Ladies Single Track Stampede

Photos Lindsay Donovan

What do you get when you take twelve eager female mountain bike enthusiasts, mix in steep & dusty Cariboo trails, and throw in an authentic cowboy rodeo? Answer: One hell of a rowdy time and plenty to write home about.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Earlier this month, twelve females from over the Fraser Valley, Vancouver, Squamish, and Whistler took a chance on a casual ladies-only bike trip organized by Monica McCosh of Ryders Eyewear, and guided by legendary Johnny Smoke of Bush Pilot Biking. They set their sights on riding some of the infamous freeride finger lines of Williams Lake. The goal: ride it rowdy. The result: got’r done.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Before the weekend was underway, stories started cropping up. Let me ask you this: how many girls does it take to fill a gas tank with diesel? Four chicks and $120 in fuel later, the new road toy was being towed to the nearest mechanic… 10 minutes to close… on the Friday of a long weekend. How many dudes does it take to reverse the mistake? Two to do the work, four to stand around and gawk, drink beer, and enjoy the show. Yep, let the good times roll.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

After the two hand a half hour delay, our crew hit the road for Williams Lake and a beautiful lakeside camping spot on Chimney Lake. Aurora borealis welcome the girls into the Cariboo night.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

With the bikes loaded, we headed into town for some stomach fuel. The 87th annual Williams Lake stampede was in full swing as we cruised down the town’s main street and what looked like its entire 12,000 citizens were out in lawn chairs dotting the road. Rolling by in Smoke’s 13 passenger van with a full bike armada rigged on top, we quickly became part of the stampede street parade, accidentally driving through the crowds as they awaited the floats. The town really lays out the mat for its mountain biking tourists…

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

BC legend and mountain bike guide, Johnny Smoke of Bush Pilot Biking, was joined by local Sirel to help with shutting and lifting bikes. Hey – we offered.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

First stop: local trail network Fox Mountain. This city gem is a short shuttle to the top from town to ride fast, flowy, well-built trails like A-Flo and Mitch’s Brew. Well-marked trails, smooth berms, and fresh cut lumber table tops are earmarks of the Cariboo Mountain Biking Consortium’s grant-funded influence on the town’s mountain bike mecca.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Although the self-proclaimed “Shangri-La” of mountain biking, Williams Lake’s main economic artery is logging. It also helps to make for an endless supply of wood for these ladies.

13-06-30_williamslakeNSMB_lindsaydonovanphotography-8

Ryders Eyewear stepped up to progress women’s freeride mountain biking by stoking out these everyday Jane’s with fresh SHORE mtb goggles. (Check out the NSMB forum test on these puppies HERE).

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

McCosh catching some air on Fox Mountain.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Leanne Tompkins, Summer Gravity Camps Coordinator, and ever the “school-teacher” leads the girls train off a ramp on A-Flo on Fox…

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Gluttons for hike-a-bike punishment (and a good photo op).

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Mudbunny, Ashley Brassington, takes her turn to send it on the train before, well, the train-wreck.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Train-wreckage. This is what happens when 5 girls follow each other in off a drop for the first time, into a muddy g-out landing. Whistlerite & UK expat, Rose Oakhill, took a frame to the face and a pedal to the stomach LIKE A CHAMP. And she still kept riding.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

After lunch/beer break, we headed over to the Westsyde trail network to check out the famed Snakes & Ladders. En route we stopped to spectate in the late-season cow porn exhibition. Poor Bessie…

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Mallory Hewlko charging across the suspension bridge on Westsyde trail network.

One can’t quite determine which is more awe-inspiring: twelve ripper chicks fearlessly shredding steep & loose lines on first descent, or the immense amount of time, energy, and resources put into the Williams Lake trail network. In 2011 the area secured over $50,000 in grants to rebuild Snakes & Ladders, a premiere freeride trail with over 22,000 board feet of lumber comprising the sky berms, tables, step downs, and balance-testing skinnies. For a small resource-based Northern town, mountain biking has found its place amongst both a rowdy landscape and townsfolk.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Smoke hitting a drop right after a smooth steep ride in.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Monica riding one of the new sky berms on Snakes & Ladders.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Aja Philp races into the next sky berm.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

You know the feeling you got as kid whirling down the watersides? Yeah, this was better. Tompkins might have been squealing “weee” down this one.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Mallory drifting over a cheeky step-up at the bottom of the sky berms. The trail was built so immaculately, trail flow and rider stoke was at an all time high.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Snakes and Ladders / BackDoor can be deceiving: do I bring my pedal bike or my big rig? The pedaly first half, however, is more than made up for with the steep and loose gorge you descend into right after pausing. Lydia Schayes, Fraser Valley MudBunny and Velocity Cycles shop girl, revels in the calm before the storm.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

In the mid day heat after a lengthy ride and steep hike out of the gorge, meant it was perfect time to switch to hot laps back on Fox. These girls just couldn’t get enough of the Cariboo dirt!

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Conveniently our last laps finish outside the beer & wine store where wallets and throats were opened wide. Post-bike tom-foolery ensued with Tompkins demonstrating viral video hit “Prancercize” (YouTube it now). Thankfully she hadn’t mimicked the video hosts’ attire – camel toe and all. Philp and Smoke look on in a combination of stoke and…

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Back at the lake campsite, hearts and heads were becoming light with laughter and boozy dehydration. The Cariboo air was heating up.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

How does a Canadian mountain biking female freshen up after a full day of sun, sweat, dust, and dirt? A cold quick dive in the lake, promptly followed by beers and coolers. Gettin’ er done.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Ready to stampede, long time friends and roommates, Monica and Mallory, posed for a female Brokeback Mountain moment for kicks.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Dinner, a beauty of a sunset, and camp-style “gussying up”, meant we were ready to head into town. Yeeehawww!

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

Cariboo sunset shots.

Williams Lake, Mountain Bike, MTB, Ryders Eyewear, Ryders, Lindsay Donovan

And the photographs end there on Day One. What you didn’t see: tequila margaritas, beers, sneaking into the Stampede’s beer garden through a crack in the fence, public urination behind an ATM in said beer garden, Smoke as designated driver witnessing it all, and one very raucous Golden Arch drive through stop…

bushpilotbiking.com
ridethecariboo.ca
redshreds.com
ryderseyewear.com
lindsaydonovan.com


One day in the Cariboo and these ladies already look to be experiencing all time conditions. In Part II they head for the chutes at Farwell Canyon – stay tuned!

Posted in: News, Trail Tales

Trending on NSMB

Comments

Buster-Bluth
0

It appears mountain biking does wonders for the hiney. Damn.

Reply

Uncle-Duke
0

babes…

Reply

JBV2
0

the fine gentlemen that primarily make up this forum have politely enjoyed this article and minded their manners. so allow me to speak for them all by saying, it was a good article, moreover, WE ALL WOULD LOVE TO SEE A LOT MORE PICTURES OF THESE EXCITING GALS.

Reply

onepunch
0

Looks like a good trip. The beer and wine store pic is fabulous.

Reply

Please log in to leave a comment.