T2R guest ride

Here I am showing off my new gloves won in a competition from Calgary Online cycle store- this photo was one of many we took so they can promote it on pinkbike. Actually the rest were serious but this was me fooling for my audience.

So its funny now, having been a regular guest of T2R that I am guiding their guests. This week we had 10, 3 girls and 7 blokes and we took 3 flights up to Spruce Lake on Thursday morning and set out in glorious sunshine with a storm buildiung up. By the time we reached the potato patch it started thundering down which was a great relief from the heat.

For once no-one wanted to wear a waterproof, the rain felt good. The tracks soon became tacky where they have been so dusty and the rolling was good. It rained on us most of the way down and after the 2nd bridge it was now mud not sand- first time I've been muddy since England!

We rode down in around 4hrs and after washing the bikes we hit the showers and bar.

Friday we rode North Cinnabar and then the local trails to Monkey See- riding as tail guide I was eating and breathing dust from everyone's wheels- must hang back further. Some of the group started to hit the wall so I fed them Clif shots and kept the back runners moving.

We finished the ride in the burn zone on the Turkey trail down to Mowson pond. I decided while the girls were walking up the hill that I'd hang back and get a good singletrack flow run near the end. I was going full pelt when my front wheel hit a burnt out stump and I went over the bars and was buried in soot! I could not extract myself from my bike until I unbuckled my camelbak!

Now covered in soot from head to toe I rejoined the group only to be told I looked like I'd been fighting fires! Black face and grey ash all over my kit.

Back at the lodge we just all ran straight into the Lake to cool off and wash off! Refreshing! It's damn hot here 35 degrees. And after the storms there are a lot of fires started.

The Hurley road (the shortest FSR out of here) has been closed, we can still get out via Lillooet, but its the busiest weekend of the year and we hope our customers are able to get here. More importantly we hope the fire fighters can contain these fires and keep everyone safe.

The local govt have called for a voluntary avoidance of travel in the backcountry - not good.

They say some 1,817 wildfires that have burned approximately 51,042 hectares of forests and grasslands have occurred since april 11th.

Currently there is 345 hectares burning on Copper mountain near Pemberton Meadows and I believe there are evacuation alerts there and in Lillooet. We watch with interest and hope that they are contained soon.

Epic Rides!

My day off and time for a big ride. Terry (the pilot) and I got a shuttle to the trailhead for Taylor Basin and started climbing. We climbed for 4hrs stopping for a snack and rehydrate at Taylor Basin cabin and then for a chat with some lovely Vancouver Natural History Society people at Eldorado basin who took our photo. One of them was an Ex Pat from Halifax and we compared Yorkshire accents mixed with Canadian.

We hike a biked on up Windy Pass for 45mins until we reached 2250m, there we met some of our customers and chatted for a while before we had our lunch and headed down down down the buff twisty singletrack for a 45 min descent to Spruce Lake.

We were doing good time so we pedaled along the lake to the Float Plane Dock and sat there dangling our feet in the water for 30mins before chatting to some campers and starting the long pedal back. 2.5 more hours was spent pedalling along narrow singletrack lines through wildflower meadows with views of mountains all around then down Gun Creek Trail skirting the creek and slaloming in and out of woods.

Had to refill a 3 litre camelbak twice from creeks so pretty much went thru 9L today- it's hot out there and the climbs take it out of you.

Adrian and Jordi met us with a beer at the Gun Creek Road pick up and the alcohol shot into my blood stream and to my head pretty damn quick. I was glowing with the sense of achievement. Another epic ride under my belt!

Where's that word I use so much recently - oh yeah - Wow!

And just to finish the day off with some excitement, while I was in the shower I heard an almighty bang in the cabin- it was that black bear breaking down the cabin door, followed by Terry chasing it up the road with stones! I'm just glad I didn't walk out of the shower to find it in the living room!!

Bear's and Fires

You know you are truly in the backcountry in Canada when....

...you have breakfast with the Forestry Fire Service guys who are damping the burn area down from the recent Forest Fire so we don't get evacuated again.

...you walk up to your cabin at 8pm and find a bear sitting outside it! Luckliy he was more scared than me and took off sharpish. (Note to self- Do not walk around with your head down anymore)

My group of 3 Vancouverites on the Warner Lake Float plane tour today skirting Trigger Lake!
It took us 6hrs of sweet sweet singletrack to pedal down the 42km from where the plane dropped us.

