10/09/07

The Big Rock Candy Mountains Part 3

Week 2

These last 5 days were going to involve some pretty epic rides (as if the first week wasn't epic enough).  We packed our things and left the smoky Nelson, to head to greener pastures of Revelstoke.  There had been really bad bushfires around BC when we were in Nelson. Below is a pic from our condo, out over the lake. Kinda reminds me of January in Victoria.

So, on the way to Nelson, we stopped into the Ainsworth Hot Springs. We spent a good chunk of time here, just sitting in the nice warm water enjoying life. Ed was feeling a bit run down that day, and wasn't up for the crowds in the springs. Was kinda weird seeing our ever cheerfull and unstressed leader feeling a bit down. Still, everyone has their off days, and his spirits soon lifted when we had a 2 hour wait for a ferry across a lake. It was kinda cool, just sittin by a lake, watching the day go by, not in a hurry to go anywhere. In fact, it was one of the unexpected highlights of the trip. Just sitting there, talking crap to Eddie and the gang.

We woke the next day, to an absolutely fab day. The sun was shinning and the temp was juuuuuust right. Someone upstairs sure was looking down on us!!  The ride today was a stunning ride called the Keystone Basin Ride. It was a 23km, ride in ride out trail. I was pretty excited about this ride. I'd never ridden this trail, and I was looking forward to the trail.

You really know you are in Canada, and at pretty high altitude, when you are riding along and you come across a glacier. That's right, the middle of summer and there is a glacier right next to the trail!! So, I of course stopped and made a spiffy Ice Angel in it, just like the movies!!

 

We stopped at the halfway point for a spot of lunch. The trail winds along massive mountains, through rock slides and over creeks, to spit you out into this oasis.

This little hut, just plonked in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. Truly amazing. Below are some pics from the ride.

 

The top of that pole is how much snow they get during winter!!!!! That's about 20ft!!!
Shameless self promotion!!
 

The day after Keystone, the weather turned a bit sour. It had rained most of the night and was drizzling when we got up. But, being the true mountain biker that we are, we don't let a little bit of pissy rain stop us from riding. It just makes it a little more interesting.  We rode some trails in the morning that were pretty interesting. It was super tacky, but with uber slippery roots thrown in for a little unpredictability. I was still having a ball. I'll ride pretty much in any conditions. It was good to get some mud on me. I hadn't ridden in the wet for quite a while. After lunch it was still drizzling a fair bit. Edd had told us about a new downhill run, that had just been cut a few weeks ago, that was pretty sweet. The rest of the gang were a bit bummed that it was raining, and everyone's riding gear was pretty much soaked through, but Gilles and I didn't travel 25hrs on a plane to sit inside!! So, Eddie, Amanda, Gilles and I put our cold damp shoes and gloves on and got a shuttle to the top of the run. I tell you what, it was sooooooo good!!!  Super tacky and scary all at once!!! We got a shuttle to the top, which was above the clouds, and it took us about 45mins to get down!! Riding back through the clouds and mist, in the forest, sure was a big thrill.  I pretty much locked my back wheel up and skidded my wet muddy bum down the 9km long, 1200m drop, with a maximum downhill grade of -38%,  trail to the bottom!!  By the time we'd got to the bottom we were soooo pumped, scared and sore at the same time. I tell you what, if the shuttle was at the bottom, i would have gone to the top again!!!

Poor Ell had seen better days, by the time we got back to the hut!!
 
I swear it's mud!!!!!

Our last few nights were spent in Golden.  Each trip I've come to ride in Golden, and every time I'm amazed by the trail in Mount 7. It's a full on DH trail, with fast windy, steep, loose, sketchy and exposed ridge riding trail. Pretty hairy. Not much to say about this trail, but it's fast and scary.

Our last night Sacred Rides really turned it on for us. I'm not going to give away anything, but let's just say that we've experienced 'Fresh Meat Mondays', and the images i saw that night have been burned onto the back of my eyes for the rest of my life!!

Eddie showing the locals the local Fernie way!!!

The last day was the Cox Hill ride in Kananaskis.  I've ridden this trail a few times and I always look forward to riding it.  It starts with an ass reaming 2km climb, then another lung bleeding 2km climb to the 2220m top of Cox Hill.

That's what Gilles thought of the 2 climbs. Can you see the little bit of vomit in there???

After having lunch we began the 1000m drop back to the van.  Gilles and I lead the group, and we sure did have a good ride down. Being the last day, we pretty much had nothing to lose. It was soooo good to just let go, not of the handlebars, but just to finally relax, not knowing that it was the end and there were no more rides.

All in all, this trip was full of good times. The group was uber fun and full of life. And coming over with Ian and Carli again, ment that I got to share this experience, and my life, with them.

Can't wait for our next adventures!!! New Zealand perhaps???!!!

Later Dudes!!!!!