Canada BC - One Epic Ride, in fact our best ever by a long way.
Driving down a gravel road for 3 hrs in the dark, dodging deer and the odd bear, with no directions and a flight to catch in a few hours, tired and sweaty after an eight hour hot and dusty ride, was it worth it..........Oh yes! a thousand times yes.
North of Pemberton, B.C. Canada, it seems like the other side of nowhere, only accessible by dirt roads, our Cavalier Hire car protested all the way, sorry Budget!
Starting from the virtual oasis of a lakeside lodge, we headed warnings from the locals of the magnitude of the task not letting it prey on our minds as we set off on our epic adventure. Jack with Agent Orange - Jamie Carr, IndianJones and our new Canadian buddy Kira, bravely battling with a 36lb Kona Chute.
This is the scenery and its over 35 degress...phew
The climb takes us above the snow line
we start with a long scenic fireroad climb, a few hours later four weary bikers, stop to admire the views. Dense forest has given way to numerous snow capped rocky mountains , it takes away what little breath we have left. Out with the trail-mix and the climbing then continues, traversing a valley on sweet singletrack. This has been laid out by decades of horse trekkers, and adds to the unspoiled wilderness feel.
After 4 hrs, our summit goal at Windy Pass is reached, a most amazing backdrop to relax and wolf down a few welcome bagels, thankfully its still warm enough to be in shorts and tee's, and fun enough to enjoy the snowdrifts, how can this get any better we thought, but it does.
A group of Kira's girl friends are riding up behind us, their destination for a few days wilderness camping and fishing is a lake now below us, all the gear being dropped of there by float plane, we point down and enjoy.
Summit - Come on biatch get those bike's fixed..he..he
Jack and Jamie are in there somewhere - click for superb wallpaper shot as used on the Singletrack website.
Narrow ribbons of singletrack twist and turn, fast then tight, eroded by animals only into a dusty channel sometimes a foot deep, beautiful to ride, but there's no room for error.
The view from any rider at the rear was of a cartoon like speeding dust-ball flying down the steep mountain side (see pic. above).
Regularly the track had us heading for a small gap between bushes, only to be faced with a sharp turn overlooking the edge of huge drops. Slamming the rear wheel into the side of the ruts, to slow down, whooping in both relief and shear joy at getting round, hoping the next rider could see enough in the dust wake to survive, the fun is only just beginning.
There's only time for a brief rest bite at the lake, we still have a long way to go and supplies are running low ,the inviting cool water has to be missed.
The singletrack and the downhill carries on and on and on, sometimes fast wooded rooty sections, sometimes open, on the edge of drops to the valleys below. An hour of this amazing riding, and the trail changes again. Its now following a raging river as it cuts its way down the mountain. The track rising and falling along the river bank, still singletrack and very dusty. Superb tight switchbacks carved into rock, with endless channels and logs to hop over, yet still going down, bliss.
None of us now has any water or food left now, but enthusiasm is sky high, fuelled by this awesome trail. We haven't seen another soul all day.
Eventually we reach our destination pick up point, jump in the back of a waiting 4x4 truck and return to civilization, huge grins shining from our blackened faces. Four riders, who between us have ridden on some of the worlds amazing trails stretching over 4 continents, gibbering insanely. All in agreement that we had just experienced one of the most amazing unspoiled natural singletrack rides we had ever ridden, 2 ½ hrs worth of blissfull descent to top off a true Epic ride. Where is it you scream...........sorry, I can't hear you.
Jack Peterson 24/07/2002
Indian and Kira
Indian climbs
I never got a photo though oh well.
Oh go on then, its one great place to visit, here's some Info:
The trails are around Spruce lakes in the South Chilcotins BC Canada
The lodge is Tyax lodge North of Gold Bridge
This Mega Trail is Gun Creek passing Spruce Lake.
Tyax Air or Blackcomb Helicopters will help you go back Country and Chilctin Holidays.com will pamper you if you wish.
WhistlerbikeCo will provide area Info.
Stop Press:
Agent Orange loved this place so much he now runs a tour company that will meet all your holiday needs in the area - visit RideTheAlps
Jack plays -this is a landing from the bank
4 happy, smelly and very dehydrated dudes