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Whistler 2014 Trail Conditions - not in the bike park

July 9, 2014, 12:21 p.m.
Posts: 169
Joined: Nov. 19, 2002

Thanks Flip. I think for my first go i will just skip high side, and just jump on to highline and save some for IBT. I was not sure if Highline is a climb/descend trail.

an fyi, farside/highside/highline/ibt-ampm is about a one hour loop, at a casual pace

edit, highline from cheak lake road is a climb, but it's not overly hard.

July 10, 2014, 12:45 p.m.
Posts: 3864
Joined: Sept. 12, 2003

an fyi, farside/highside/highline/ibt-ampm is about a one hour loop, at a casual pace

edit, highline from cheak lake road is a climb, but it's not overly hard.

Haha!! No way im doing that in an hour. You are a different version of fit than me, with out doubt. I would guess that the IBT trail head took about 40 minutes. Maybe a bit less. I prefer farside over the road. It is a perfectly good bit of easy super smooth warm up, in the shade, with a cool suspension bridge to gawk at for a minute. My guide was patient but i did not make him wait that much until the meat of IBT sections. Once you are up on IBT sections and get to the view points you cant deny that there has been some elevation gained.
Now for IBT: Wow. What a trail. For me, every punchy climb i made it up was a huge reward. I had to walk a few, some i blew and some i just needed to rest a bit. The section after teh am/pm junction was what i thought was the hardest. There were many challenges that i can go back and hope to conquer.
There was one hard right rock face that i took the ride around on, and some spots that i had to inspect before i got around the mental aspects and ride. Some where momentum moves with trials moto rock like climbs that rewarded you with another face to descend. It was a very rewarding trail. As my buddy said, "trust the berm."

The more i see trails like this,the more i am in awe of the pure artistic aspect to building a trail like this. My guide commented on it as well. "I dont know how some one just envisions and creates a trail like this out of raw mountain forest?" He was bang on. This builder was an adventurous engineer, a craftsmen, a skilled outdoors-man (like topo maps, flannel shirt, beards,axes and saws), an artist, a tireless worker. That is just the build part. Any one who rides the trail and cleans it all is a damn good,fit rider. :clap::clap::clap:

WTF, Over?

July 10, 2014, 1:11 p.m.
Posts: 1124
Joined: Jan. 31, 2005

The more i see trails like this,the more i am in awe of the pure artistic aspect to building a trail like this. My guide commented on it as well. "I dont know how some one just envisions and creates a trail like this out of raw mountain forest?" He was bang on. This builder was an adventurous engineer, a craftsmen, a skilled outdoors-man (like topo maps, flannel shirt, beards,axes and saws), an artist, a tireless worker. That is just the build part. Any one who rides the trail and cleans it all is a damn good,fit rider. :clap::clap::clap:

I had the same thought on riding that trail.

There's nothing better than an Orangina after cheating death with Digger.

July 10, 2014, 1:13 p.m.
Posts: 169
Joined: Nov. 19, 2002

the late great D Mac (Duncan Mackenzie) built the first half of the trail, almost to the AMPM split, after his passing, Tim and Jerome laid out the line for the second half which was built with a lot of volunteer help from many of Duncan's friends.

July 10, 2014, 3:23 p.m.
Posts: 5731
Joined: June 24, 2003

Haha!! No way im doing that in an hour. You are a different version of fit than me, with out doubt. I would guess that the IBT trail head took about 40 minutes. Maybe a bit less. I prefer farside over the road. It is a perfectly good bit of easy super smooth warm up, in the shade, with a cool suspension bridge to gawk at for a minute. My guide was patient but i did not make him wait that much until the meat of IBT sections. Once you are up on IBT sections and get to the view points you cant deny that there has been some elevation gained.
Now for IBT: Wow. What a trail. For me, every punchy climb i made it up was a huge reward. I had to walk a few, some i blew and some i just needed to rest a bit. The section after teh am/pm junction was what i thought was the hardest. There were many challenges that i can go back and hope to conquer.
There was one hard right rock face that i took the ride around on, and some spots that i had to inspect before i got around the mental aspects and ride. Some where momentum moves with trials moto rock like climbs that rewarded you with another face to descend. It was a very rewarding trail. As my buddy said, "trust the berm."

