Ridgerama

Well its been back to the office and back to almost hard work this week but as Adrian is departing soon we headed out to ride Ridgerama today which I've been interested in finding for some time.

The route climbs up Taylor basin road to the Taylor Mining cabin (1hr 45 climb) and then up to the top of Camels pass (45 mins hike and bike) where instead of descending the High Trail we cut up left to the peak and followed an invisible trail across the ridges of several mountains on shale and scree slopes. Too loose to pedal up most of the climbs but loose and drifty to decsnd down again.

The views were incredible as you would expect. Even with the large amount of smoke haze from the large fires still burning a few kms away.

Adrian took 7hrs or so last time but some of that was trying to find the trail. This time we left at 12:45pm and had to be at dinner by 7pm so he kept us moving, no rest.

We dived off the ridge down into Cinnabar meadows and climbed the switchbacks to pick up the North Cinnabar trail right from the top this time. The trail became more obvious and we descended twice the number of dusty switchbacks than our usual ride. 40mins of descending until we got back to the lodge.

Just 4hrs 45mins to do the ride- and my legs could feel it- it's an epic and should be done at a slower pace to enjoy those views but it certainly was an excellent workout! Must do again some day.

We had an excellent buffet dinner with Dale, Jane, Bobbi and Jack at the Tyax Lodge. Food here is superb as usual! Then a few beers to say farewell to an emotional Liz. No-one ever wants to leave here!

Sky Camp- an Awesome experience!

On Monday I headed up to Sky Camp- a remote lake called Crystal Lake near Taseko Lake in the South Chilcotins in British Columbia. Dale has the only log cabin on the lake there and about 6 permanent tent frames with proper comfy beds in them. There is a log fired sauna right next to the lake and a bunch of canoes, kayaks and bikes and fishing rods to use.

My role was to host the camp for 4 clients including prepping meals and cleaning up, but when their guide arrived I ended up tail guiding the hikes and taking out kayak and mountain bike trips too.

The place is amazing, so so remote and as such so so quiet, just the sound of wildlife and water and wind around us. I have never slept so well- loads of fresh air and super comfy beds. Even though the first 2 nights were a bit chilly and I had to hide under the bed covers!

I got up at 6:15 every morning and watched the sunride on the mountains by the lakeside before preparing some hot drinks on the lof fired stove for our guests. Breakfast was served at 8 and by 9:30/10 we were out hiking. I ended up in long non-stop conversations with a 13 year old girl all about Green Day or Emo's. skate chics and Goths, plus a full analysis of meez.com! Fascinating.

After our daily hikes we kayaked the length of the glassy lake, had a sauna (often burning my arm while stoking up the log fired stove) and then ran off the dock into the freezing lake to cool off and wash off- exhilarating! Then sprint back to the sauna to warm up and dry off.

In the evenings I prepped dinner ingredients and Stephan cooked some fabulous food for us all. Then we relaxed (no alcohol but who needed it) and ended up playing Monopoly most nights in the cabin before retiring to our comfy beds.

We hiked to Pond of Youth - a large sparkling blue pond almost a lake- we had to crawl in down logs to get in or else we sank into the mud to our calves- then just as the icy water was creeping up to your waist you had to dive in off the log- woooweeee that's cold! Shivering I asked for my photo to be taken quick so I could get out but Stormy decided we needed to swim to the other side- so we did! The numb'er my body got the easier it was to stay in!

Later I took the Bernies for a bike ride- their first ever on mountain bikes, as road riders they were fit but they struggled to handle the bike over the terrain at first. I gave some basic tips as they gradualy improved and we rode right around the lake until I came aroudn a cormer adn exclaimed Woooaahhh! They thought I had crashed and were worried how bad the terrain ahead must be if I had- but as they rounded the corner they saw the reason for my exclamation- an awesome thundering waterfall. From there we crossed the creek on a fallen tree- they said "Are you for real Claire?" as they shuffled across with petrified faces. It was a mini-adventure and they loved it - lots of tales to tell.

On the last night we kayaked to the end of the Lake at 9pm and had smores on the fire, and drank the only alcohol we had (as i was the only one to bring any so I saved it for a treat for the last night). We kayaked back at midnight, no moonlight just starlight to guide us home. It was a little scary as I did not want to capsize in a cold lake at midnight with no visibility, no life jacket, warm clothes on and my camera in my pocket! Anyway suffice to say I was relieved when the dock came into sight.

On Friday they all flew out at 10am and I had the camp to myself for the whole day! I quickly knocked off the chores to be done, stripping beds, cleaning up, chopping wood and closing down camp.

