What do you get when you put a DH rider with a camera, two seasoned bikepackers, and a “somewhere-in-between” on a hardtail together to test a fresh trail alignment at Lake Mountain? A motley crew kind of adventure with some intriguing tracks, a few hike-a-bikes, and some quality end-of-day highs and lows.

As guinea pigs for a new route to Keppel Hut from Lake Mountain Alpine Resort, in Victoria’s High Country, we were intrigued to see what the trails and views along this new proposed track had in store. We also couldn’t find much online about bikepacking in the area or much about the cute wood and stone “Keppel Hut” at the end of the track.

As Vic High Country locals most of us have had a crack at the Cascades Trail and frequented the Duck Inn in Marysville on adventures past. None of us knew quite what to expect from this XC-bike-pack hybrid adventure.

Let the games begin.



XC Starter Pack | Lake Mountain to Keppel Hut

Lake Mountain has some quality cross-country tracks, and local Nathan was kind enough to point us in the right direction for something a little spicier before hitting the gravel.

Granite Grind is aptly named with granite rollers and rock gardens a plenty to climb your way up to the Alpine Resort. This trail winds through single track amongst lush forest and a few well-built trail speed jumps amongst the climbing. If you are a seasoned bike pack professional like Nick you can experience rock drops whilst rigged up with bike packing bags.

Quite the sight for us mere beginners just trying to get on by. Nonetheless, it was a little XC leg warmer before the afternoon of descending to the hut.

Off Gravel Adventure Packing

As noted, we were the guinea pigs of this little adventure. At present, the alignment from Alpine Resort to Keppel Hut is labelled on Strava as “Don’t use this track unless you’re insane. This is NOT a dare!” We are still sourcing the original contributor for this classic statement, but the name didn’t disappoint the two bikepacking professionals in the group.

It turns out we did dare and had rewarding views of the spindly white gums lining the national park, pedalling out along the brush-cut trail. There is not too much climbing which meant it was only a few hours from strapping bags to our bikes and rolling into the hut at sunset. Nath has given us the inside scoop that the final completion of the trail should come in time for next season. With a bit more work to shift that Strava tagline, the trail to Keppel will be a cruisey afternoon of climbing followed by a fun singletrack descent to the hut.

A worthy refinement we’re excited about. But if you are up for an adventurous, more technical afternoon, it’s worth getting in now.



Keppel Hut | A night under the stars

We rolled in pretty late to explore Keppel Hut under headlaps. Rummaging through the hut, finding trinkets and treasures of visitors passed. I have to say the creative entries in the guestbook from hikers, bikers and 4WD enthusiasts alone were a good laugh after a day of bashing on the pedals.

It was also nice to have a little shelter, a bathroom close by, and a water source. Unusually luxurious ingredients for a bikepacking adventure.

Luxurious ingredient number 4 involved cracking a beer and putting the feet up in fresh socks!



Descending with Lady Talbot

The glamping experience continued with fresh coffee in the morning, triple distilled via filters and fresh mountain water from Keppel Creek followed by some of the most scenic descents and viewpoints of the trip. The scenery descending Lady Talbot Drive was changing, and the trail was much less technically challenging. It opened to wide, fire road gravel in time for us to get a good amount of tyre schralping, bikepacking bags in tow!

 

We even saw a few keen bikepackers starting their climb up the fire road as we were rolling back to the pub. A hot tip would be to give the classic alignment up and back on Lady Talbot Drive a try if you want more standard fire road tracks but are comfortable with a little more elevation.



Light Packing Tips for Lake Mountain

With a mixed bag of experience in the crew and photo guy Purdie deciding to carry not much more than a hoodie, a sleeping mat, one muesli bar and a small amount of water, we were glad Mum and Dad (Tash and Nick) had the essential kit sorted and loaded.

Some of the basics we learned about on this trip might save others opting for an off-gravel spicy adventure.

• Water is heavy – know your water source and boil or bring a filter instead, Keppel Creek has a stream right near the hut so it had us sorted on this trip for this time of year.

• Tacos are yum, but beans are heavy – bikepacking bags hold much better when evenly packed!

• Coffee – a coffee grinder is always worth the weight (in gold)

Oh and just remember – this track is insane, get involved if you dare!

Choose Your Player! | How to bikepack Keppel Hut

There are a few variations of the day you could choose from at Lake Mountain. Here are some options if you want to expand your “Classic Cascade” horizons.

The Gravel Enthusiast

You talk exclusively in Strava segments and incline percentages. You distinctly know through Trailforks analysis no hike a bike sections will occur before embarking on your adventure. To take the scenic route with the most potential for climbing, give the below a try:

• Lady Talbot Climb – 25.9km of steady climbing about 950m in elevation

• Keppel Overnight

• Lady Talbot Descent – 25.9km of steady descending

  

  The Adventure Junky

• Loves a bit of a scrappy day out, and always takes the road less travelled! Following our footsteps is for you:

  • Granite Grind to Keppel – 14.8km, 379m of climbing

  • Keppel Overnight

  • Lady Talbot Descent – 25.9km steady descending

    

     

    Cross Country Chaos Agent

    • Really don’t have limits and love to gas yourself? Lock out the shock on the climb and finish it off with a Lake Mountain classic on your cross-country rig.

    • Lady Talbot ascent – 25.9km steady climbing and about 950m

    • Cascades descent – 25.2km, 547m climbing and 1442 in descent