The news was that the Dewdney Trail had seen some KCTS attention in the power line area. Nine Holy Wowers showed up on Thursday Aug 25th, to try the changes out. It was a hot August night, perfect for the twelve kilometer ride up the Cascade Highway to the Dewdney Trail head, good training for Moab, coming up in less than a month.
Poor Dewdney, she's seem some heavy traffic. Guess the Seven Summits and the car droppers are upping the usage. This trail was created for horses, not bikes, so there are long stretches of straight trail that induce high speeds and extreme braking. It needs more features and berms to make it more sustainable. Oh well, still a great ride.
The flies were unbearable at the top of the summit. If you did not have dinner, all you had to do was open your mouth and it would fill with protein. Better get out of here quickly. Top part of the trail was smooth and flowy, no changes here, except the bug count went down. Mid section was good too. Ahh the power line section, usually a rock mess, wow huge changes here. It was a little dusty because of the new trail construction but the KCTS crew had worked it's sustainable magic, with the addition of flowy, no brakes required, bermed turns right down the power line. Fantastic improvement.
Rest of the trail was a bit loose and brake rutted but the additions made hold great promise for the rest of the trail. Thanks Stewart and KCTS. Well done.
Sorry for the lack of photos or video, but I have been having too much fun just riding.
Friday, August 26, 2011
HW TRAIL RIDE: SECRET TRAIL TAKING SHAPE AT RED MT
On August 23 the Holy Wow Gang started the Tuesday night ride with what is known as a circle ride. Just for those of you that don't know what that is, here is an explanation. The riders that show up, ride in a circle until someone takes the lead and takes the group on a trail ride of their choice or the group comes to a consensus on a ride and off we go. Circle rides can be quite interesting and sometimes we discover new and exciting pieces of trail that we did not even know existed. Such was the case on Tuesday night.
We rode the long way up to Red Head via Larry's and Miners and went down the Old Red Head trail that has been neglected since the building of Red Top. Quite a few logs to be crossed but the trail itself was in good shape. Felt a little old school and that was a neat feeling. Eventually we ran into the new trail and continued down to the transition trail that took us to Dale's Trail and then out on to the T-Bar. Rode across the T-Bar and up the old trail to the top of the old Silver load lift. Lots of old stuff here but very nostalgic. Where to now?
At this point we were in explore mode. We had seen a piece of wild looking trail in this area on one of our previous rides and wondered if there was more. Rumors of a trail all the way down Granite have floated around for a couple years, but nothing much has been said publicly. Could it be so? Up and over toward the new Silver Load chair, heading in the general direction of our previous sighting. Lo and behold, we found the Mother Lode, a super bermed, bridged, tabletopped , gap jumped piece of mountain bike magic. Wonder who the creator is? We were definitely the benefactors on this evening. Huge smiles all around. Thank you to the mountain bike god's. Can't wait to ride it again.
Looks like there is going to be more trail too, because some of us rode up a roughed out trail that extended its way up towards the Old Turkey Alley ski run. Humm. This will be great. Another trail to make Rossland even better than the best place to ride on earth.
We rode the long way up to Red Head via Larry's and Miners and went down the Old Red Head trail that has been neglected since the building of Red Top. Quite a few logs to be crossed but the trail itself was in good shape. Felt a little old school and that was a neat feeling. Eventually we ran into the new trail and continued down to the transition trail that took us to Dale's Trail and then out on to the T-Bar. Rode across the T-Bar and up the old trail to the top of the old Silver load lift. Lots of old stuff here but very nostalgic. Where to now?
At this point we were in explore mode. We had seen a piece of wild looking trail in this area on one of our previous rides and wondered if there was more. Rumors of a trail all the way down Granite have floated around for a couple years, but nothing much has been said publicly. Could it be so? Up and over toward the new Silver Load chair, heading in the general direction of our previous sighting. Lo and behold, we found the Mother Lode, a super bermed, bridged, tabletopped , gap jumped piece of mountain bike magic. Wonder who the creator is? We were definitely the benefactors on this evening. Huge smiles all around. Thank you to the mountain bike god's. Can't wait to ride it again.
