knowing how to do basic bike repairs is essential for bikepacking adventures. © Fred Marmsater   Skills to master As mentioned up top, knowing how to repair a flat tire is crucial. You don’t want to be out in the hills, miles from shelter, with a flat and have to walk with your bike. “You should be comfortable repairing a flat tire,” Anton says. “These can be common, and, obviously, they are show-stoppers if they happen and you don't know how to fix it.” Another important skill Sami recommends is learning how to pack minimally. “I used to overpack, but now I am more careful and go minimalist.”   For your first trip Anton recommends doing a simple overnight trip first. “On a weekend you can pedal out a few hours from your home – even just a few miles if you're lucky enough to live near public land – make camp, pack enough food for dinner and breakfast, and then ride home in the morning,” he says. “It gives you the feel of riding a loaded bike, eating and sleeping outside, and then riding again without too much commitment if something goes wrong. “I think the main thing to avoid on a first trip is planning for too big of miles,” Anton continues. “The idea is just to test out your camping and riding systems, not necessarily to cover a bunch of miles. The best way to take the fun out of it is to ride too many miles on any given day.” Sami also suggests making your first trip one in warm weather. “Because it allows you to carry less gear, maybe instead of a tent, a hammock,” she says. “Instead of a sleeping bag, just a liner. Try to avoid doing a big journey if it’s too hot or too cold. Keep it short and easy.”   Use Suunto app and a Suunto 9 watch to guide you on the road. © Sergio Villalba   How to find cool routes? To find awesome trails to ride, Sami uses the Komoot app. Another possibility is to use the heatmaps feature in Suunto app, and select the mountain bike overlay for awesome trails. Anton says www.bikepacking.com is an amazing resource. “There are dozens and dozens of routes documented there that are almost all high quality and they range in length from a simple overnighter to thousands of miles,” he says. “However, my recommendation for a first trip would be to simply plan something for the nearest patch of public land –national forest – that allows camping, and plan a trip around that. Seek out the back roads – apps like Strava or RideWithGPS have heat maps that show you where people ride most commonly – and string them together in a logical way with convenient camp spots and/or resupply in surrounding towns.”   Tips for longer trips Both Sami and Anton recommend doing a series of shorter trips before going on an epic one. “Start with shorter trips, testing and testing your set up, make sure you enjoy the journey and if you fall in love like I did, you’ll start doing multi day trips and then maybe weekly trips, and who knows, a month could be a thing too!”   Avoid these rookie mistakes “Before you make a big investment in a brand new bike or expensive bags, just try out an overnighter with the gear that you already have,” Anton says. “I would say that in order to make sure you’re having fun as a beginner avoid doing too many miles and make sure you make camp early in the evening. It’s no fun setting up camp in the dark.” Sami says another classic mistake is not checking the gear you’ll take works well beforehand, and then finding out deep in a trip it has issues. She also warns against overpacking, the curse of bikepacking!   Last words “Bikepacking is for everyone, you, me, we all can do it,” Sami says. “Go out there and explore, it doesn’t need to be far or long, it can be in your backyard. You just need to go out and do it! Live for the moment!”   Lead images: © Sergio Villalba

First things first: connect your Karoo 2 with your Suunto account To get started, connect your Suunto and Hammerhead accounts: Go to dashboard.hammerhead.io and select ‘Suunto’ under ‘Accounts’. Once connected, your rides are automatically synced from your Karoo 2 to Suunto app and the routes planned in Suunto app are synced to your bike computer for navigation. After connecting you will also get access to Suunto cycling heatmaps on your Karoo 2. If you don’t have a Suunto account yet, download Suunto app from the App Store or Google Play and create one. If you need a Hammerhead account, go to dashboard.hammerhead.io Learn step-by-step how to connect your Suunto and Hammerhead accounts     See the heatmap on your bike computer Suunto heatmaps show the most popular rides near you – or at your travel destination. They are great for route planning in Suunto app and offer clear benefits out on your rides as well. On a Karoo 2 bike computer you can see Suunto cycling heatmaps on the go. So, even without a pre-planned route you will find places to ride. The more the road glows, the more popular the ride has been amongst the Suunto community. And, once it is time to turn back, your Karoo 2 will help you navigate back home!  Learn how to get Suunto heatmaps on your Karoo 2.    Plan routes for your rides in Suunto app Suunto app has advanced route planning functionalities that you can use even on the go. When planning a route, toggle between different map layers, 2D and 3D maps and use heatmaps to get inspiration. As you create your route, the app will calculate the distance, vertical meters and estimated duration. That way you can keep track of how long and challenging your route might be. Once saved the routes are synced to both your Karoo 2 and Suunto watch for navigation. That is super handy especially if you are on a multisport adventure; ride to the mountain navigating with Karoo 2 and continue the hike up with your Suunto watch.   Use the same heart rate belt with your bike computer and watch The Suunto Smart Heart Rate Belt provides accurate heart rate data without compromising comfort. You can use the same belt with both your Suunto watch and your Karoo 2 bike computer. Just pair it with each device and once you are starting your activity, the belt will be connected. Note that the belt can communicate only with one device at a time. However, no pairing and re-pairing is needed.   See all your rides, runs, skis, climbs and all other activities in one place You can review your rides recorded with Karoo 2 and all of your activities recorded with Suunto watches in the Suunto app. Your Karoo 2 rides are automatically synced after finishing the activity. Select the default privacy setting of your rides in Suunto app settings (private, your followers, public). You can also change this setting for each activity.     