Year: 2006

KVR Trip — Day 1

Posted on by Smoke

OK, OK, I know, I’ve been slack on updating. For those of you paying attention, I’ve had to do a little revamp on the site. Thanks Microsoft, for making life so easy on the little guy (Microsoft lost a lawsuit, and now I have to recode every site I do. Just buy them out next time, will ya?).

Anyway, on to the tour….

It looks like for the next couple of years I’ll be starting the season with St. Georges School. St. Georges is the premiere boys prep school in Western Canada, and every spring 150 Grade 10 boys have a wilderness experience. Things like backcountry skiing, kayaking the West Coast, hiking the Coast Mountains. Those of them who aren’t really into the outdoors come biking with yours truly on the old abandoned rail grade between Summerland and Otter Lake.

…sort of a mean joke, isn’t it?

Our first camp was pretty sweet, although a bit cold. We had snow flurries throughout the night, and then the temp dropped to a numbing -10C just before sunrise. All the guys were asking me what time we had to getup the night before. I just sort of laughed, figuring that they wouldn’t sleep at all. I was right.

Withthe cold, we got off to a good start. Here’s Mike Procaska, my loyal assistant, on the first part of the trail.

Our first stop was at this trestle.

Hi Chris.

Lunch was at a bluff overlooking the valley. David pulled out his trusty stove to heat up the chili. What a man.

Good views.

So, we only lost one guy at lunch. He turned up later, safe and sound. It’s pretty hard to get lost on a railway grade.

Just follow the gravel, man.

When we rolled into camp, we got into some more technical riding. Hey, you gotta make do with what you got.

Here’s a link to THOR!!! and his new skills on video.

The best part of this trip? We don’t have to cook. The guys are on their own. Looks tasty…

..and of course the obligatory camfire, complete with exploding lighters.

Wade Simmons Freeride Experience
July 9th to July 27th.
Click for details….

FourTwentyFour

Posted on by Smoke

Another sick, bluebird day. Here’s the view from camp.

Mmmmmmmmmmm….Jolly Ranchers.

With it being such a nice day, we decided to tear it up in Farwell some more. Besides, it was over 30C again, so why not pretend it’s summer? Our first run was on the Fingers. It’s a fast run, but it gives a good view of our later destination, Godsmack. Those lines in the background are where we are headed to.

Can’t you just taste the fear?

Mitchell dropped theis line to get us rolling.

Actually, it’s way freakier than the pics do justice. LOTS of exposure, and don one has ridden these lines in a couple of years. This shows it a bit better.

Somehow I managed to keep my feet on the pedals the whole way down, but I had to deal with a ton of speed to do it. Biggest headrush I’ve had on a bike in years.

It’s just so much like skiing. Here’s Kevin getting some face time.

Dan took another line, and it looked just fine.

JJ drops in.

The beauty of these lines is how long they are. The vertical is so deceiving. It just keeps coming at you. Too bad about the half hour hike a bike out under the now 34C sun. I got seriously burnt today (a week later my lips are STILL peeling).

We did a few more rides in town, but nothing can top this day for early season. Anyone want to go up there soon?

Wade Simmons Freeride Experience
July 9th to July 27th.
Click for details….

FourTwentyThree

Posted on by Smoke

Yeeehaaaa!!! Farwell Canyon and some jetboating onthe agenda today. First we hit a couple of classics in Farwell. This shot is a total fluke. I was playing around with the white balance in low light and forgot to reset for the bright sun. Sorta cool….

Steve hanging out…

Dan gets vertical on one of the many chutes in the canyon. It’s way gnarlier than it looks.

Kevin (I think) on the same line. Everyone was spooked enough by this one that there were no takers on it the second time around.

After a couple of runs, we hit the xc for the tour out to the Fraser. It’s about 30 km’s to the confluence of the Chilcotin and Fraser Rivers, which was our destination. We were supposed to start at 2PM, but we hung around waiting for stragglers for another 45 minute, just in case. Remember this, as it became more important later.

After about 20km, wee got out to the canyon. Before we dropped in, a little fortitude was called for. (like it isn’t wild enough out there).

The first part of the descent is pretty mellow, still following an old doubletrack.

That ridge is where we had lunch.

Once you get down a ways, the trail gets a little radder.

It’s more like backcountry skiing than anything else.

Well, except that it was about 30C at this point (remember the -8 from a couple of days ago?).

Unique hazards for Canada in April, especially this far north.

Ahhh, the shuttle vehicle.

We went downstream for a ways, just to burn some more time in case there were any stragglers. It was a wicked ride. Lots of standing waves, some 360’s, full on redneck style. Still, we saw no other riders come in to the beach.

Which was sort of funny, since Johnny Bejoin decided to chase us out and missed the ride. I heard he got back at about 4:30 am…..

Wade Simmons Freeride Experience
July 9th to July 27th.
Click for details….