dknapton profile

Posted by: nortonwhis

Posted by: dknapton

Really thought it might have died down after labor Day but geuss not.

It has never once died down on 20 degree beautiful weekend days at the start of September. Guarantee if you were riding today there will be barely enough to fill the first row of the maze.

If its sunny on a weekend from now on it will be mobbed, especially considering extended play is over...

I mean it was kinda chilly and threatening to rain but ok. Hoping i can get a couple more good days in this year.

Really thought it might have died down after labor Day but geuss not.

Lineups were pretty brutal today. Managed two runs then gave up after the singles line was still backed up all the way the steps in the village. Didn't help that there was two lengthy stops of the lift and seemed like it stopped about 3 times each ride up. Also didn't see a sole on the trails (did two laps of dirt merchant to del Boca/aline). 

Does whistler even care when it gets that busy? Seems like it only keeps getting busier and just wonder if there's ever any thought to the future of dealing with how brutal the lines get.

Are we back to masks in the lift line?

I know Lord of the Squirrels is a long pedal but how hard is it? Like is it fairly melow and long or is steeper? Would love to do it but I'm not the biggest fan of climbing so just wondering if it's something I should try this year. Comparable grade to anything?

Posted by: grambo

Posted by: dknapton

Posted by: Stuminator

Pinkbike Day 4; Must see...Watch some fully sponsored rider ride & rip apart some secret trail on the north shore with his pro bros. (Video footage shows the entrance & exit of said trail.)

I've found a half dozen "secret" trails in Squamish from this method. Always makes me laugh that it's the pros giving away the goods

Yep, if you know the general lay of the land it's pretty easy to find a lot of stuff... entrances/exits not properly obscured so you can see landmarks/housing developments, or panorama views with reference points, even the look of the forest is a big clue... but Squamish community doesn't seem like they have as much of a problem with rogue builds compared to the shore.

Yup. Most I've found just from quickly seeing the entrance or exit then just going for a hike in the general area I think it is. Feel like there's just as many hidden trails in squamish as there is ones on trailforks.

Posted by: Stuminator

Pinkbike Day 4; Must see...Watch some fully sponsored rider ride & rip apart some secret trail on the north shore with his pro bros. (Video footage shows the entrance & exit of said trail.)

I've found a half dozen "secret" trails in Squamish from this method. Always makes me laugh that it's the pros giving away the goods

Lines were non existent this evening (Friday) yet it seemed like the park was packed. Hit traffic on lower Aline on almost all my runs.  Seems like there was so many people on the trails

Was up on Sunday and it's definitely extremely dry. 

Curious as to how much use Creekside actually gets? Parked there and did 2 runs and that side of the hill seems like a ghost town. 

Good to hear the lift lines are back to normally.

Posted by: tashi

For a quick excursion from Qualicum the Hammerfest trails are nice, stay to the riders left for the flow, drop down towards the river for a bit more janky.

The south Benson trails in Nanaimo are all-time and have easy fire road climbs. Start with the Simpsons route (Uterbraten, Max Power, Hutz etc) and then go up to Chainsaw ridge, Meat Draw etc if you’re down for more climbing and more gnar. Do both for a big day and add in Panoraimo to really fuck your legs up and get more DH.

Cumberland is awesome but I don’t know specifically what trails to route you through - I like a big pedal along with my big gnar down. Queso and upper Queso and whatever the way out route that feeds into Queso are awesome but require a good pedal. The lower stuff (Blockhead etc are also awesome and make for good shorter, less climby routes. 

Tzuhalem in Duncan is excellent also, lots of sustained descents.  Fire road or singletrack climbs. Check Trailforks for popular routes, they’re good.  Maple is nice but Tzu is better.  Provost is shuttle territory basically (if I’m up to date there.)  

One of the best aspects of VI trails are the excellent climb routes so I recommend you do like the locals do and seek out singletrack climbs, we’ve got the goods!  Basically the further south you go, the more pedaling you’ll have to do so stay outta Vic if you don’t like tech singletrack climbs.

Ill definitely look those up. Ya I dont think I want to go much more south than Nanaimo.  I dont mind hitting some pedalling bits, just dont want like the epic grunt pedals the whole way up.