Analyse your progress Suunto app’s long-term analysis view tracks your training load and helps you stay in balance – whether that means progress, maintaining your fitness or avoiding over-training. With long-term analysis tools powered by TrainingPeaks and all your Karoo 2 rides and Suunto activities in one place, you can now manage your training better than ever. Learn more about managing your training load with Suunto app.   View your personal heatmap As you collect data in Suunto app you are building a powerful navigation tool for yourself: My Tracks. My Tracks is a map layer that shows your own activities on the map. That is an awesome way to see where you have been or – when compared with the general heatmap – where you have yet to explore. My Tracks is also a powerful tool to support your route planning. When re-visiting an area and planning new routes, it helps a lot that you can see your previous rides on the map as well.     View activities as 3D animations In addition to planning and reviewing your tracks on a 3D map in Suunto app, you can even enjoy your adventures as 3D video animations: Simply go to your activity, hit the play button, and enjoy the views as you climb up mountains, go over passes and storm down winding roads. Share the link with your riding buddies and they will be able to see the 3D animation as well – even on a big screen.   Create an adventure logbook Having all of your activities in Suunto app will enable you to build an adventure logbook. Add descriptions, photos and videos to your activities and find them later with the search tool. You can also share the images added in your activities with data overlays: hit the share button, select an image, and customise the data fields to support your story!   Connect with hundreds of 3rd party services Suunto is proud to have a wide array of partners it cooperates with. From route planning services to training and coaching platforms and more, you are likely to find a service that can enhance what Suunto app offers you. These partner services are now compatible with your Karoo 2 activities as well. To learn more, go to your profile page in Suunto app and select ‘Partner services’. Each new Suunto watch comes with a extensive Suunto Value Pack, a collection of benefits and treats offered by Suunto partners. Value Pack deals vary from premium trials to free training plans and discounts from partners like Strava and TrainingPeaks. Learn more about Suunto Value Pack.  

Starting this Earth Day, we have partnered with Hammerhead and Komoot to challenge you to #SeeTheAdventureAhead and share your natural wonder, however you explore. Use the hashtag #SeeTheAdventureAhead when you share on Instagram, Facebook, and/or Komoot* before May 11th and we’ll plant a tree for every post, with the goal of planting 10,000 trees with Tree Nation. Trees are key pillars of the world for both humans and the environment. They benefit us by purifying water, air and creating better social conditions. They benefit the environment by providing homes for various forms of life, cooling our climate and improving our soil. To celebrate the wonders of our natural world, get out there and share your natural wonder. We'll plant trees through the VCS certified Eden project in Mozambique for each share! *tag Suunto and Hammerhead when you share on Komoot Find places to explore with Suunto heatmaps Learn more about Tree Nation Learn more about Suunto compatible cycling computer Hammerhead Karoo 2 Main image: @runningphotograph

One of the reasons we’ve continued pushing World Vertical Week every year since its inauguration in 2016 is because it brings out the best in our Suunto community. People get outside more and push themselves, and many do some truly big days. The World Vertical Week competition captures some of the best of it. We look forward to scrolling through all the images the community shares and tags via #verticalweek. Thanks to everyone who participated in this spring 2022 edition. As always, we selected three winners who will each receive a Suunto 9 Peak. Congratulations! And the winners are … Everesting the Bastille in Grenoble You can’t get a much bigger day than what @danielott_atalps pulled off in Grenoble, France. He competed in the second edition of the Everstille 2022 and was one of four people who climbed the Bastille hill above the city 33 times, adding to 8848 m, the height of Mt Everest. “I read about Suunto vertical week last year and was fascinated by the concept of trying to accumulate as much elevation as possible,” Daniel says. “I wanted to participate then, but it always fell on the week of my exams, so I couldn't participate. This year, I was thrilled that the Everstille, the everesting race I did, fell in the time frame of the vertical week, so I signed up immediately. “Everestille is a race organized by Tri-Haut, an association based in Grenoble that aims to improve the waste management in the Khumbu Region below Everest. The goal of the race is to run the Bastille, as many times as possible.” Love in the Swedish mountains Mother Nature turned it on for @josefintrogen on a ski trip in the Sälen ski resort in Sweden. It was the first time she participated in World Vertical Week and probably won’t be her last. “We went cross-country skiing and downhill-skiing and it was a perfect weekend with sunshine, snow and what we call ‘Sweden’s fifth season’ or ‘spring-winter’,” Josefin explains. “It basically means there’s still enough snow to go skiing without problems, but warm enough to ski in a base layer only (this weekend it was about +10°C). Every day we bought soup for lunch and made a couch in the snow to enjoy it out in the sun before continuing our tour.” Passionate mum and daughter skimo team Her first Vertical Week, @monivieregg took her six-year-old daughter out into the Bavarian mountains on a skimo tour. The ascent is always challenging because Monika has a small frame and pulling her 20 kg daughter up the mountain behind takes everything she’s got. “We life very close to the Alps and the tour in the pic was at a former ski slope, called Blickner Alm at the Hochfelln,” Monika says. “My daughter really loves skiing uphill and she did a very, very good job downhill. At every carve she did I could hear a ‘hui’, ‘nice’ and ‘yipee’. She had a few falls, but after every one she got up and told me nothing happened, ‘keep going faster I want to ski on’. We both are really satisfied after a tour and we look forward to the next one.”

