The Ultimate B.C. Epic - Part 2
The continuing saga of a 12-day epic tour
Words by Stuart Kernaghan. Photos by Stuart Kernaghan.
 The author rolls through one of the many rocky sections on the trail || Photo: Amanda |
Most of us were enjoying the sun, but not everyone was getting off on the rapid injection of Vitamin D. There was even some concern that one member of the group was going to have to bail out, and head down the ski hill into town. I was tired, and definitely feeling the altitude, but there was no way in hell that I was going to pull the plug. I hadn't climbed this far without getting to experience the downhill. I carried on up the hill, setting my own pace and leaving the tail guide and the rider to sort out that decision. The climb wasn't technically challenging, but it was relentless. Up, up, up. Switchbacks, little rises.
The trees were spread out in such a way that you couldn't tell where the top of the hill was. Outcroppings of rocks didn't help matters much, either. All I knew is that there was a ways to go.
It wasn't steep, but it definitely headed uphill - pedal stroke after pedal stroke.
Another great thing about the Seven Summits trail is that the terrain was constantly changing. Just as quickly as you'd emerged from the trees, you were rolling through a rock garden or ripping down some smooth and windy singletrack. And then all of a sudden we were skirting the rim of a small canyon.
Amanda on the far side of a small canyon. The terrain was changing, signalling that we were getting close to the top.
And then, there it was: the crown jewel. The big summit. The top of the trail.
Amanda looking back, just before the big prize.
We'd made it. All of us had reached the top of the Seven Summits trail - even the rider who was suffering at the Red Mountain junction. Elevation was 2,025m, which was pretty damn high for this kid who was used to spending most of his time within 100m of sea level. The view was spectacular, to put it mildly. The panoramic shot below is almost 360°, taking in the way we'd come from and the way we were going.
The weather had changed considerably since the start of the day, rewarding us with this spectacular view of the area around Rossland.
Amanda looks at her boys with pride, knowing that all of us had made it to the top.
Some were in better shape than others by the time they got to the top, but we were all there.
While we were sitting on the summit, we got to watch a helicopter drop water on one of the spot fires around town.
From here on in, the photos of the Seven Summits trail start getting scarce. Why? Because it was a nine kilometre downhill rip from the top to the south trailhead, and I was having too much fun to stop and take photos every few minutes.
Town was a long ways away, and we were going to be riding all the way down.
People were starting to get tired. We'd been out on the trail for about five or six hours by this point, and both food and water were running low. Technical sections that would have been a piece of cake in the morning were becoming more challenging, and I found myself slowing down to make sure that I'd finish the ride in one piece.
Looking back up the trail, it doesn't look so bad. But I definitely exercised caution going over the big stack of rocks.
Sometimes it's important to have a cheerleader on board, and Amanda was that in spades. She also stopped the trip from being overly testosterone-fuelled. Or unwashed. And she always had a great smile when the camera was pointed at her. That's the sign of a pro at work.
Amanda at the tail end of a long day on a heavy bikeW, still showing the pearly whites.
We kept on heading downhill, but - and it pains me to say this - it was starting to be work. It wasn't the downhill sections that were the problem, it was the small uphills that were thrown in every now and then to keep things interesting. To make matters worse, I had run out of water by this point. I was really regretting dumping that second reservoir. But the end was in sight.
The terrain was changing as we were nearing the end of the ride. Tom leads Jansen and Marco down into the woods.
From here, the trail dropped quickly and dry, rocky terrain gave way to the final section of the day's ride - the 5.5km long, darker, treed Dewdney Trail. By this point, I was too damn tired to take pix on the last stretch of the ride. The rear flat I got didn't help matters much. I did, however, manage to catch a few the day after, when we came back to do a quick shuttle run on the Dewdney before getting on the road to Nelson.
How do you know you're in redneck country? Multiple bullet holes in the signs.