Looks like there is going to be more trail too, because some of us rode up a roughed out trail that extended its way up towards the Old Turkey Alley ski run. Humm. This will be great. Another trail to make Rossland even better than the best place to ride on earth.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
HW TRAIL RIDE: HALL MT. NOISY CREEK
Saturday dawned bright and sunny. The Holy Wow Gang knows this because we were up at the crack of dawn in order to load up the bikes and make the trip over the border, to Sullivan Lake to ride the Hall Mt trail. The Hall Mt. trail used to be a regular on the list of trails that we rode, but we have not gotten around to it for a number of years. Guess the riding around Rossland is just too good. We had vowed to get back to Hall Mt. and Saturday August 13, 2011 was to be the day.
Everything started out well, bikes were loaded, coffee acquired, vehicles arranged (we needed enough to handle a shuttle), and passports in hand, we headed toward Salmo and the border crossing at Nelway. This is were the day slowed down a bit. The border was quite busy and we had a young german visitor with us who took some time to be processed and allowed to enter the USA .It cost him $6 american (had to be american) for a pass to enter the country for the day. It took so long I began to wonder if they had cuffed him and put him in the clink. Finally, out of the door comes Valentin, pass in hand and we are off again.
Got to the Lake, dropped off the car to ferry the shuttle drivers back at the end of the day, and up we went. Now 500 road is a forest service road that is open until Aug 15th , so being that it was only the 13th we could drive up a good portion of the way and cut down the uphill ride. This was a good thing because the day was really heating up. After a solid half hour drive we arrived at the trail head. We decided to go right to the top of Hall Mt. @ about 6500 feet, take in the view and the descend. The climb was a good 45 minutes of grinding away but the views from the top were quite marvelous.
Check out the slide show and video. A GoPro version will follow in the near future.
Hall Mt. was it's usual awesome self. Everyone was all smiles and high fives after the ride. Some of the nicest flowing single track that one can find. We all wondered why we had been neglecting it for so long. Glad we made the outing.
While the shuttles were being retrieved we swam, had cold beer and relaxed. The end to a perfect mountain bike day.
They even let the kid back into Canada without paying. What a bargain.
On the drive home you got that sense that you had experienced a little bit of heaven on earth, just the way it is supposed to be. Thanks Sullivan Lake, thanks Hall Mt., but most of all thanks to the people on the ride for helping us experience a heavenly day.
Everything started out well, bikes were loaded, coffee acquired, vehicles arranged (we needed enough to handle a shuttle), and passports in hand, we headed toward Salmo and the border crossing at Nelway. This is were the day slowed down a bit. The border was quite busy and we had a young german visitor with us who took some time to be processed and allowed to enter the USA .It cost him $6 american (had to be american) for a pass to enter the country for the day. It took so long I began to wonder if they had cuffed him and put him in the clink. Finally, out of the door comes Valentin, pass in hand and we are off again.
Got to the Lake, dropped off the car to ferry the shuttle drivers back at the end of the day, and up we went. Now 500 road is a forest service road that is open until Aug 15th , so being that it was only the 13th we could drive up a good portion of the way and cut down the uphill ride. This was a good thing because the day was really heating up. After a solid half hour drive we arrived at the trail head. We decided to go right to the top of Hall Mt. @ about 6500 feet, take in the view and the descend. The climb was a good 45 minutes of grinding away but the views from the top were quite marvelous.
Check out the slide show and video. A GoPro version will follow in the near future.
Hall Mt. was it's usual awesome self. Everyone was all smiles and high fives after the ride. Some of the nicest flowing single track that one can find. We all wondered why we had been neglecting it for so long. Glad we made the outing.
While the shuttles were being retrieved we swam, had cold beer and relaxed. The end to a perfect mountain bike day.
They even let the kid back into Canada without paying. What a bargain.
On the drive home you got that sense that you had experienced a little bit of heaven on earth, just the way it is supposed to be. Thanks Sullivan Lake, thanks Hall Mt., but most of all thanks to the people on the ride for helping us experience a heavenly day.