Hot hot day 34 degrees- we finished the ride and jumped in Tyaughton lake then dried off on the dock with an ice cold Sleemans Honey Brown! mmm mmmm!

Guide the Slide

A last minute booking had me heading out the North Cinnabar trail with 2 guests and riding the local trails. It's pretty slidy around there as the trails are so dry and sooo dusty, negotiating the switchbacks is more like turning your snowboard- significant drifting and applying brakes ona descent is a no-no, just let them go and slither down!

It was over 30 degrees and we ran out of water when we reached the fire zone near Mowson pond which was a real hot spot with no shade as there are no leaves left on th trees. You could feel the residual heat of the ground pushing up to us and the smell of carbon and soot was all around. But we made it back to the pick up spot at Mowson pond and ran straight into the Tyax bar for a couple of pints of ice cold water!

Tonight we sat on the deck of the cabin with some cold beers admiring the Lakes and Mount Truax peak now that Terry had cut some trees down so we can see it clearly! Great times!

Fly Fishing

After a hot day in the office I sat by the lake and chilled. Scott and Jenny offered to teach me how to fly fish so that is what I did! My technique was horrible infact Reg looked horrified as he tried to give me tips too! "10 o'clock-2o'clock Claire!"

After 2hrs of drinking beers and casting lines, something suddenly tugged unexpectedly on my line around 9pm ish and I reeled it in, in shock! A reasonable size fish! No-one could believe it espesh not me. It delighted our 2 young swiss guests too.

We packed it in at 10pm and finished some beers in the Lodge with some lemon meringue pies! Yum!

Terry arrived and set up the cabin so well- much homlier now!

Day 60- Glacier Tour and Alpine Passes

What a great day – drove a desk for 5hrs then jumped on a flight-seeing trip to the Bridge Glacier- what an amazing and remote place to be. Not many people get to hike on here- no roads no trails, just a float plan access onto the Lake that has now been revealed as the glacier recedes. It first formed over 5000 years ago, receded and then formed again about 700 years ago. It's been receding for the last 200 years and is now revealing ancient forests. Dale pointed out a fallen tree that has been carbon dated to 5000 years ago. Wow! Amazing to touch something that predates our own history!

Lumps of ice are carving off the glacier daily and we could see the fresh ones, some upturned to reveal the glacial blue ice that was below the surface. Heading back over downton lake and carpeneter both glacial lakes with blue silt and murky waters then we popped over to Gun Lake which was clear spring water you can see to the depths but its in fact around 200m deep! Wow again! So beautiful.

Straight after this Dale shuttled me up to Taylor Creek trailhead (TH) and pointed me up the Taylor cabin pass- At 2:15pm I set off and I climbed on this logging road for 1hr 45 and found the miners cabin, breaking my chain along the way, which held me back 20 mins of pfaffing!

I found camels pass but decided to carry on up to the High Trail turn off- another 45 mins of climbing, I turned left and swooped down the High Trail through meadows under high alpine mountain views- it was amazing! Then it started to climb and I thought I'd missed the turn off as the trail went on forever. Eventually I got to the Eldorado cabin (the one on the Collective/Roam movie I think). I thought maybe I was lost as no sign of the downhill yet! After an hour hanging around here trying to get a radio signal I got Adrian and confirmed I was in the right location. So on I went.

Eventually at 7:30pm I reached the downhill – no junctions at all quite different to how the map looks- I started heading down for 40 mins of amazing singletrack, roots, switchbacks, dusty shoots, occasional exposed ledges. Unbelievable!

I hit the logging road and almost crashed as I looked for directions and slid my front wheel but after heading back along the Freiburg trail I rolled into Tyax at 8:30pm 30 mins before dark! Straight into the bar for beers with Adrian, Scott and Jenny. What an amazing day! Exhausted but grinning!

Todays lesson was about the scale of the map here and the scale of the landscape- totally huge compared to UK OS maps! 2cm on map here - long way on ground!

Day 59- Ride Guide

Excited today as I get to guide my first ride since I got here. Adrian led and I tailguided the local trails. Jane drove us up to North Cinnabar trailhead and we took T2R and Bob and his sons out for a ride. Bob got a flat almost immediately so my 1st job was fixing that.

