Gunni Gravel

Hi! I’m Sarah and I’ll be joining Galpackas as a trip leader for the Gunnison ride! An ER nurse originally from Washington state who loves to travel, cook, and spend quality time with my people. I wanted to become a trip leader because, aside from my Galpackas experiences meaning a lot to me, a bunch of gals I work with decided to sign up for a trip, how could I say no! This community is special. It gave me confidence as a novice bike packer, I felt welcome when I was nervous, and it introduced me to one of my closest friends. I hope that ladies joining a ride this year will feel empowered in their bike lives. Excited for this particular ride because my favorite type of riding is gravel - love being able to be more remote than on a road with the ability to look around and enjoy the views (though a big summer goal of mine to get much comfier on my mountain bike). Looking forward to honing some more mechanic skills and being a part of a group of women feeling independent on the trail!

A Grand Adventure

Hi! I'm Cady. I love tea, sewing, tiny objects, zines, and the way light enters a room. I also love biking in all the ways- running errands, mainys around town, searching alleyways for hidden treasure, big gravel rides and races, mountain biking, and bikepacking. Being on my bike is one of the only times I can gracefully carry clashing emotions: pain and joy, frustration and wonder, inconvenience and adventure, doubt and confidence, fear and gobsmacked awe. I wanted to be a trip leader because I've seen how the bike can bring about the most genuine, connective moments between strangers; and from that place I've found some of my greatest friends in the Galpackas community. I want to share all of this joy and love with others!

White Ranch Night Out

Gina fell in love with mountain biking the moment she rode her first singletrack, despite clumsily doing so on a rusty XL men's beater. Since then, she's picked up bikes more appropriately fit for her size and continues to enjoy pushing her limits with long days on the bike. She appreciates biking as a way to explore the beautiful trails in Colorado and be involved in an incredible community. She's stoked to share her passion for outdoor adventures and create lifelong memories through bonded experiences on two wheels.

Intro to Bikepacking

My name is Chelsea, and I can’t wait to lead our Intro to Bikepacking ride this summer! I love all types of riding, but I’ve got an especially soft spot for loaded bikes, remote desert roads, and top tube bags full of Sour Patch Kids. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or you’re out there duct taping bags to your bike like I do, I’m excited to lead trips with Galpackas because I want all women+ to experience the joy of bikepacking and the belonging of community.

Intro to Bikepacking

Hello! My name is Hannah and I am one of the trip leaders for the Intro to Bikepacking trip at Aspen Ridge this summer. This trip is so special to me because it is where I did my first bikepack in 2022 - with Galpackas too! I am so excited to bring it full circle and experience the magic (and shenanigans) of strapping up bikes for first bikepack trips. Bikes aside, I am pretty much down for any sort of outdoor activity with friends, enjoy cooking lavish meals, and can never put down a good arts n' crafts project. Can't wait to meet you out there!

Roaring Fork Valley Tour

Howdy! I'm Mariah and I'm addicted to the feeling of freedom and pure joy that biking brings me. I find riding in the rain to be particularly cathartic. I tend to spend most of my time mountain biking, but since having my baby last April, I have spent a lot more time on pavement pulling her in the bike trailer (a great place to nap!). I'm so stoked to be a trip leader this year and sharing the magic of bikepacking with more amazing women!

A Grand Adventure

Hey there, Jaime here! Bike touring is so much more than challenging your body and your brain to ride up grades you never thought you would or to send yourself down the other side of a steep mountain pass. Sweating when it’s hard, and sweating when you’re scared in the saddle is cool and stuff, but for me, it’s about being outside for as many hours as I can be, enjoying incredible sights brought to us by mother nature, and breathing in the fresh Colorado air. When I’m not on two wheels, I’m supporting autistic littles as a speech-language pathologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, buying too many plants, cooking up new recipes, drinking craft beer, and laughing with my friends. Now let’s get out there and pedal together!

Gunni Gravel

Hi howdy hello! I'm Elly. I love bikes, cats, coffee, plants, camping, and snacks, and I'm so excited to share almost all of that with you on the dusty gravel roads of Gunnison county this summer! I'm a lover of all types of biking, from bopping around town on a cruiser to shredding downhill through the forest on a mountain bike. Bikepacking sparks a special type of joy for me. There's nothing quite like the feelings of pride, strength, and independence you feel at the end of.a trip - delightfully dirty, exhausted in the best way possible, in awe of what your body is capable of, and ready to take on the world (after a big dinner and a good long sleep of course). When I'm not on my bike you'll probably find me tending to my garden, playing with clay in the ceramics studio, or in the kitchen cooking up some good food to share with friends.

Wuanita Wild West

Amanda's infatuation with bikepacking started with her getting sick of San Francisco slow MUNI buses: she began riding her friend's old department store bike for transportation, eventually upgrading to an ancient road bike at least two sizes too big. On that rusty steed she became a bike messenger and was through that community introduced to road biking, touring pavement, and eventually mountain biking.

She left city life in 2016 to live and play in the mountains. Her first bikepacking trip was the AZT 800, an adventure fueled by the rage and heartbreak of a messy breakup, and fraught with poor decisions and eventual lessons. Since then she's learned that honey buns > trail mix; electrolytes are crucial if you filter from stock tanks; and looking at elevation profiles makes the hike a bike steeper.

Amanda looks forward to sharing her experience with other gal bikepackers to minimize pitfalls and maximize fun.

White Ranch Night Out & Wuanita Wild West

Hello friends! I'm Tori. As a kid, I loved spending time outdoors - hiking, backpacking, and exploring. I got my first mountain bike 4 years ago, and it was love at first ride. Naturally, it wasn't long after that I strapped my backpacking gear to it, and bikepacking has been a passion since. When I'm not on or daydreaming about being on two wheels, you'll find me reading a good book, practicing yoga, or off on new adventures with my fiancé and our pup, Fry. I'm looking forward to sharing the enjoyment of my passion and hobby with Galpackas and hoping to make some new ride buddies in the process, too!

Gunni Gravel

Hi I’m Jess! I love bikes of all kind and exploring all that Colorado has to offer. My firstBike packing trip was with Galpackas founders Heather and Monica and it was a highlight of that summer. I love the camaraderie and inclusivity of bikepacking and the little details that go into planning and completing a trip. After 10 years of racing and training on all types of bikes, it’s been a great way for me to appreciate and experience biking in a different way, taking it in with friends and enjoying the journey. I am also passionate about supporting women in getting into bikes and am stoked to be a galpackas ride leader and contribute to this community. I work as a community planner for a county on the front range and also enjoy walking my dog, swimming, cooking and hanging with friends.

A Grand Adventure

Maggie's love for "bikepacking" began very unofficially - she spent many childhood nights strapping her sleeping bag and toothbrush to her bike to ride across town for sleepovers at friends' houses and eventually to spend nights at her job at a river outfitter. She loved the freedom, empowerment, and adventure it gave her and she's really never stopped riding bikes or sleeping outside! Maggie's love for getting people comfortable recreating outside has always been a driving force for her and she loves nothing more than helping folks, especially women and girls, find that joy and confidence for themselves.

She is so excited to get more women empowered through bikepacking and can't wait to ride, learn, and laugh together. When not on a bike, Maggie is probably reading, sewing, or camping with her fiance and dogs. She is excited to lead this trip for a lot of reasons, but especially happy that she'll get to fall asleep to the sound of running water :)