South Chilcotin - 2013

nice one Flip. the dusty side sure has been running nice lately.

nice one Flip. the dusty side sure has been running nice lately.

rad shot! I think Lick was the best I've ever ridden it yesterday, definitely worth the early morning wake up and drive for a day trip!

Anyone else see that video on The Other Site of Barel and Lenosky flying up to Spruce, then ripping back down. I'll summarise, it's a series of crappy slo mo shots of them riding off trail blowing out corners and then artsy shots of tree branches swaying when they pass them.
I don't really get videos like this, it doesn't capture any of what makes the area so amazing, and just makes more people think that it's fast flowy down hill for miles.
Odd.

Stellar conditions over the long weekend! After a few years of multi-day self-supported trips, we opted for the relative luxury of Tyax Adventures back-country camps.

A photo essay of our Triple Pass weekend.

Day 1: Flew into this lake

You know it's adventure when Dale asks you to report back on the trail conditions out here for his upcoming trip

Headed up over a pass less travelled

And back down the other side

To spend the night at the camp just past this lake

Day 2: Under 2 hours until we were back up in the alpine

The views did not disappoint!

Why yes, it does ride well 'backwards' - told you so!

Despite the gunshots after dark, we had a great night at the camp near this lake

Day 3: Stole a page from Clark and TwinOne's play book - thanks for the beta guys!

Made our way up this valley

Up to this blowy pass

Then kept on trudging up

And up…

And up… (OK it wasn't that much up, it was just so amazing we stopped like every 5 seconds to take pictures)

And then we rode down

And down

And… OK, you probably get the picture by now. Those backcountry camps sure make it fun to do some creative big trips!

3 days, 3 major passes (and 1 minor one), 99km, 4200m of climbing, 4400m of descending. I'm ready for ski season.

Anyone else see that video on The Other Site of Barel and Lenosky flying up to Spruce, then ripping back down. I'll summarise, it's a series of crappy slo mo shots of them riding off trail blowing out corners and then artsy shots of tree branches swaying when they pass them.
I don't really get videos like this, it doesn't capture any of what makes the area so amazing, and just makes more people think that it's fast flowy down hill for miles.
Odd.

makes me a sad panda

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Fabien-Barel-Presents-Riding-Spruce-Lake-with-Jeff-Lenosky-2013.html

but mrs gurstins post makes me happy again

Anyone else see that video on The Other Site of Barel and Lenosky flying up to Spruce, then ripping back down. I'll summarise, it's a series of crappy slo mo shots of them riding off trail blowing out corners and then artsy shots of tree branches swaying when they pass them.
I don't really get videos like this, it doesn't capture any of what makes the area so amazing, and just makes more people think that it's fast flowy down hill for miles.
Odd.

on the upside they mention that spruce lake can only be accessed by float plane, which is a complete load of shit, but will hopefully keep at least a few more idiots out of the area

I could say much about the comments of that video, lets just say I dont 100% agree with the people poo pooing it. considering some of them pioneered blogging about off trail riding in the area. kettle, meet pot. some times it's the perception about whats happening more then it is the act.

I went for a solo wander today.

i bet the majority of us are guilty of riding off trail and/or general shredding/skidding in the chilcotins, though most of us are wise enough to avoid spraying about it. i don't see that much evidence of bike erosion over the years, anything away from the front side still rides minty fresh. even lick creek (which gets heavily skidded) still rides super well, the rut is just a bit deeper in places.

I think this is just about the worst torture ever considering I work in the area but don't have the time to bring up my bike. Ugh saw your bike around this week. Awesome pictures though!

awesome pics, Adrian! I'd have to concur with Clark and Adrian too….the massive mudpits I've had to wade through on gun creek/gun meadows thanks to horses are way worse than some sand getting sprayed around when it's been dry for a couple months….unfortunately there is that whole perception and mis-understanding thing when it comes to how non-riders view things vs. the reality of the situation.

I could say much about the comments of that video, lets just say I dont 100% agree with the people poo pooing it. considering some of them pioneered blogging about off trail riding in the area. kettle, meet pot. some times it's the perception about whats happening more then it is the act.

I went for a solo wander today.

You,re doing the time there, your opinion would be interestimg. Whats your opinion on the vid?

By the comments about pioneer bloggers if u mean it drew too many ppl to the area, and if that creates the problem then whats the fix?

Thx for the't houghts

unfortunately there is that whole perception and mis-understanding thing when it comes to how non-riders view things vs. the reality of the situation.

thats the thing - if it were just the standard pros-cuttying-corners video, it wouldn't really be an issue. Although in general the skidding/cuttying vids are pretty cliche. I don't really get it.

awesome pics, Adrian! I'd have to concur with Clark and Adrian too….the massive mudpits I've had to wade through on gun creek/gun meadows thanks to horses are way worse than some sand getting sprayed around when it's been dry for a couple months….unfortunately there is that whole perception and mis-understanding thing when it comes to how non-riders view things vs. the reality of the situation.

The dirt spraying thing is annoying and I wish it would stop, but the bigger issue is the glamourisation of back country riding; I worry that people will go out ill prepared for what it really is, and get into trouble.

does my opinion matter? the vid is dumb, but all MTB porn/adds are. it all glamorises one aspect of mountain biking. I know a bit of the back story on the making of the vid. but I would say this, having been a part of some of the media coming out of the area. no matter what the riders (Fabian and Jeff) experience and take a way of the area may have been, once the shots get in the hands of the editors looking to sell what ever it is they want to sell, its going to be edited to high light what they want it to high light.

blogging did or did not draw too many people to the area, cant say. but parks is keeping a critical eye on what is going on with in the park as they make there final decision on the fate of all activities with in that park. I heard that they may have flown around taking photos of bike tracks coming off ridge lines. for every video of some some sliding a tire into a corner, I can find more photos on the internet of people riding where there is no discernible trail. what do you think parks take is on that?

what I have noticed in the last couple years is the proliferation of riders going where ever the fuck they want. dont get me wrong, some routes make sense and some features just call out to you. but what i am seeing are tracks going every fucking place for no good reason. cabin pass and camel pass being great examples, but also coming off dear pass and a few mid country ridge lines I wont mention. these places are starting to look like whistler at 1pm on a powder day. do i think it matters on the grand scale, maybe, but thats not the point. the point is that its a provincial park and one of the few places in the province that actually has a management plan. meaning it's one of the few places your actions, can have a negative impact on the future access of mountain bikers.