The trails were very loose dusty singletrack with awesome views, fun and twisty, more technical than the Spruce/Warner trails. The boys had a few offs but coped very well for 9 & 12 year olds.

Jane picked up the boys at Gun Creek Road and we carried on into the maze of singletrack below heading towards Mowson pond and shouting for bears while working our way through the fire beaten forest areas which were just char and ash- an amazing site.

Eventually while I was riding along staring at Mowson pond on my left I glimpsed Carpenter lake to the right- wow! Such a stunning Azure blue glacial lake sparkling through the ash covered ground. Beautiful.

Everyone was pretty tired and we enjoyed a drink on the deck before T2R headed home and I got busy with the Friday night rush for the weekend fun and games.

Day 57-58- Training Day

Day 57- Getting started

This is where I'm living now. So today I had a morning free to chill out but I went for a ride on the Around the Lake ATV trail. I climbed for 8 switchbacks and almost 10k but decided I'd better head back in case I was late, who knows going on may have been quicker but at least I knew the way back.

The afternoon was spent learning the ropes and setting up the PC.

Day 58- Getting organised

Lot's to learn and lots to catch up on, soon the tasks were all organised and I was learning what to do. Am getting to know the staff better from the housekeeping guys to the chefs and waiting staff, front desk and even the cowboy horse trekking guide and the ops/maintenance guy.

Tomorrow I get to ride new trails and find my way around here.

Day 56- Fly Commuting!

It was a long old haul back from Yosemite, Tim and I drove straight through for 23hrs, only stopping to sleep for 1hr in the car at a rest area at 4:30am! We got into Vancouver at 10am having left Yosemite at 11 the previous day and driven over 1000 miles.

After a day spent recovering and doing laundry, oh and restocking at MEC of course, I headed back up to Whistler and met Dale on the Float Plane Dock at Green Lake to commute up to Tyax for my next 6 weeks. What a way to travel- its just 30mins by float plane as opposed to 2-3hrs by car.

This is the cabin where I'm staying right in the backcountry, no shops, no chairlifts, no lego town and just a few tourists chillin' out!

Here we go!

Day 55- Yosemite Falls and the Ahwahnee Dinner

It's my last day in Yosemite before a 20hr drive back so time to make the most of every last minute.

We decided to join Vanessa and Mike at Camp 4, bus stop 7 at 08:30 except the bus was late as usual so we got their 08:45.

Our plan today was to climb 2 miles and half way up to Upper Yosemite Falls.

Jen was half way to having water for the hike- she had bought a water bottle, now all we had to do was find some water to put in it! No worries like mother like daughter Vanessa was still polishing off a caffeine kick for the morning!

Up we hiked, me and my hiking buddy Jake following Greg's long legs and fast pace and his 2 daughters Whitney and Brook keeping pace with him.

It was a hot hot day and the switchbacks climbed and climbed over errratic rocky steps for a long climb. We reached the viewpoint but there was debate about going on to view the falls. On we trotted until we got a fantastic view of the upper falls cascading down in plumes of water that shot out over rock ledges.

A snack stop at what was supposed to be our turnaround point had Ken asking if anyone wanted to go to the top. Well you know me- can't turn down a challenge so I decided to join him. Then Greg turned up and his long legs said "I'm in too" - then Tim decided he could not turn it down either and so everyone who was going back donated water and snacks and "squirrel nibbled" maps for our trip.

On we hiked- I decided to set the pace at the front or else I'd have never kept up with Greg. Now the climbing was steeper and right out in the sun- it was extremely hot and punishing the legs. We stopped in some shade under a bush and then carried on up. It was a few switchbacks later when Tim started swearing as he realised he'd left his SLR camera at the shady stop.

Well we ain't going back for it now- maybe it'll be there when we go down.

Eventually the sign to the overlook came into sight and we started to descend to see the falls- now I could feel the effects on my legs of Half Dome- going downhill was excrutiatingly painful on my stiff legs. We negotiated a narrow set of exposed steps down the rock face and peeked over the handrail to view the falls and the fantastic views of Half dome and Glacier point.

Lunch at the top amongst these awesome views and regretfully we started our painful descent!