Then I had a sauna, Lake jump, Sauna session, went fora Kayak, hiked up the creek and generally laid around on the dock in complete quiet. It was serene and I went into a completely chilled out zoned out place- wow! - what a week, what a special place this is.

Terry arrived on the float plane with family in tow to shatter my peaceful existence and we stayed on for an hour or so before packing up the plane and heading back to Tyax.

Sky Camp here we come!

I'm off to this remote camp on Crystal Lake for a week- I'm hosting a group there.

We have to fly in as there are no roads in or out.

When I landed there to check it out this week I saw a moose getting out of the Lake just 100m from the cabin.

Expect lots of tales of remoteness and getting back to nature when I return but certainly no internet or phones etc til next Saturday!

Party Week

Well you may have thought I'd dropped off the face of the world but..... maybe life just changed a little for me this week. You may be shocked or at least raise an eyebrow to the following if you think you know me well...

After weeks of relative sobriety and dedication to serious bike riding I had a personality change. We had a few days where no tours were booked, this just happened to coincide with a staff party so I decided to have a party fling for a change and remember my youthful days of drinking to oblivion and see if I could still do it.

Party at Andrew's log cabin Mule Deer. Started with Jeremy lining up the shots for all the staff and that's when I knew the slippery slope was getting steeper. We danced on the deck under the stars, we drank and talked a load of nonsense. We ran off the dock and jumped in the lake at 2am, then hit the hot tub to warm up and shrivel. Finally made it home at 3:30am.

Up at 8am ( a lie in)- hmm I don't seem to have a hangover- so I pretended to be sober at work!

I thought that was it for my party dose- but no! The next night Bryant, Natalie's friend arrived and we drank til 2:30am on the deck and had a good old natter, putting the world to rights. Up at 7am to work- ow!

That should have led to a hangover and a rest night (I'm not 21 anymore!) but no hangover so I did it again- this time for Cat and Ari's leaving do in the bar. Up to 3:30am drinking and chatting and watching the shenanigans of the young 2o something relationships going on. Hoping I was beyond that stage but worrying that I'm not!

Then I got a night off just chilling with Terry, Adrian and Bryant on our cabin deck- soft drinks only.

Just as well as on Thursday I had a guided ride which Bobbi and Jack joined and we had a great time coming out of Spruce- turned out JJ was on the tour too, so as I owed him a night on the beers- we hit the bar after a dip in the lake, a canoe ride and a warm up in the hot tub of course.

The pitchers flowed and this time we were up to 3:30am drinking far too many pitchers and having some great old British banter and deep conversations with Brennan, Adrian, Darryl etc.

After 3hrs sleep I woke up with a start not knowing the time- and with no watch or phone to tell it. I looked outside, the sun was up. Was I late for work or is it still 5am? I took a photo to try and tell the time but have no idea what zone my camera is in! So up I got and went to work- 30mins early 6:30am. In a grumpy old mood at breakfast!

We laughed a lot- it was a great night. In fact its been a top week- but time to detox now.

Soon I was thinking happy thoughts so as to be jolly for all the customers I had to chat to and off I went at 9am to guide a tour- probably still drunk but making it fun for everyone. We had an awesome ride - a bit slow but by 2pm my hangover was starting to kick in- in the heat of the ride- ow!

That's it for partying- next week detox at Sky Camp. Pheee- ewww!

Gromit Ride

Well I'm a big kid and I'm missing being an Aunty and taking my neice and nephew for bike rides so today I got 5 substitutes- Charlie (12), Bobbi (12), Jack (10), Eric (10), Emily (10) plus 2 rather more mature kids Jane and Terry (each a parent of some of those kids).

Dale shuttled us up to Cinnabar trailhead and we came down the dusty loose switchbacked singletrack through the forest, faster than most of my adult groups! Bobbi setting a good pace on my tail and Jack trying to stay with us. All the kids just love riding the trails around here- except when they go up too long!

Bobbi is a future champ for sure- already racing and placing 1st/2nd in Squamish XC races. Watch out for her.

Next Bobbi led us down the singletrack maze from 10mile corner to the back of Dale's place where we had some snacks and the kids played with toys like mini-motor bikes, trampoline snowboarding tricks, remote control jeeps and Nintendo Wii. I resisted joining in and drank beer but it was a tough dilemma!

It was a great ride, lovely bunch of kids, the sun was out and I was the only one who crashed (great guide eh!?).