The more i see trails like this,the more i am in awe of the pure artistic aspect to building a trail like this. My guide commented on it as well. "I dont know how some one just envisions and creates a trail like this out of raw mountain forest?" He was bang on. This builder was an adventurous engineer, a craftsmen, a skilled outdoors-man (like topo maps, flannel shirt, beards,axes and saws), an artist, a tireless worker. That is just the build part. Any one who rides the trail and cleans it all is a damn good,fit rider. :clap::clap::clap:

Yup. I have cleaned it on my light xc race hard tail (with a dropper) but not the 6X6. Just too heavy to grind up the climbs without expiring. Still I try.

Debate? Bikes are made for riding not pushing.

July 10, 2014, 3:46 p.m.
Posts: 15177
Joined: Feb. 19, 2003

the late great D Mac (Duncan Mackenzie) built the first half of the trail, almost to the AMPM split, after his passing, Tim and Jerome laid out the line for the second half which was built with a lot of volunteer help from many of Duncan's friends.

Is that the memorial at the top, just before a clearing with a fantastic view of the valley below? Great trail, was really surprised at the punchy climbs (especially after riding tunnel vision earlier in that day) with some great pay offs. Much respect and thanks to all involved.

July 21, 2014, 4:44 p.m.
Posts: 109
Joined: Nov. 24, 2008

Can anyone tell me if the trailhead to Billy Epic is the same as Jaws? Looks like it branches off to the southeast a couple hundred meters in down Jaws. Is that right?

Pain is temporary; quitting lasts forever.

July 21, 2014, 4:56 p.m.
Posts: 169
Joined: Nov. 19, 2002

Can anyone tell me if the trailhead to Billy Epic is the same as Jaws? Looks like it branches off to the southeast a couple hundred meters in down Jaws. Is that right?

no, BE entrance is past Jaws (if coming down flank from Alpine side) towards 27 switchbacks

July 21, 2014, 5:25 p.m.
Posts: 109
Joined: Nov. 24, 2008

no, BE entrance is past Jaws (if coming down flank from Alpine side) towards 27 switchbacks

Thanks. Do you normally access via Rick's Roost?

Pain is temporary; quitting lasts forever.

July 21, 2014, 7:36 p.m.
Posts: 169
Joined: Nov. 19, 2002

Thanks. Do you normally access via Rick's Roost?

it's probably 'slightly' easier that way, but you can also ride up 27 switchbacks, both will make you sweat and grunt at times.

July 22, 2014, 9:17 a.m.
Posts: 109
Joined: Nov. 24, 2008

it's probably 'slightly' easier that way, but you can also ride up 27 switchbacks, both will make you sweat and grunt at times.

The best things in life always do.
Cheers:evil:

Pain is temporary; quitting lasts forever.

July 27, 2014, 9:03 p.m.
Posts: 2
Joined: April 11, 2014

Rode Top of the World to RDS today………WTF? RDS is a serious trail, STEEEP.

Speed is definitely your friend on that one.

That's all i got

July 29, 2014, 2:50 a.m.
Posts: 90
Joined: April 5, 2014

Is there a better way to Rockwork Orange and Korova Milk Bar other than climbing the Flank from the north end of Alta Lake? I rode past the exits of both heading southwest on the Flank, then Rockwork and Korova, and back down the Flank the way I came.

Seemed like a lot of work up for just the two, not much else to connect.

July 29, 2014, 7:04 a.m.
Posts: 1124
Joined: Jan. 31, 2005

Is there a better way to Rockwork Orange and Korova Milk Bar other than climbing the Flank from the north end of Alta Lake? I rode past the exits of both heading southwest on the Flank, then Rockwork and Korova, and back down the Flank the way I came.

Seemed like a lot of work up for just the two, not much else to connect.

I prefer going up Stonebridge. I park on Alta Lake Rd just above the Nita Lake intersection. Then pedal up Stonebridge. Then hit Rockwork to Korova then head back west/up the Flank and do High Society or Pura Vida. Those pretty much end near where I parked.

There's nothing better than an Orangina after cheating death with Digger.

July 29, 2014, 12:40 p.m.
Posts: 90
Joined: April 5, 2014

I prefer going up Stonebridge. I park on Alta Lake Rd just above the Nita Lake intersection. Then pedal up Stonebridge. Then hit Rockwork to Korova then head back west/up the Flank and do High Society or Pura Vida. Those pretty much end near where I parked.

Cool, thanks. I'll check that out!

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