Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Shulaps n Relaxin....



I like to consider the first week-end of July, Canada Day week-end. So for part two of our celebration we set off for Bridge River Valley north of Pemberton in search of some high and fast alpine single-track. As we rounded the corner into Pemberton meadows Friday night, the full effects of the new and aggressive Boulder Creek fire showed itself. This fire was only a stones throw from the Hurley turn off and it felt as if we were in a war zone.          


Forest fires do make for the best filtered sunsets....   


Up high on the Hurley things improved vastly as the winds favored our direction of travel.  



The next morning we set off on the notoriously steep climb to access the alpine trail I had in mind.   


The temps were high and the air was dry so we hydrated constantly....  



Juneau and Danielle were in wildflower heaven....


After a few hours we were rewarded with some of the best Chilcotin vistas....    



This area has a very rich and storied history of Jade mining. All the different shades of green minerals are a feast for the eyes....  


At 2200m this valley is truly spectacular....  




And lot's of flowy ribbons of single-track make it a perfect day out....  


And just before the drop below treeline views of the Shulaps peaks tower above....      



After a 1600m descent we headed back to our beachfront accommodations.         






Not another sole was in the area....








Sunday we spent relaxin at Tyaughton Lake where all the riders were rolling in after their big days out. Another week-end in paradise....            

Friday, July 3, 2015

Up Up and Away.... It's Canada Day!



Each year as July 1st approaches I start planning another ideal Canadian day. It's not that I need an official holiday to celebrate living in the best country in the world but why not take it up as notch on "The Day" we call Canada Day. For me this means getting high into the alpine in the first days of summer and looking far and wide across our vast coastal mountain ranges. Just outside our door in Squamish exists such a place that will give us exactly what we're seeking on this day.


The temperatures were set to reach a blistering 33 degrees in the Sea to Sky valley so we settled into our 4 hour climb early in the day. Even Canadian forest assess roads have indian paintbrush wildflowers....        


We reached the subalpine and our views began to open up....


I had some fun this Canada day trying to capture the same images I snapped on a Fat Bike ride back in March. Plus 33degC vs Negative 10degC was quite a variance....      


WORCA is building a phenomenal alpine trail in this area that will soon allow everyone easy access to this Canadian alpine wonderland....
 





It didn't take long to jump into the first tarn we came across. We spent an hour or so enjoying this Canadian alpine beach....  


Another piece of the new trail....


July....


March....




This is one of my favourite Sea to Sky vistas....


More contrasting seasons....




Not quite true same but an equally glorious view of Garibaldi Provincial park's Black Tusk....


Hello Whistler Blackcomb....


The only thing left to do was to drop into 1500m of steep Canadian single-track....    



With an hour of sunlight left we stopped for a few pints and a swim at one of the many Whistler / Squamish beaches on the drive home. Oh Canada!