Staff MTB trip

Some of the lodge staff have been asking me to take them out mountain biking. Well you know me, I love to share my passion for the sport but I like everyone to have a good experience. Problem is there is no easy trail around here, nothing flat and nothing non-technical! So where do I take a bunch of beginners?

Well today I finally said "Come on then let's go" and I had a big recruitment- 6 staff decided to come out, others were on duty and could not make it so maybe another trip to come.

I set them all up with rental bikes, adjusted everything and pumped tyres then taught them all how to change gears and gear selection while they rode round the parking lot. Off we set to the Freiburg trail and the first climb (2 mins in). Lots of huffing and puffing and getting off to walk their bikes. Elisha had to give up after the first bit of singletrack as her heart was beating too damn fast so I pointed her down "Johnny be good" singletrack to get back on the road home. Still she'd made it further than her last attempt and she'd tasted singletrack.

The rest were up for the challenge and were soon falling off the sides of the narrow strip of singletrack into stumps and brush. New battle scars emerged. We carried on up the logging road climb towards the lookout and it was great to hear the exclamations of "Wow!" as they got to the top of the hike a bike and saw the view.

Down the dusty chutes I made them walk as I did not want to be responsible for a third of the staff being injured and unable to work! But gradually they all attempted some of the slider descents to varying success. Finally we emerged onto Gun Ck road and started the big climb home as fast as possible so as not to miss dinner. We made it back at 5:40 for our 5:30 dinner- everyone grinning and asking me when we can go again.

Ah yes I do love spreading the religion of mountain biking- it sure can be infectious!

Water Ski Virgins

Joined by 3 more newbies for water skiing today- Nat, Cat and Ariane.

The sun was back out but its still a little cooler, the water was calmer than yesterday so the girls made me go first to show them how (!!) and fortunately I got up first time and made a great run around the lake until we hit rough water and I decided to have a go at crossing the wake- I wobbled, I tried to hold it, I wobbled, I must have looked like Frank Spencer for a while before I hit the deck or at least the water and had a cold splash! I had 2 more tries, now I'm confident in getting up and riding in the wake I keep trying to cross the wake but that is when I get wobbly.

Next up was Ariane and after 2 tries she got up on her third and then was very steady even riding over the wake once and pretty much holding it on one ski for a while til she got back on 2.

Cat had a tough act to follow and her first 3 attempts had her face planting over the front of the skis, much to our enjoyment but she was grittily determined and on the 4th she was up and held it steady for the whole ride.

Nat had to go last, and having never even been on skis before we knew this was gonna be entertaining and indeed it was. She got almost up about 3 times and then had about 8 goes while she got up, wobbled a lot, leaned back and got dumped, then she'd get up and head straight for the portside wake and boom she was down! She was game though and kept on trying until her teeth were chattering with the cold and we brought her home.

We all tried to warm up in the patchy sunshine today- sunbathing in hoodies?!

I drove Terry's terrible Bronco back across the gravel roads to Tyax with the girls and went out for a bike ride while they went back to work.

Later we had a video viewing to much hysterics in the bar at an impromptu staff gathering!

That might be the last ski as Ray will be heading home with the boat soon. :(














Ray was priding himself in getting 4 virgins up on skis!

Turbulent Tubing!

Another bad weather day (for here anyway- better than a British Summer still!). While we have a cold front over us we decided to tube.
I was somewhat heavier than Emily who is 10 years old- but we managed to stay pretty balanced as we bumped off the wakes. We held on for ages then I got dumped off then Emily then both of us disappeared! It was loads of fun but my arms were wrenched out of my shoulders trying to hold on/stay on!

To warm us up Eric made us KD (Kraft Dinner) and then some melteed marshmallow concoction with Nutella and Oreos!

Gun's at Gun Lake

The weather was a bit miserable- good for damping down fires but not for riding (at least not when youi've been spoilt with so much hot dry weather!) So we headed for Gun Lake again, too choppy for water skiing we ended up tubing behind the boat and then playing horse shoes and then shooting rifles. First we shot an air rifle with little accuracy. Then we went to the range and shot a 22 rifle- I even hit about 4 targets (cans and bottles and a kettle!).

It was fun to kick back and try a bunch of different activities.

Camels Pass

Today while I sent Terry and his family off to ride the Spruce Lake trip, I headed out on the 2 hour climb up Taylors cabin and then an hour bike and hike a bike to Camels Pass then down the High Trail.

It was pretty hot, John had set out way ahead of us and waited at the top of the pass, Jane was around 15mins behind me as I reached Taylors cabin but she never wanted to stop and rest as the flies were too annoying.

