Here's the latest route entry in Bikepacking.com for a region pretty close to my home Western Canada (I've done some of the route).
https://bikepacking.com/routes/cowichan-valley-8/
If you scroll down the route description page to the picture gallery, the first shot shows the two bikes used and one has two rear panniers. They say the route could be done with gravel bikes instead of mountain bikes if geared low enough but no mention of packs.
Why I point this out is that, while these submissions are from members, they are vetted by the web staff to reflect the ethos they want to promote. Along with the other examples I've linked in this thread it seems they are not hung up on the luggage.
From their website page describing that route (their picture not mine):
Note one bike has a drybag on rear rack and the other has panniers.
And myself with a backpack on rack in the same locale.
