Late Season Push
Wine Country Ripping
Words by Dan Gronross. Photos by Andrew Summers Unless Noted.
Date: 2008-12-22
Until recently the summer here in the Lower Mainland seemed endless. It is hard to believe now, but this year we were blessed with some amazing late fall weather. After nursing a knee injury, and watching from the sideline, or the cab of the shuttle truck, I was eager to push my luck and scrape another dry weekend out of the season. What better place to gamble my luck for dry weather than southern British Columbia. The South Okanagan offers up some of the driest weather in Canada, while a few hours away Vancouver is enduring the seasonal wetness which we are all too familiar with.
The only way you can really tell if the seasons are changing here is if the three deciduous trees are changing colour.
A quick call on Friday morning and by late that afternoon I was on my way to Westbank, a suburb of Kelowna, to rip some of the local goods with Johnny Smoke and Barb Haley. Johnny and Barb run Bush Pilot Biking out of their home, a mountain bike tour company which showcases the best of what British Columbia has to offer. Within four hours I was basking in my glory, beverage in hand, resting in the hot tub, enjoying the view of the dry mountains from their backyard.
The silence was broken only a few times with Johnny enlightening me as to where we were going to ride. Johnny informed me that the town of Oliver, originally founded by then BC Premier John Oliver as a place for the veterans of World War One, has more to offer than just 10% of Canada’s wineries. Five minutes outside of downtown, located on the west side of the irrigation system, Kobau and TKO were ripe for some late season ripping.
Johnny, Bruce and I all “testing” the goods that Hester Creek has to offer. Who says mountain bikers have no class?
Joining us in Oliver would be Bruce Spicer and Andrew Summers who had taken a day out of their busy job of selling Brodie Bikes to partake in the dry goodness. Waiting for us in the parking lot of Hester Creek was Gary Pope, an American transplant who moved here because of the riding. 
Bruce… relief from the onslaught of “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy…….”
Arriving at the top of the first run, 45 minutes after we left the winery, the weather was slightly colder and far foggier than on the valley floor. Ensuring that you have a local and or a guide on these types of trips is essential as the tangled mess of logging roads can get mind numbing. Siobhan, Johnny and Barb’s 3 month old, provided the musical entertainment on the way up, with endless replays of “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine”. Apparently the rocky drive up didn’t quite cut it as gentle rocking.
Ahhhhhh Karma! Not two seconds after he snickered at my misfortune, his tubeless tires gave in.
5000 vertical feet separate you from where the truck drops you off at the top, back down to the valley floor. Both trails begin in alpine forest and quickly descend into the wide open rolling hills the interior is known for.
First on the agenda was Kobau. Pointing our bikes down, we tore into sweet sweet single track, with me eating it about 25 feet into the run and Johnny flatting not 5 minutes later. At least my recovery efforts and Johnny’s mechanical time was spent in the dry. 
Ex-North Vancouverite showing the crowd he still has it in him. Okay so it wasn’t entirely dry, as there are rain drops on the lens.
With a climate 100 times drier than the Lower Mainland, stunts that are constructed of wood last 100 times longer, even when they are built out of material North Shore builders wouldn’t think of starting a fire with. The only moss that can be found here grows from the trees in the alpine, and even there it is dry, so no greasiness to deal with.
Looking up-hill at me trying desperately not to laugh at Gary going slow mo over the bars, after he catches some brush with Bruce ripping on. Photo ~ Johnny Smoke.
After clearing the trees the trail opens up into what the Interior is known for; wide open, exposed, dusty single track. Even with the recent rains, the ground was super dry and following too close meant that after about 5 minutes of riding, you were choking on the dust from the rider leading. Each successive roll on the decent of the mountain offered up some incredible views.
Bruce and I taking it all in while wondering if it is raining in Vancouver. Photo ~ Johnny Smoke.
The second lap we rolled down TKO. Unlile Kobau, TKO brings on the steeps. Steepness is always challenging, whether it is on rocks or on dirt, but throw in chalky dust that ripples like water running down a hill and it can cause the most seasoned rider to pause. The slope of TKO is unrelenting. Turn after turn the trail points down; sometimes in the open, sometimes along ridges where all that stops you from bailing thirty feet into a baby head graveyard is a row of pathetic looking shrubs.
Bruce displays vast experience of the steeps, navigating the dust on TKO.
Who do, you do the Hoodoo? Gary ripping down the formation unique to the area illustrating some incredible riding skill.
From about the beginning of May through the end of October anyone can enjoy the trails around Oliver - just four hours from Vancouver. Be sure to stop in and grab a bottle of wine, or twenty, from one of the multitude of wineries along the way. Nothing like a nice bottle to smooth over the fact that you will yet again be gone for another weekend of riding while your significant other slaves it away back at home… in the rain. 
Bruce, once again, proving that with age, comes skill at tearing down the mountain. Photo ~ Johnny Smoke
I would like to say a huge thanks to Johnny, Barb and Siobhan for letting me crash their seemingly quiet Interior weekend. Stoked on running into Bruce Spicer and Andrew Summers in Oliver and meeting Gary Pope for the ride.
The weather getting you down and want to head to the hills, head on over to Bush Pilot Biking.
Have you ridden in Oliver? Would you like to? I know I would. Spill it here...
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