Ridge-a-Summer-Solstice....

The first day of summer is sweet and sour in the Chilcotins. The days start to get shorter already and there's usually plenty of snow in the alpine. This year however we have a below average snowfall and it's almost full "game on" in the alpine. Mike and Juneau joined me on the longest day of the year to see if Ridge-a-Rama would go. The weather forecast wasn't very inspiring but the calendar said it was summer so we headed north.

We set off into a light drizzle up the pleasant Pearson Creek mine road.  

The Paintbrush welcomed summer.

After a couple of hours we were in a very thick and cold cloud above tree-line.

The ball of light in the sky was trying very hard to make an appearance so we kept our heads up.

Our persistence paid off as the ceiling lifted just above our heads! Views of the Bridge River valley opened up. From this vantage you get a perfect view of what the fire did a few years back.  

First tracks on Ridge-a-Rama! Welcome back Summertime!

Britannia's Sea to Sky Gold....

Every morning when I look south from Squamish towards the hills above Howe Sound I'm reminded of the loamy gems that weave through the old growth forest and cliff bands. It's not an area typically frequented by bicycles so it's always a treat to get the tires on it once the snow melts.

       
The first part of the trail weaves through some mossy and loamy coastal gold only found near the sea.

After a few hours you find yourself on granite bluffs with great views of Squamish's Mt. Garibaldi...  

And the Howe Sound....

         
Another classic only 15 minutes from Squamish.

Shootin up Gun Creek....

Each spring the time comes when the back-country starts calling the bikes to return. There's no better place to make this happen then the Southern Chilcotin Mountains of B.C. Word on the street was the snow was melting rapidly and everything was opening up at least 30 days earlier than usual. May long week-end we packed up and headed north for a 3 day single-track session.

                 
Day one we decided to hit up the Carl Cr trail near Bralorne. Recent logging was a factor but only effected one small part on the descent and winter blowdown was at a minimum.

     

Later that day we arrived at our mountain lodge and watched the evening light set on Truax Mountain.

The next day we set off for a big pedal to Spruce Lake up the classic Gun Creek Trail. We earned some  trail Karma with some well needed blowdown removal.....

   
Only a little over a month earlier, we were in the same spot with a different single-track weapon!  

Sheba was lit up in all her glory!  

There were other trail users in the area earlier that day....  

This was the earliest I'd ever seen the Balsam Root in full bloom....

Mmmm.... Dickson....  

The trail shouted, "Ride Me!"

 

We capped off the week-end with a rip on the never disappointing North Cinnabar trail above Tyaughton Lake.    

Another amazing week-end in B.C.'s paradise!

Going Green in Squamish....

Every spring around the beginning of May the forest above Howe Sound explodes into a sea of green. The dark rainy months are well worth the price for the single-track rain forest experience we get out of it. The past few week-ends we've been going on some mini epics riding 8 to 10 hours in a day Cat Lake to the Chief.