Friday, August 12, 2011
WEDDING RIDE: MONTE COLA DRESSED UP FOR NUPTIALS
The last time the Holy Wow Gang rode Monte Cola, the snow had just left and the trail was in great shape. Trails after the snow melts are kind of reborn. This time the trails crew had raised the child trail to a new state of perfection. Definitely ready for marriage to every rider who is willing to venture out the Larch single track. The trail will love you and you will love it. It will boss you around a little but then forgive you and make up with lovely swooping turns, drops, and table tops. Absolutely fantastic.
We decide to take the soon to be married Hopkin's couple out for ride with the gang. What better way for the Holy Wow Gang to celebrate a marriage, than to go for a ride on a trail that mirrors the marriage journey in it's very own dirt, rocks and roots. So, off we went, climbing the Larch Trail, sort of like the effort it takes to establish a relationship. Beautiful single track but some sweat required.
Arriving at the summit of the climb you are treated to some very unique views of Red and granite peaks. Anticipation of the coming ski season begins to well up inside. Stop that! Summer seems to have just started, guess it's just in the blood. We are here to ride, and the real relationship is about to be consummated. Let's do it Monte Cola. Monte Cola did it's thing and the rewards were as good as any relationship.
We climbed out off Neptune Creek on a bridged piece of single track called Cog. Always work to do in any commitment, but the journey was on sweet single track with multiple bridges crossing the cool waters of the Hanna Creek water shed. Life is so very sweet and sometimes so very short. Couldn't help but think of Doug Davis, who just lost his hard fought battle with cancer, as we climbed through this spiritual part of the forest with it's gurgling streams and pungent aromas. Rest in peace Digger.
After a fast, somewhat out of control (right Crash) descent of Gibbard's main trail, we found ourselves at the Rock Cut pub for wings and cold beer. Judging by the smiles on Deidre's and Joseph's faces, they really liked the gift.
We decide to take the soon to be married Hopkin's couple out for ride with the gang. What better way for the Holy Wow Gang to celebrate a marriage, than to go for a ride on a trail that mirrors the marriage journey in it's very own dirt, rocks and roots. So, off we went, climbing the Larch Trail, sort of like the effort it takes to establish a relationship. Beautiful single track but some sweat required.
Arriving at the summit of the climb you are treated to some very unique views of Red and granite peaks. Anticipation of the coming ski season begins to well up inside. Stop that! Summer seems to have just started, guess it's just in the blood. We are here to ride, and the real relationship is about to be consummated. Let's do it Monte Cola. Monte Cola did it's thing and the rewards were as good as any relationship.
We climbed out off Neptune Creek on a bridged piece of single track called Cog. Always work to do in any commitment, but the journey was on sweet single track with multiple bridges crossing the cool waters of the Hanna Creek water shed. Life is so very sweet and sometimes so very short. Couldn't help but think of Doug Davis, who just lost his hard fought battle with cancer, as we climbed through this spiritual part of the forest with it's gurgling streams and pungent aromas. Rest in peace Digger.
After a fast, somewhat out of control (right Crash) descent of Gibbard's main trail, we found ourselves at the Rock Cut pub for wings and cold beer. Judging by the smiles on Deidre's and Joseph's faces, they really liked the gift.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
TRAIL RIDE: OLD READ HEAD IS NOT DEAD
After a walk up the Red Head trail for a huckleberry outing on Monday evening, I felt a little nostalgia for the Old Girl. We had not ridden the trail for a long time. I decided to put the Old Red Head trail up for grabs as a Tuesday night ride. Eight Holy Wow Gang members bought in and up Red Mountain we went on a hot August evening. We took the lowest pitched route to the trail head in the hopes of keeping the sweat factor as cool as possible.
The route up took us along Moe's to Larry's past Camp Doobie to the Enchanted Forest and up onto the Gas Line. Really great hot summer night single track mostly on the shady side of the mountain. At this point we had to gain some vertical but a stop to pick some huckleberries added a refreshing pause to the journey.
The trail head came none to soon but some idiot decided to go up Dale's Trail to get a better view. The landscape was beautiful. It included a evening light painting of Rossland with a forest fire burning in the distance (probably over the border). The extra up caused a division in the group. Two riders decided that they had enough vertical gain and down they went never to be seen again during the ride. Hope they made it home OK.
