Wild BC Splendor
A mountain bike trip to Squamish? I wasn't too sure I wanted to spend any of this glorious weather in what always struck me as dreary suburban sprawl at the end of Howe Sound (on the way to the further suburban sprawl and eventual wonders of Whistler). However, Tom had a place to stay in town and is one of my favorite riding buddies, so I jumped into his Subaru and headed north.
Tom's son, pro snowboarder and North Face athlete Lucas Debari, was in Squamish to rock climb and invited us to crash at the home of a fellow TNF athlete off surfing with his family in Costa Rica. After a quick drive through Vancouver, we turned off 99 onto Clarke Avenue and were greeted by the Chief gleaming in the moonlight. In the morning, I realized I was in a town more akin to the Chamonix of North America than a Vancouver suburb as I enjoyed this view while sipping coffee on the deck.
Tom, co-owner and the creative force behind Milano's in Glacier, knew Chris Fulton. a local rider, whose guidance made for a fun day on trails that looked like rabbit tracks radiating from scattered trailheads on the map we bought.
Ironically, we began in a suburban development, climbing to an area near Edith Lake. Several swooping trails beneath a power line dumped us into a forest full of low wooden bridges linked by tight turns and technical but moderate trails full of roots. Roller Coaster brought us back to the cars and a quick drive through more housing developments to a gleaming new school on a hill, Quest University. As we enjoyed the view and cold drinks on the cafeteria deck, our guide explained that the school hosted camps focused on learning new diet and exercise habits, which explained why the rest of the folks in the cafeteria looked so out of place in Squamish which has the largest concentration of 20 - 40 year olds in North America (who all moved there to climb, ski, ride, kite board, etc).
A dusty drive brought us to the next area which featured more downhill oriented trails. First up was the Full Nelson, which wraps you in huge smooth berms and perfectly graded table top and gap jumps. I railed the berms and jumped onto the table tops until my legs wore out about half way down. This is a long, steep, smooth and fun trail with an amazing wood berm on a bridge. For a second lap, we went back up to Cortes ladders which was full of the (relatively) low wood ladders we rode in the morning but on much steeper ground. Your Momma, a rideable but steep trail, dumped us onto a loose, steep, and trashed exit connector that both Tom and I gave up on soon after watching Chris ping off the trail and into the bush in front of us.
After another drive through suburbia, we grabbed a cooler and some beers for the final finish line and capped off the day with Cheshire Cat below Cat Lake, a great swoop through the riverside loam next to the highway.
We gained a friend from Bellingham for the second day, but lost our local guide, so we were on our own. Starting near Alice Lake, we sought more cross country type riding with only some success. The riding here is rough, full of roots, and STEEP. However, the trails are incredibly well constructed, well marked and well maintained. By the end of the day, we found some great rides by choosing trails that were marked with single (instead of double) black diamonds and looking at the contour lines on the map (what a concept). That method rewarded us with our final ride down Entrail to End of Hole Connector and the Icy Hole of Death. These trails were still steep, but the sections were shorter, less exposed and interspersed with beautiful forest and features.
I'll definitely be back, perhaps with a beefier bike, and maybe with some rock shoes and a rack!
Tom's son, pro snowboarder and North Face athlete Lucas Debari, was in Squamish to rock climb and invited us to crash at the home of a fellow TNF athlete off surfing with his family in Costa Rica. After a quick drive through Vancouver, we turned off 99 onto Clarke Avenue and were greeted by the Chief gleaming in the moonlight. In the morning, I realized I was in a town more akin to the Chamonix of North America than a Vancouver suburb as I enjoyed this view while sipping coffee on the deck.
Tom, co-owner and the creative force behind Milano's in Glacier, knew Chris Fulton. a local rider, whose guidance made for a fun day on trails that looked like rabbit tracks radiating from scattered trailheads on the map we bought.
Ironically, we began in a suburban development, climbing to an area near Edith Lake. Several swooping trails beneath a power line dumped us into a forest full of low wooden bridges linked by tight turns and technical but moderate trails full of roots. Roller Coaster brought us back to the cars and a quick drive through more housing developments to a gleaming new school on a hill, Quest University. As we enjoyed the view and cold drinks on the cafeteria deck, our guide explained that the school hosted camps focused on learning new diet and exercise habits, which explained why the rest of the folks in the cafeteria looked so out of place in Squamish which has the largest concentration of 20 - 40 year olds in North America (who all moved there to climb, ski, ride, kite board, etc).
A dusty drive brought us to the next area which featured more downhill oriented trails. First up was the Full Nelson, which wraps you in huge smooth berms and perfectly graded table top and gap jumps. I railed the berms and jumped onto the table tops until my legs wore out about half way down. This is a long, steep, smooth and fun trail with an amazing wood berm on a bridge. For a second lap, we went back up to Cortes ladders which was full of the (relatively) low wood ladders we rode in the morning but on much steeper ground. Your Momma, a rideable but steep trail, dumped us onto a loose, steep, and trashed exit connector that both Tom and I gave up on soon after watching Chris ping off the trail and into the bush in front of us.
After another drive through suburbia, we grabbed a cooler and some beers for the final finish line and capped off the day with Cheshire Cat below Cat Lake, a great swoop through the riverside loam next to the highway.
I'll definitely be back, perhaps with a beefier bike, and maybe with some rock shoes and a rack!
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