Retro Heli

Looks like I have a day off. What should I do?  I know!  I’ll go heli Disneyland with some guys, like Connor!

And Wade!

Yeah, we crammed everyone and bikes into one load.  It was sort of cramped, but we got there.  Haven’t been up here since 2008, and honestly I didn’t think I’d ever be coming back.  Since I was here last the area has been logged and burned, and it’s just not like it was.

I’ll tell you this much…it’s still super gnarly.  After 18 years and roughly 60 laps in here, it’s just as terrifying as ever.  Looks like the Britannia Trials guys have been doing lots of hours keeping it going.  If you’re riding out that way, you might want to consider throwing them a bone.  They’re kind of grumpy about bikes out there, but they like beer and gas money just as much as anyone.  Can’t spend all your cash on helicopters…

Here’s Max figuring out how to ride on snow with a huge pack.

“What do you mean?  You’re on the other side!”

Connor still hasn’t figured out the big pack riding on dirt (and he got a pretty good raspberry on the knee from this one…).

Anyone need to check their white balance?

Connor finds some flow down on the Lion’s Back.   Although lots of the area has been logged, this zone is still OK…for now.

In between the arduous ups and the insane downs, there’s vistas like this to blow your mind.

Here’s one of those insane downs now.

Hard to believe that after all this time, this sucker is still the king.  We actually filmed this particular little adventure for a little Crankworx project.  I hope it doesn’t look too lame.  After all, this kind of riding just isn’t that popular anymore.  Sure is fun, though.

The Happiest Place on Earth – Pt. 2

Yeah, it’s too much for just one post, so I split it.  Anyway, back to our story.  As you recall, I’d eaten a lunch that had some dubious looking lettuce on it, but food is food….right?

Things were fine at this point, as Wade showed us the proper technique.

Everyone took the advice to heart, and a mad session ensued.

Pic o’ the day….

Somewhere around here I was siezed by some chills, and felt the urge to barf, which I manfully (stupidly?) repressed.

OK, no pics for a bit. I was definitely poisoned.  Somehow, I manged to throw up FIVE times, and interstingly only the lettuce came out.  So now Ihave to live with the fact the Tippie out climbed me.  Oh the humiliation…..

Meh…whatever.  By Awesome Rock I was feeling a little bit better.


Pics never do this one justice.  Arthur is on an 85 degree slope there.

And now the standard scenic shots from the last viewpoint.


Yes Burton, I agree.

Simmons, quit posing.

You too, Brett.

A big ride and a big beer.  two great tastes that go great together.

Another one in the books.  Not sure about the random psycho who came by and stomped ona  bunch of beers, then peeled out giving us the finger, but it added some spice to the day.

Oh, and by the way, Brett doesn’t need to stick his dick in a jar of peanut butter.  The end result is already there.

The Happiest Place on Earth – Pt. 1

What….two years have already gone by and I haven’t gone for a Disney run?

Well no wonder. At least it’s not duct tape and a half chewed EatMore….

Actually, it was Andrew’s birthday and he’s never been on one of these, so here ya go…the birthday boy ridin’ shotgun.

Good views from that chair.

With our first lift access, we had some time for plenty of pics, and between Andrew and Wyld Willy there were plenty of SLR’s on the flight.

Say hi to Willy…

OK, enough with the artsy crap…

Arthur, with some kind of gas or something…

Ahh, just relax, the bikes are coming….

Holy FroRiders!  Yes, that’s Tippie AND Simmons there with Willy.

Ready, set, walk yer bikes?!

Oh, there’s the trail.

Our diverse crew, which included other veterans of the heli scene like our old pal Burton, also had several first timers.  Not that it mattered.  This ride quickly degenerated into something of a hammer fest.  If you can call falling down cliffs like these hammering.

I know Burton was a bit worried about the size of the crew, but at this point I think he was more worried about his fitness.  These guys can all ride pretty good.

Ah yes.  Lunch.  Where it all fell apart for me.

Seems I got a tainted sammie from Safeway.  I was feeling fine until this point.  Maybe a bit outta shape compared to some of the hammers that came along, but nothing too bad.

At this point, I still felt at least as good as Lane did here.

What do I mean?  Well, just stay tuned for the next post and I’ll tell ya…..