After the fall edition of World Vertical Week 2021, we were wowed by a 43% jump in participation, but now we are blown away again because we’ve had a 79% participation increase in this edition of World Vertical Week. That means there’s been a 155% increase over the last year. What’s going on people? Can’t get enough of those hills? As we do after every edition of World Vertical Week, we have collected the data, drilled down into it, and looked at who climbed the most and what sports gained the most meters. Read on for the results! Participation This edition, 125,000 people participated. That’s up from 70,000 in the 2021 fall edition, and up from 49,000 in the 2021 spring edition. We’re really impressed by this and wonder if the big increase is because, post-pandemic, races are happening again and more of us have signed up and want to get back into focused training. Big performances We discovered 86 people in the Suunto community climbed more than 10,000 m of ascent over the week. That’s up from 59 in fall 2021, and only nine in spring 2022. Well done you hardcore vert chasers! There were 301 activities recorded that involved more than 3,500 m of ascent. Those are big days out - nice work! During the 2021 fall edition there were only 218, and only 89 in spring 2021. The only way is up! For activities with more than 2000 m of ascent there were 1,183 activities recorded and 7,287 activities recorded that involved more than 1000 m of ascent. Number of activities with more than 1000 m of ascent by activity Ski touring: 2197 (30%)Trail running: 1993 (27%)Cycling: 767 (11%)Running: 682 (9%) Number of activities with over 2000m of ascent by activity Trail running: 354 Ski touring: 290Running: 167Cycling: 134 Austria remains on the throne Once again the alpine nation has come out on top for the highest average ascent per country. This time it’s average was slightly lower than previous edition, but still neck and shoulders above second place winner, Italy. Austria has held first place in this category for six of the last seven editions. It only lost its crown in 2019, falling to fifth place. It also deserves kudos for coming in the top five of five other categories! Go Italy! Italy deserves some love for coming in second place in seven different categories, including the highest average and total ascents per country. Ski touring, mountaineering, trail running, mountain biking, hiking and cycling - Italy recorded the second highest average ascent per country for all of these sports. Mama mia! Average ascent per country Total ascent per country Spain Italy France Austria Average ascent by activity type Top 5 nations in different activity types Ski touring The average ascent for all countries was 916 m. Switzerland, 1102 m Italy, 1015 m France, 1003 m Austria, 955 m Germany, 950 m Mountaineering The average ascent for all countries was 645 m. Austria, 839 m Italy, 753 m Germany, 734 m Poland, 714 m Japan, 676 m Trail running The average ascent for all countries was 437 m. Japan, 978 m Italy, 664 m Portugal, 617 m Malaysia, 590 m Slovenia, 558 m Mountain biking The average ascent for all countries was 359 m. Switzerland, 523,5 m Italy, 523,1 m Slovenia, 487 m Austria, 476 m Spain, 454 m Hiking The average ascent for all countries was 225 m. Malaysia, 457 m Italy, 434 m Slovakia, 418 m Croatia, 412 m Japan, 382 m Nordic skiing The average ascent for all countries was 185 m. Slovenia, 410 m Czech Republic, 369 m Austria, 291 m Poland, 282 m Germany, 264 m Cycling The average ascent for all countries was 181 m. Spain, 406 m Italy, 373 m Portugal, 309 m Switzerland, 276 m Slovenia, 269 m Running The average ascent for all countries was 95 m. Bulgaria, 202 m Ireland, 180 m New Zealand, 168 m Switzerland, 154 m Chile, 149 m Lead image: © Philipp Reiter