Greg set a thundering pace and we almost sprinted down the rocky steps and switchbacks- actually it was probably easier on our poor quads and calves! A lot of tired bodies were coming

up the hill asking "how much further" and we were chirpy in our response, so easy to gloat when you've already summitted. Half way down we looked for Tim's camera and would you believe it- there it was just where he left it!

So we got down the 3.4 mile descent in around 1.25 hrs at 2pm- just 2hrs til cocktails! We rushed back to camp with a lift from Sandi and sat down for a beer then we headed off to get an ice cream at about 3:30pm- Sandi passed us on the way, looked at us, looked at her

watch and the look of bewilderment on her face said it all- "You guys need to hit the shower!". We carried on and had ice cream then rushed to the shower.

Tonight was the big bash at the Ahwahnee and the showers were full of the gang getting pretty. Smart outfits turned out on all sides of our campsite and we were off to catch a bus.

The Ahwahnee was an amazing building rocks and wooden log lodge effect on a grand scale with an imposing backdrop of granite mountains and the hugest fireplace you can imagine. We had a fantastic dinner and a few paper airplane challenges between tables. Ken won a cheeky $100 bet off Mike!

The wine flowed and the group gradually descended into disrepair and ventured out into the meadow for photos and cartwheels- at least Vanessa and I rose to Rory and Jakes challenge to see if we old ladies could still do one! And we could! Even in a merry old state!

What an awesome end to a great trip.

Day 54 - Running the river rapids

Today we had a gentle start - Tim and Ken and I took Rory and Jake for a cycle ride around Yosemite park area.

I was thrilled to see how good the boys have got on their bikes now. It's a pity there were not more off-road challenges for them to really show me how good they have become. I can't wait until I can take my neice and nephew riding like this.

What was so great is how much they enjoyed riding with us too. We managed to make it around the whole valley floor and then almost up to Mirror lake before Jake's infamouse puncture occured. Ken was beside himself with frustration and incomprehension- how come this wheel keeps puncturing. We thought we were clever and had fixed it this time by taking the sharp rim tape out but after lunch at mirror lake we got back to the bikes to find it was flat again-aaagh! We gave up on it and Rory and I rode on as the other limped home.

We met Vanessa and Marne and the whole huge crowd of family and friends up at mirror lake and had some lunch there, I panned for fools gold with the boys and waded in the ankle deep water- it's hardly a lake -more a trickle now :(

Jen wanted to cycle too so she had to settle for borrowing my bike and pedalling alone. A pity we could not co-ordinate bikes to ride together again. Although the terrain was somewhat tame here (enough for her to cope with riding with the brakes on bacwards- UK style!)

While Jen stole off on my bike Tim and Ken and I were led by the boys and Katy to our own private area on the river where we had built a dam with Vanessa the day before.

The water was extremely cold but Ken dove straight in and swam across the river only to be carried down stream by a fairly strong current but he managed to make it across.

Then Tim and I edged in more gingerly, Tim first, then I did the "1,2,3...dunk" which made me scream!

Eventually Rory plunged in just before Jake did the "1,2,3...dunk" technique too (with a fair amount of cajoling from tim and I first). Now we were all wet we started the fun and games.

We worked our way upstream along the sides stepping on the rocks to wade against the current then dived into the whitewater and floated downstream before swimmimg like mad to get ashore again before we were swept too far downstream.

We soon forgot the water was cold and we just kept doing laps for ages- eventually Rory, Jake and I swam across to the other side of the river and climbed out and upstream to jump in above a huge rock and swim back to Katy on the shore.

Katy watched on sedately perched on a rock as any cool teenage girl would, deciding the cold and lack of river walking footwear would keep her out of the river today.

We had such fun it was hard to get out but eventually the cold dug deeper into the bones and drying off in the sunshine was a much preferred option.

Tonight we picniced at Yosemite Lodge on the river- a great big gathering of family members of all generations- with T-shirt issuing and speeches by Mike and great political debates raging between Roger and Joan amongst the plentiful alcohol.

Apparently Vanessa and Mike used to stay in cabins on this very spot but they were washed away in a flash flood a few years ago, and the new lodge was built.

What a great place to spend time with family and friends!

Day 53- Yosemite Half Dome

I met Tim in North Van on Tuesday and we started a long long road trip from Vancouver to Yosemite. About 1000miles and 20hrs of driving! We stopped overnight in Redding, California having driven down through Washington and Oregon already in shifts.

