The Epic

THE EPIC – Stage 2

Posted on by Smoke

Get your Google Earth goodness HERE.

We had a lot of climbing on the agenda today.

Day 2 started off pretty chilly. Fresh snow on the mountains, and a fair breeze with showers overnight. Actually, the forecast was looking sort of sketchy for later in the week, after weeks of hot and sunny weather.

After a hearty feed, we started off along the “trail.”

…and soon after into another river crossing. This time we had to get wet feet, but it was a good excuse for a coffee break.

Top of the first climb, and the singletrack is over for a while. Oh well, at least the weather is getting nicer.

The camp at the end of the lake, and a late lunch. Get here ont the first day? Yeah, right.

Oh, uphill. Right. This could take a while…

Maybe I’ll just soak up the view for a bit. Hey Shreddie! Ready for a break?

Mitchell, looking ready for the seawall…

Theresa’s dad lettin’ the mullet style off the leash.

Ahhhhhh, almost to camp.

Mark’s dog, Guiness, wasn’t too stoked about packing his food, but still wants to play fetch.

We were more into a nature moment.

Oh, and a little more blustery weather triggered another killer meal with a big fire….

..and bear bangers.

THE EPIC – Stage 1

Posted on by Smoke

OK, so here’s the deal. Every year on Red Shred’s birthday, he goes for an epic across the Chilcotin Mountains by bike with B.O.B Trailers. Not just an epic, but “THE EPIC” as it is known. This year, the route was to go start at the north end of Taseko Lake and ride across Warner Pass to Spruce Lake, then go across Windy Pass, through Eldorado Basin, and out on Lick Creek.

Here’s a map….or if you’re into Google Earth, download THIS FILE to check out the first day.

Our first day was to see how far down Taseko Lakes we could get. Our goal was supposedly all the way to the camp at the far end of Upper Taseko, but since no-one we knew had done the trail, I had my doubts.

Here’s a map of the first day, and as you can see, we didn’t make the end of the lake. Not by a longshot.

After a very long drive out through what looked like Sir Arthur Conan Doyles “Lost World” (or at least the Stoney Creek Reserve), we arrived at Taseko.

It didn’t take long to set up the rigs.

…and we’re off.

It also didn’t take long for us to get into some deep brush. This was the only really gnarly bush we saw on the trip, and it didn’t last long….but what an intro.

Theresa’s dad also brought his dog, a Pekinese named Punky. Keep that in mind when you look at our trip. He ran most of the way.

Ahh…smoooth sailing again, with Brian and Lyall.

There was seemingly endless singletrack like this. I quickly forgot about my trailer, like Steve forgot about his helmet.

Doh! The first casualty, and we’re only a couple of hours in.

While Theresa’s trailer was a bit lighter than the others, it was also lower and wider and was hitting every rock even on the smooth sections. I guess we’ll see how it goes….

Ther we go, Theresa is back in the saddle just in time to see this wicked view.

A very nice late summer day.

About here we all came to our senses regarding getting to the end of the lake today. The trail suddenly got sort of tech, and we all remembered about the trailers we were pulling.

Shane almost fell off this cliff, but managed to hang on…just.

Some swimming in glacial water, some good food on the beach, some cold beers, and a few bear bangers made a fitting end to a great first day.