We ripped the Dewdney Trail, enjoying the fast, flowing singletrack that was carrying us back to the van that Eddy had dropped off first thing in the morning. The trail was fun, but almost as quickly as it started, it was over and we were sitting beside the highway. There was considerable high-fiving as we all basked in the sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing a ride like this, one that was both physically challenging and visually stunning. We all piled into the van and headed back into town for dinner, where we relived the experience - both the highs and lows. I wish I could remember where we went, but I was pretty damn tired by that point.
** The Kootenay Columbia Trails Society has been kind enough to post a map of the trails in the area, including Seven Summits. It's worth checking out to see the kind of terrain that's available for two- wheeled travel, and the work that's been done by these dedicated volunteers.
Day 6 - The day we got in two rides and drove for a while
The next day broke and surprisingly enough, no one was seriously worse for wear from the Seven Summits extravaganza. I know I was surprised. Pleasantly, I might add, but surprised nonetheless.
Day 6 was going to be a bit of a mixed bag. We had to travel to Nelson but because this was a riding trip not a driving trip, we also had to spin the pedals. The first ride of the day was a quick shuttle down the Dewdney Trail, with the added bonus of armour for those who wanted it. The Rubbermaid box of Sacred Rides knee and shin pads was broken out, and the boys - most of whom had never worn pads before - suited up. Rick decided to take a pass, and Eddy had things to do so I had the distinct pleasure of leading the group, with Amanda riding sweep.
The gallant warriors, armoured up and ready to rip the Dewdney - Marco, Tom, Jansen and Blair.
 Jansen discovered that long-travel bikes are fun, but there's a bit of a learning curve if you're used to a hardtail with a 100m fork... |
I waited for about 20 seconds, and was about to start calling back when Jansen rolled up with dirt on his pads and shirt. It seems that he'd done just what you might expect - gone faster than he should on a bike he wasn't used to, on a trail that he'd only ridden once. Jansen, meet the rhubarb. Rhubarb, Jansen.
The rest of the group caught up, and after a quick comment about being careful on the trail, we took off again. Sections of the Dewdney were wet and I kept expecting to hear Dutch carnage behind me, but Jansen managed to hang on through the rough stuff and even kept pace with me in some sections.
After a few more turns, the downhill came to an end, all too quickly. We were back at the road, and there was Eddy with the van. Damn. The Dewdney was a lot of fun, and I really wouldn't have minded a few more laps. But that wasn't going to happen.
This is how we rolled through the Kootenays - eight bikes strapped together on the top of a 15-passenger van. And in spite of the fact that the rack looked a big ghetto, it worked very well.
 Amanda takes advantage of a break in the action to catch up on her beauty rest. |
At the end of the trail was an old mill site, complete with large saw blade and a few other logging implements. Everyone was feeling a bit out of it by the time we got to this point, and the consensus was to turn around rather than going ahead any further. That was just fine by me. The trail was nice enough, but I was kind of finished with riding for the day.
"Imagine getting your arm caught in that. Bet that would leave a scar."
We all took advantage of the gradual downhill slope of the trail on the way back, and just took it easy. Or as easy as you can take it on the kind of slippery rocks that make their home alongside a creek. There were a few near-misses, one spill, and one scary 'oh shit' moment for yours truly as I almost went into the creek at high speed, but we all made it back to the van safely. Next stop, Nelson. And a well-deserved beer or three.
Marco cruising down the creekside trail, pedalling back towards civilization and dinner in Nelson.
So there you have it - days five and six on my Ultimate B.C. adventure with Sacred Rides. The next installment will be on the site in the very near future - I promise - and it will include my favourite ride of the trip - the Keystone / Standard Basin ride.
If all of this is getting you stoked for your own Kootenay adventure, Sacred Rides is taking bookings for the 2008 season. Ultimate B.C. Tours are scheduled for June 7 - 19, July 19 -31, and August 30 - September 11. Seats are limited on the first trip, so book now if you're interested.
Riders who are looking for the same type of riding but can only commit to eight days should check out the Rocky Mountain Singletrack trip, which runs on June 28 - July 5, July 12 - July 19, August 2 - August 9 for a women's-only trip, August 23 - August 30, and September 13 - September 20.
Want to talk about this installment of the story? Share your own Seven Summits experiences? Take it to the boards.
