Fel Ci Efo Dau Gynffon – Day 5a

Whoa!! This could be a good one. I’m gonna gloss over the whole debacle with the hotel last night, and just say that the Modern Bakery in Revelstoke is a good place.

About as blue of a day as anyone could ever hope for. This is why we took a rest day yesterday.

Even though this is a short-ish ride, I thought we might take a while.

LOTS of picture opportunities today.

So many, in fact, that I’ve split the day into two posts so you can enjoy the abundance.

Big smiles…

…and big views.

Keystone Standard, almost a year to the day since last time I rode it. Not much has changed, except that it’s sort of crowded today.

All these dang foreign types clogging up the singletrack.

And the occasional Martian. He’s going to blow up the Earth….

Graham, feeling right at home.

Which is weird, because he’s not even a Welshman.

Every once in a while, this is what you get.

The skies were so clear today, even the jets weren’t leaving contrails.

Oops, gotta try a bit harder here.

Graham, true to form, tried to clean this one.

He didn’t make it, but he sure tried.

BOO!

You know, for Brits you’d think they’d be bit more used to a bit of water on the trails.

A million laughs…

Holly just saw a spider.

Oooooo…so artistic.

Well, there’s the cabin.

We’re halfway, take a lunch break.

Fel Ci Efo Dau Gynffon – Day 5b

We now join our regularly scheduled ride, already in progress.

Wait a sec, how’d we get to Thailand?

Oh, never mind. We’re still in Wales.

You can tell by the glaciers and large peaks.

I guess to be fair the architecture is similar.

Enough of this, let’s go back.

Even though you’ve already ridden out, the way back is so different.

Definitely a worthy out and back ride.

Things actually got even MORE scenic, with the peaks in full effect for this one.

Damn hippies…

Sure a lot of smiles out there for people that are climbing all day.

Kind of makes you want to put off the whole “Blow up the Earth” thing.

NNGGGGGGGeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeooooooooooooowwwwwwwww!

Our happy crew.

Inukshuk.

Or about as close to the Olympics as any of US will ever get.

Richard and his stitches (they’re doing very well, and obviously not slowing him down. Well, he DID take 2 days off).

OK, enough artsy fartsy Inukshuks, lets ride.

OK, this is getting a bit weird. Can it get any better?

Apparently, yes. Yes it can.

Another big smile…..

..and we’re out.

Have a map.


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First Day of Skiing

Oh, and did I mention? It’s the GRAND OPENING OF THE NEW REVELSTOKE MOUNTAIN RESORT!

Sorry, didn’t mean to yeall. I got excited. Wouldn’t you if you showed up at 7 am to THIS?

I was there for two days and hardly took any pics. We were too busy skiing to have time to take the camera out. All I got were some lame shots of the (yawn) opening ceremonies.

Some seriously dull speeches there. They had a captive audience, so I guess showmanship wasn’t really high on the agenda. And I quote “In 1891, the banks of the region…….,” at which point I promptly tuned out. Check out the 2000 ‘Stoked skiers rapt with attention…

After a while, they finally got down to business.

I hooked up with a solid crew that incluced the NRG boys, John from Oso Negro, and couple of bros (Matty Shred and another guy whose name I immediatley forgot) that were supposed to be working putting the final touches on the maps around the resort. They did manage to find time around 11:30 for a quick nut tightening.

This hill is going to be a force in the skiing universe. As you can see from the images, it was storming heavily on the opener. Even though the locals were shredding hard during the week leading up to the opening day, there was 30 – 50 cm of freshies everywhere on the hill, even directly under the chair. With 2000 people there, I expected more of a lineup on the quad, but several thigh buring runs later I was completely spent. I went too hard out of the gate for sure, but 20 000′ by lunch is still pretty solid. I guess when the lift system puts you up almost 5000′ in 12 minutes pacing becomes more important.

I ended up staying an extra night in town. It was all Dave’s fault for putting that drink in my hand. Whatareyagonnadoeh?

With some more sensible pacing, we hit the hill for 32000′ on Sunday, and it wa a repeat of the previous. Thigh deep in the trees, knee deep under the lift. I spent the day charging with the NRG boys again, and their pal Peter who produces one fine magazine of mountain culture out of the Kootenays.

Here’s a couple of lame shots of Jorge…

..and Skinny on our favourite run that we were referring to as “The Funnel”.

You can bet that I’ll be back here soon.