We arrived in Upper Pines campground in Yosemite at around 3pm Wednesday to meet a pack of Stothers and Lidsters. It was so wonderful to see everyone again and I was soom yabbering away with Katy, Jake and Rory- hearing all their stories of the big move from UK to US.

At about 6:30pm we ate some snacks and laid down to bivvy in the campsite for a snooze. Well it was way too loud to snooze as a bear was seen and shot on the campsie with many screams from campers around us. At 9:45pm we rose and donned headlamps and packs stuffed with snacks and warm clothes and started the hike up Half Dome via the mist trail and John Muir trail.

We set quite a pace and had to slow down or else we were going to summit before sunrise and get cold standing around. It was eery walking through the woods in the dark with bears and deer around. At one point I went for a pee and saw two lights shining back from my headlamp- 2 eyes! Thankfully it was a deer staring me out about 10 feet away!

We met chatty Cathy and her poor 13 year old son who never got a word in edgeways and a couple of young adults from Oz who were inspired to cacth our 50 year old leader up and to summit with us (but they turned back at the cables).

Climbing the steep steps at 3am was pretty scary as you could not see how big the droip off the side was, plus we were all tired and wobbly. This brought Sandi to crawl on all fours but she made it up. Even Tim had a couple of wobbly moments.

We got to the base of the cables around 3:30am too early to climb so we chose some gloves from the huge pile that Ken just had to fall into and then huddled under space blankets and shivered on the cold granite rock in the bright moonlight. Not much sleep was had as we had a blanket rustling relay started by Katy and Abby!

As dawn was upon us and the light growing we headed over to the base of the cables. I did not think they looked too steep but was keen to start moving up and before we could say "Let's do it" Vanessa was off and 6 steps up with Mike in chase. So I decided to follow on ASAP leaving Ken standing with Katy and Abby who followed me up. I never looked back as on the 6th step or so it was pretty steep and my worn 5-10 bike shoes were slipping on the granite making me grip for dear life to the cables. At one point I had a brief freeze but decided I could not face going down nor would I have beena good example for the girls- so I carried on up. It was steep and scary!

I was the 3rd to summit Half Dome (8842ft) before sunrise and after Mike and Vanessa who thought that we 3 were it as no-one followed me for a while but then Abby's face popped over the summit with a big beam- she'd done it! Then a way later Alex appeared and then even later came Ken. 6 summiters- yeehaa! We donned our "Half Century on half dome T-shirts" and had a photo call.

Ken and I headed out for photos on the diving board that hangs over a 4000ft vertical drop! We got a bit wobbly but made it back safely while Mike could not even look. Then Alex and Abby went out venturing even closer to the edge!

Soon the sun peaked up over the mountains and we were bathed in warmth again but it was time to descend. Well the thought alone scared me! But there was no other way down so down the cables we went- me at the back slipping on my non-grippy shoes and clinging to thecables with a death grip that hurt my wrists! Ken was trying to talk to me about how scary it was but I told him "Keep moving and don't talk about it!" I just wanted to be down where I could see everyone else had reached.

Elation at the bottom as we regrouped and had our first photos in the sun before starting the long long 8mile hike back down via Vernal falls. On the way down tired as we were our spirits were lifted by the awe we gained from each group of climbing hikers incredulous that we had hiked overnight and were already on our way down and inspired by the fact that we were celebrating Vanessa's 50th birthday- we became quite famous around town for the next few days. (Even people in the coffee queue were talking about it)

After 13hrs of hiking we arrived back at the campsite- exhausted physically and mentally and me with 5 blisters on my toes - ow!

The rest of the day was sheer collapse and recovery and an early night in our tent cabin where we slept very soundly indeed.

What an awesome experience- one that I will never forget.

(Maybe one day I'll be back- perhaps for Vanessa's 60th and my 50th).

Days 48-50- Tyax

(check out Housser's VR photo's here)

What can I say!?! It just get's more and more awesome around here.

I did this float plane trip back in 2005 with Pete, Ken and Dennis and it was amazing. I have to say 2nd time around and on a lighter bike (my Lapierre Zesty) it was just as awesome and maybe even more so!

