We're going to kick off the weekend with a group screening of one of Nathan Starzynski's videos from his 2-year cycling adventure around the world. This will give us all a chance to learn about his adventure before his presentation during the weekend.

Following the video, we'll head outside to enjoy some campfire stories, where select participants will share a bikepacking story with us.

Standard participant arrival and registration upstairs at Vorlage. Go up the stairs and enter the double doors.

This year, Serge Gouin (@sego.touring) will be set up outside during arrival, so he can take photos of participants and their bikes. We highly encourage you to get some photos taken, before, or after, registration.

Take some time to walk around, check out the bikes of the Canadian Shield Bikepacking Summit and ask all the questions that come to your mind.

On Saturday evening, rather than order food from the bar, why not join Daniel as he leads you through a group cooking session, so you can communally enjoy a delicious bikepacking friendly meal. Best of all, as Daniel is a vegetarian, the meal you will cook will work both with and without meat.

Get out on your bike for a ride in the beautiful Outaouais Region, choosing between a picturesque gravel ride along the Gatineau River or a jaunt into the Gatineau Park, mixing things up with doubletrack and singletrack.

Meaghan Hackinen returns to the Canadian Shield Bikepacking Summit as one of the most decorated and respected ultra‑endurance racers in the sport today. A multi‑episode guest of the Bikepack Adventures Podcast and a long‑time friend of the community, Meaghan made history in 2025 by setting the fastest overall women’s combined time across the full Mountain Race Series. Her season included first‑place women’s finishes at both the Hellenic Mountain Race and the Silk Road Mountain Race, along with a hard‑fought second place at the Atlas Mountain Race.

In her keynote, Meaghan shares the physical, mental, and emotional realities of taking on three of the world’s toughest off‑road ultras in a single year. Her talk blends practical insight with the honesty and humility she’s known for, offering riders of all levels a rare look into what it means to push limits, adapt under pressure, and carry the lessons forward into everyday life and adventure.

Grab some coffee, have a snack, and chat with other participants, presenters and sponsors.

Workshop 1: Health and Hygene in the Backcountry with David Burnford
Workshop 2: Cinematic Storytelling on the Move with Rob Givens
Workshop 3: Layering Systems and How to Make Effective Clothing Choices with Robyn Hughes

Grab some food from the restaurant, chill with new friends or head into town for a quick bike. The options are endless.

Nathan is an outdoor adventurer and filmmaker who from May 2022 to June 2024, spent 2 years cycling 41,500km around the world. Born in Ottawa, he grew up hiking, cycling, and paddling in Ontario. Moving out to Vancouver for university, Nathan spent most of his spare time outdoors, camping, skiing, hiking, and practicing photography. This passion has now grown to an all-encompassing love for the outdoors and exploring the world.Having previously worked in the film industry, has managed to find a way to capture his adventures in a way that makes it feel as though you are right there, along for the ride.

A few words from the event organizer before we join in a round-robin bikepacking route run-down.

Post bike ride.
Drink coffee; change clothes; eat breakfast...
Meet other participants, chat with presenters and engage with event sponsors.

Once again in 2026, we will hold the Grand Depart for the Canadian Shield Bikepacking Route immediately after the conclusion of the Bikepacking Summit.
This is a fantastic way to start off the bikepacking season, providing multiple distances for people to choose from, depending on their available time.

A short thank you speech followed by prize draws before the event officially comes to a close.

Grab some coffee, have a snack, and chat with other participants, presenters and sponsors.

TBD

In the spirit of growing the bikepacking community and to help those newer to the sport to get the necessary kit to have the best adventure possible, we will set up some tables where participants can buy and sell used bikepacking gear. We'll also be having our photographer shooting photos of participants and their bikes.

Workshop 4: Unpacking Our Fears: A practical tool for bikepacking confidence with Meaghan Hackinen
Workshop 5: Bikepack Pro: From Antelope Wells to the App Store, via intensive care with Matthew Trinneer
Workshop 6: Topic TBD

Robyn is an experienced bikepacker equally at home navigating Toronto’s urban sprawl and Ontario’s vast wilderness and strives to tear down the barriers that keep women from adventuring on a bike. She approaches ultracycling events like the 2026 Atlas Mountain Race and the 2025 Golden Horseshoe Race not just as a personal challenge, but as a living demonstration. Though she loves big adventures, her message is simple: adventure starts small, and right from your doorstep.

Be aware of the overlapping time for those that get out on the bike ride.
Typical morning stuff. Change clothes; drike coffee, eat something...
Hang out with new friends, chat with presenters and engage with event sponsors.