Filming Bikepacking, Hunting by Bike, and the Challenges of a Female Backcountry Videographer

Warm Lake, Cascade, McCall

July 13-15, 2023

Disclaimer: This blog post contains discussions related to menstruation and outdoor bathroom etiquette. Get outta here if you can’t handle it.

This was a 2-night 3-day trip recording two segments of our hour-long bike show. One of the segments was on young girls, middle and high school age, bikepacking with National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). For most of the girls, it was their first time bikepacking, and for all, it was the longest ride they had ever done. The other segment focused on a hunter who scouts and hunts on his foot-powered bicycle. He prefers non-electric since electric bikes are restricted on the trails he hunts around.

Our first day was driving from Boise to Warm Lake to meet the group of girls around 9 am. Based on the last bicycle filming trip, I knew that filming off the bike was the best option to get better shots. Lauren and I only biked a short mile with the whole group. The mosquitoes were bad but stayed off as long as you moved your body aggressively. The girls had a great pep talk from the leaders of the group before heading out for their 20-mile first day. They were doing a total of about 70 miles over three days. It was a simple day of filming, leap-frogging the group to get a variety of shots. We set up camp next to an airstrip, did a handful of interviews, filmed dinner, ate dinner, and then wrapped filming around 8 pm.

We were camped about 5 miles away from one of my favorite Idaho hot springs, so I grabbed my bike and went for a lil bike ride. I was amazed to have the hot spring completely to myself for about an hour. It was the best way to wind down after a long day of shooting. I watched the sun begin to set, focused on the noise of the river rushing, and tried not to think about someone coming to murder me. I’ve done alot of solo travel, but it’s been awhile, so I think that’s why I was more paranoid than normal lol. Anyway, I still enjoyed myself and my private soak. Making my way back to camp, I passed every color of wildflower, a fox, a deer, and a chipmonk. I had a rough night of sleep, but I was incredibly surprised every time I opened my eyes. One of the most open, clear, and star-filled skies I have seen. I would fall back to sleep by watching the start flicker.

Day two we rolled out of camp to meet our hunter 2.5 hours away, near Cascade, Idaho. Our hunter was very nice and very serious about not filming anything remotely reconizable for viewers. This is a special hunting spot only very few people know about. Lauren and I thought it would be a simple gravel ride to his scouting spot, but it ended up being a little more intense than we planned. It was about 6 miles downhill, where a buck jumped out in front of our hunter. After about 5 miles we took a small path, and then had about a mile of bikepack-bushwacking. After running into stinging needle, cutting up my hands on bushes, and getting smacked in the face alot, we made it to our stopping spot. Not exactly my cup of tea, but a good experience - and hopefully good footage. We then bushwhacked by foot about half a mile up to a saddle where our hunter was placing his trail cameras. After an interview, where we were all being attacked by horse flies and mosquitos, Lauren and I parted ways with our hunter. He went further into the woods, and we started towards our bikes. I quickly started feeling not too well and realized I had to find a poop spot ASAP, and I unfortunately left my poop bag (all the tools I would need) in the car. So this was my first time having absolutely nothing for a number two. Luckily, there were huge and safe leafed plants all around us I could use. Also, if you don’t know bathroom etiquette outdoors you should do some research in case you’re in this situation. Please don’t just poo on the ground You think it couldn’t get worse? Well, it turns out I got my period at this moment too. I had no supplies, but I knew I had some supplies on my bike… which was going to take us a bit to find. So I improvised and got a used napkin Lauren had in her bag, and those big, safe leaves to line my pants - I really didn’t want to ruin my favorite pair of biking shorts. The joys of being a woman. 

After the half mile on foot, we find out bikes. I was let down to realize my period supplies was actually in the car, so I just hoped the leaves would last until the car. We biked uphill for 6 miles in the midday heat, while one by one the leaves were slipping out the bottom of my shorts. I started to crash quickly. It could have been my period, day two of long hot filming days, no food since I left lunch in the car, or maybe a mix of all these things. The small patches of shade and landscape views of Cascade helped push me along. Shout out to Lauren for putting up with my grumpiness this afternoon, thanks Lauren.

We drive back to Cascade and stay in an interesting airbnb for the night. It was Friday night and there was axe throwing below the motel, I could hear the pounding of the axes hitting the wall and the excited screaming after every thump. Luckily all I cared about was a warm shower, bed, and ear plugs to send me into a deep sleep.

Our only work plan for day three was to be in McCall to reconnect with the young bikepacking girls. We wanted to get them finishing their weekend ride around 3pm in town. Since we had the time, Lauren and I went for a bike ride around Cascade. We got a little lost and added more elevation than we expected, but it was still a beautiful and great way to start our day.

That afternoon we made our way to McCall, then drove up the gravel road they would be coming from. We didn’t know exactly where they were, so we didn't know how long we would need to wait. As soon as we relaxed acouple flew past us. Once they made it into McCall, they laid their bikes down and went straight to the ice cream shop. After a much needed ice cream break they quickly packed up and went their separate ways.

Lauren chose to stay in McCall to camp since we had to be back there in a couple of days. I grabbed an ice cream before heading back to Boise.

Until next time,

Mya

Equipment Used

Cameras: FX3, GoPro 9, Insta360 One X

Bike: Surly Troll