Time for the decent. Old Red Head has some steeper, rockier sections than Red Top. It was good to revisit these features along with the many bridges and a couple of skinnies. Very fun single track. Finished the ride off with a rip down O'Flanagan's, a climb back up Larry's to visit the third of the Three Stooges, Curly's and a zip down Center Star to home.
Needless to say, the refreshments were extra refreshing after a great flashback ride of the Old Girl.
The route up took us along Moe's to Larry's past Camp Doobie to the Enchanted Forest and up onto the Gas Line. Really great hot summer night single track mostly on the shady side of the mountain. At this point we had to gain some vertical but a stop to pick some huckleberries added a refreshing pause to the journey.
The trail head came none to soon but some idiot decided to go up Dale's Trail to get a better view. The landscape was beautiful. It included a evening light painting of Rossland with a forest fire burning in the distance (probably over the border). The extra up caused a division in the group. Two riders decided that they had enough vertical gain and down they went never to be seen again during the ride. Hope they made it home OK.
Time for the decent. Old Red Head has some steeper, rockier sections than Red Top. It was good to revisit these features along with the many bridges and a couple of skinnies. Very fun single track. Finished the ride off with a rip down O'Flanagan's, a climb back up Larry's to visit the third of the Three Stooges, Curly's and a zip down Center Star to home.
Needless to say, the refreshments were extra refreshing after a great flashback ride of the Old Girl.
Monday, August 8, 2011
HW OUTING: MIDWAY RIDING AND RIVER FLOATING
Been away from the computer for two weeks so I am a little late with this post but better late than never.
Nine Holy Wow Gang members joined Andy Vandendool in Midway for three days of riding and river rafting. It was a blast. We quickly found out that Midway is more than a gas station on Highway 3. The camp site, down along the Kettle River, is just a gem, at $10 per night for tenting and a buck for a shower(you are encouraged to shower with your significant other) it is a bargain and beautiful at the same time.
There really are trails in Midway, and Andy showed us a great selection of real single track. The up and down factor is very real here and the exposure is nice and steep. Quite the challenge. You need your best balance and steering to be able to navigate the labyrinth of narrow trails that skirt the US border on the north facing slope just above the camp ground. Great riding.
The Kettle River provided the rest of the entertainment for the afternoons. Two hours of luxurious floating and paddling led us from the bridge 10km up the road from Midway right back to the campsite. A few cold drinks the odd tipping canoe, and numerous swim stops, kept us refreshed.along the way. Bald eagles, coyotes, deer, and other forms of wild life joined us on the journey. A special place.
The nightly campfire was a welcome event to warm and soothe tired paddling and pedaling muscles, however it did not last must past 10 o'clock. Was it too much fun during the day or are we starting to show signs of aging. Must of been the sun.
Thanks Andy, for the invitation and the hospitality. There was some talk about making it an annual. I am in.
Nine Holy Wow Gang members joined Andy Vandendool in Midway for three days of riding and river rafting. It was a blast. We quickly found out that Midway is more than a gas station on Highway 3. The camp site, down along the Kettle River, is just a gem, at $10 per night for tenting and a buck for a shower(you are encouraged to shower with your significant other) it is a bargain and beautiful at the same time.
There really are trails in Midway, and Andy showed us a great selection of real single track. The up and down factor is very real here and the exposure is nice and steep. Quite the challenge. You need your best balance and steering to be able to navigate the labyrinth of narrow trails that skirt the US border on the north facing slope just above the camp ground. Great riding.
The Kettle River provided the rest of the entertainment for the afternoons. Two hours of luxurious floating and paddling led us from the bridge 10km up the road from Midway right back to the campsite. A few cold drinks the odd tipping canoe, and numerous swim stops, kept us refreshed.along the way. Bald eagles, coyotes, deer, and other forms of wild life joined us on the journey. A special place.
The nightly campfire was a welcome event to warm and soothe tired paddling and pedaling muscles, however it did not last must past 10 o'clock. Was it too much fun during the day or are we starting to show signs of aging. Must of been the sun.
Thanks Andy, for the invitation and the hospitality. There was some talk about making it an annual. I am in.
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