Tom, Laura and Housser picked me up in Housser's F15o pick up on Friday and we hit the road to Tyax, stopping at Pemberton's Pony Express for lunch.

Now the road to Tyax isn't one you usually ride. It's a gravel FSR (Forest Service Road) which bumps along and twists and turns, up and down a mountain for 60km. So it is not the most comfortable drive.

To add to that we were not without mishap! 16km up the gravel road climb smoke started pouring out of the bonnet/hood and we stopped and evacuated! Lifting the hood the coolant was gurgling out of the radiator like some geyser exploding. We all stood well back and worried! After all the coolant had gone we searched the car for water. Draining everyone's camelbak's into the radiator then flagging down some pick-ups and nicking their water. Then Tom hiked up to a stream and filled all our camelbak's twice to fill the truck! We were on the move again but gingerly!

We were almost at Tyax when we had to pull over and wait. Some helicopter crews were flying in and replacing broken powerline poles from the recent fire and we could see the devastation the June fire had caused in the burnt out forest all around.

When we got the signal to go we couldn't go- the car would not start, so out we jumped and pushed the truck to jump start it (and this was not the last time this trip). Well bad things come in 3's they say so we all hoped for one more bad thing before we boarded the plane tomorrow!!

Finally we arrived at Tyax and pitched camp before we went to cool off with a swim in the glacial waters of the lake. If you've ever seen the movie "On Golden Pond" well then you can picture this place at Tyax. Log cabins and lodge next to a lake with mountains in the background and us jumping off the jetty and screaming in the cold water!

A cold night in my $20 Walmart sleeping bag and an early start as we were the first plane out at 07:15am. We loaded our bikes into the float plane at 7:15 and took off from the lake for a 15 minute flight through the mountains to Warner Lake. The views were amazing in the early morning sunshine- glassy blue lakes and mountains galore.

We landed on Warner lake which was like a mirror (see below)- no single ripple to indicate how close we were to the surface- a real challenge for Terry our pilot who hadn't landed in such conditions for 5 years having been flying 747's more recently!

Bikes unloaded and we waited for the next flight in while we battled mosquitoes off and stared in awe at the views up here away from all civilisation, no roads or rail just a narrow singletrack trail to follow out for 42km+.

Dale and the Swiss crew from Bergrad.ch arrived (in their team colours) and we were off on the trail.

What followed can barely be described but the pictures and video will try to explain the wonders before our eyes. It started with a rocky but gentle climb to the end of the lake and then evolved into buff singletrack exposed on our right with a sheer drop down to Gun Creek if you veered too far that direction.

The fast flowy stuff was interspersed variously with some scree slopes providing a challenge to ride across or a washout where no trail existed, then some swooping track through the forest and sometimes emerging into meadows of wildflowers. Mainly we could see Gun Creek to our right and then each glacial blue lake as we passed Trigger lake and Hummingbird lake.

Again we were still waiting for that bad 3rd thing but as it turned out it did not happen to us but rather to Oliver who wiped out on a creek crossing, got caked in mud and broke a Carbon Formula Brake lever off his Lapierre Spicy 916. He rode on with just a rear brake only to crash again and lose the other lever! Yup he had no brakes now!

Dale hashed together a trail fix with a tyre lever as a brake lever and Oliver managed to ride on until we reached Spruce Lake where Terry picked Oliver and Shane (our tail guide) up. We rode on from Spruce downwards.

The trail got pretty dusty and we were riding some 200m+ apart. The Swiss guys ahead following Dale then Housser and I interchanging for the helmet cam and then Tom with Laura bringing up the rear together.

About 6 and a half hours of buff singletrack later we emerged on a fire track near Dale's cabin and we piled our bikes on his truck for a 5 min drive back to Tyax for beers on the deck followed by a refreshing dunk in the lake (Count to 3 and jump in! Scream!) and a warm up in the hot tub!

Tonight we dined in style in the Lodge. Tired, grinning and totally chilled out.

I slept well, and warm in my $20 sleep bag tonight with many other layers on that is!

We packed up camp and left on Sunday back to Vancouver but I have a feeling I'll be back pretty soon- there is so much more to be done there!

Day 47- Disc Golf and Lakeside refreshment

Today is rest and pack day but it's sunny so pretty tough to stay indoors!

