Are you even bikepacking if you’re not hiking your bike, wiping out, making wrong turns, and going completely off plan? We’d argue: no. But does that make it any less rewarding? Well, that’s up to you.

In the newest episode of Beyond Familiar, Topo ambassador Sarah Sturm takes L. Renee Blount and our own Community Coordinator, Sarah Wakeen, bikepacking for their very first time. Join them as they learn, in real time, that the key ingredient to bikepacking success is having the right people with you.

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If you’re not already familiar with L. Renee Blount (an innovator, climber & adventure photographer), allow us to introduce you:

"I believe in endless curiosity. And trying things every month to stay curious and fresh. It helps my creativity as an ideator. Whether simple or grand, I believe in pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone in order to learn what’s possible and to celebrate curiosity." - L. Renee Blount

Join us as we document L. doing rad things that she’s never tried before. Join her in making novelty and innovation a part of your own life. And if you have access to something that not everyone does, join all of us in sharing that access however you can.

Want more? Keep scrolling for a photo recap of some of our favorite moments from their trip. Photos by @sarah_sturmy, @urbanclimbr, and @dylan_stucki.

This is the fourth episode in a series. Special thanks to our partners at Specialized for sharing their amazing bikes; to Sarah Sturm and Dylan Stucki for their know-how (and ability to ride one-handed through very technical terrain while holding a camera in the other hand); to Outside for their support and promotion; and last but not least, to L. Renee Blount for going Beyond Familiar.