Matt and I went hiking over to Lost Lake to play Disc golf. We both kinda thought it might be lame and we only had one red frisbee acquired from the Reuse It centre for $1 but hey it's sunny!

Well even the 1st tee we were addicted, hilarious trying to throw a frisbee through trees up rock slabs and around dog legs to land in a cage or hit a single metal pillar.

I won the first 2 holes, then Matt tried my tactics ans we drew the 3rd, Matt took the 4th clearly improving it was 2-1 to me.

The 5th was atough one, longer, narrow and uphill but I made it in 5 and felt confident. Matt teed up and threw a powerful effort but oops it hooked right up and into the trees.

Well we searched and searched those bushes and trees but the disc was lost and Matt had to forfiet the game.

We were both frustrated as we had started to get addicted- it was a great fun day off activity.

It was really hot so we stomped back to the Lost lake beach area surrounded by views of mountains and we just stripped off and walked staright in to the beautiful clear blue waters that looked so so tempting. Well Matt went straight in I went up to my waist and waited a while as boy it sure was glacial in there!

Then a girl floating by me on an air bed just said "You gotta count to 3 and dive in" so I did- ooooh that is refreshing! Cold but wow such a great feeling!

We swam around for a while, out to the jetty and back. I can kind of see how a guy drowned here last week if you are not a strong swimmer the cold can get you quick if you are out of your depth.

Then we laid in teh sunshine on the beach area until we were dry and hungry and headed home.

Sure was a nice change of pace today.

Day 46- Canada Day Heli Drop Rainbow Mountain

The first heli drop of the season for anyone in Whistler and I was on it! An awesome experience being the first ones to land on that patch of snow and to ride the trail that's been untouched since the snows started to fall last October.

8am breakfast at the main lodge and at 9 we headed to the heli-port. Brakes and shifters were loosened on our bikes and then bikes stacked on the heli-pad and strapped together. We signed our waivers for a one way ticket no pick-up, meaning we have to find our own way off the mountain!

I managed to ride shotgun for the first heli up so I had an awesome view and was able to film it. Headsets on and harnessed in we took off in what feels rather wobbly fashion as we headed backwards then turned 180 to start climbing over the forest, over Green Lake and up into the mountains. At one point I looked down through the bubble window in the floor and suddenly realised I was suspended in mid-air- this is really flying!

We landed on a tiny patch of snow again a little wobbly and I struggled to get out of my harness but could not ask the pilot for help as he was balancing the chopper on the snow so was rather busy.

We crouched down on one knee on the snow as the pilot took off above our heads and then in a woosh was gone back down the mountain for the next load. We were alone and stranded!

After a few pics of the amazing views the pilot was back with our bikes dangling on a rope below the helicopter. He skilfully placed them on the snow, released the cable and Chris was waiting to untie them. Off flew the pilot again and we were less stranded as at least now we had bikes to ride down on!

Brakes and shifters tightened and checked we hiked across the snow to the trailhead, then headed down a rocky descent, we hit quite a few patches of snow at the top which we mainly had to hike our bikes across which was tough work. Eventually the snow was gone and we had some rolling singletrack through meadows until we hit the treeline. At the treeline things got a little steeper and we hit some very loamy steep rooty descents that had my back wheel drifting all over the place. Another case of just point the bike and hang on to the bars and hope you make it!

In between the steep chutes were a few nice rock slab rolls some steeper than others, I rode round the one that Tom rode after I saw him nearly go over the bars! We popped out onto the Flank Sproatt trail about 50m above Billy's Epic trail a great black diamond descent with an awesome viewpoint. Also a trail I have not ticked off yet. (There are 135 trails in my guide book and I've ridden 112 so far)

This led us down onto descend 27 switchbacks, fast and tight then onto Bob's Rebob a lot wider but very fast and swoopy until we hit Alta Lake Road and pedaled down to Rainbow Park on Alta Lake for a Canada day picnic.

Great runs down and a superb experience.

I pedaled home and got Dan to fix my Stroker brakes as the damper on the back lever had gone and the front disc rotor was rather bent and dragging. All fixed in double quick time I went for a few gentle runs in the park (Ninja Cougar and Angry Pirate and Crank it Up) and to watch the race down Schleyer and Rock City. I rode til 8pm then joined everyone in the GLC for the prizes and beers.

Exhausted... tomorrow I must REST!