It was a helluva climb over the pass but son we were descending narrow steep singletrack with wonderful views (par for the course around here but I'm trying not to get used to it!). We traversed a knife edge piece of trail then a steep rut before dropping into fast rolling meadows. We got chucked out at High Trail logging road and had a very fast brake melting descent- past a black bear at the side of the trail!

We left John and headed back along the Friburg and straight into the Lake at Tyax to clean and cool off with Adrian's clients. We just hjad time for a post ride beer before we had to go change a tyre on the van so I could shuttle Terry's gang from Gun Creek road. They'd been riding for 6hrs and were exhausted, but relieved to see me with a beer and a van for them.

Lorna Pass Epic Mountain Bike Tour

Today Terry and I hitched a float plane ride into Lorna where Dale was to pick up some camping gear. Lorna is a fantastic lake nestled right in the mountains, no roads to access teh area, miles from anywhere.

We had to find the trailhead at the end of the pond and after a while we found it but the creek crossing was deep and running fast. I didn't want wet boots for the hike a bike so we hiked back alomng the creek until we found a better place to cross. I started across with my bike in the creek and my feet on rocks and logs then my bike's front wheel got swept away in the rapids and pinned under a log. Terry had to help me yank it out and then we got across!

We hiked up almost vertical scree slope for the next 50mins- it was tough going but worth it at the top- fantastic views and not a soul around. All we could see was a sweet sweet strip of singletrack for miles and miles! Yes!

Headng down the first section I was hurtling along when I suddenly dipped into a huge hole and nearly went over the bars as my front wheel disappeared into a marmot hole that had been excavated by a grizzly- huge!

We rode for 3 more hours of singletrack through Lorna pass, along Tyaughton creek and then we hit the 4 major creek crossings. the first one we rode through over our hubs and feet pedalling through teh water- shoes full of water and squelching. The 2nd was bigger so we waded through and the rapids were running up over my knees and my shorts got wet too. The next 2 were slightly shallower but still mid calf height.

On we pedalled in wet shoes! Then just as my shoes were drying a little we joined the WD trail by crossing another big creek- soaked again! We climbed up the singletrack through wooded forests and over roots then it descended into Spruce Lake- great forest singletrack with roots and rocks to bump over and twists and turns- mmm mmm!

At Spruce we sat on the dock in the sunshine- drying our boots and socks and dangling our feet in the water as we refueled with Clif bars, clif shots and Ryvita. After a good rest we set off down to Gun Creek Trail through Spruce Meadows which were now less dusty and more tacky. So they rolled so well and flowy!

We did good time down and by 7pm we had a pick up from Terry's dad Ray and back to the cabin for a feast and some beer.

Another awesome day- some 60km of riding predominantly singletrack. Good times!

Local Tourists

Today became a rest day before tomorrow's ride.

We had a water ski down at Gun Lake and I made it right round the lake in one go this time and first time, but then it got stormy and too choppy to ski so we went on a tour of the local towns.

Gold Bridge population of 43! That tour did not take long, a hotel, a general/liquir store and a gas station with no gas left!

On up to Bralorne population of about 60, stopped at the Mineshaft pub to get gas! Then on up to the Pioneer museum to learn all about the Gold Mining days when there were some 10,000 residents here and a thriving community. One of the best Gold seams in North America here but it shut in 1971 after some 70 years of existence I guess.

We visitied the old mine shaft and watched Terry break and examine old stones for Gold, we found mainly Pyrite.

Good to see the local area and imaging it in its hey day!

Water Ski Initiation

No work today due to the Forest fires which are preventing anyone travelling to of from the lodge. So we are trapped here in paradise with no customers.

Tired legs from biking singlespeed yesterday (snapped my rear derailleur cable and had to ride back from Spruce on 2 gears!), I decided to join Terry et famille at Gun Lake and try my hand at water skiing.

Ray (Terry's Dad) showed me how as he mono-skied down the lake. Then it was my turn and I was a little nervous I would end up being dragged thru the water face first with my boardies rond my ankles! The lake was quite warm compared to Tyaughton, but still a little shivery when you first get in. Legs bent, arms bent lean back just like Ray tld me and woah we are off! The rope taughtened, my lkegs braced against the water resistance and I was up! Yay!

I stayed up for a while and then bang I crashed as I hit the wake and wobbled off.

Around they came and off I went again but this time only briefly til I wobbled on the wake. "Think birth control Claire" said Ray "Keep those legs tight together"- so third time up and we went for ages in a straight line- yeeehaa this is excellent! Then we were running out of lake so as the boat turned I tried to too but no that's not how it works! Crash! Still grinning though!

A couple more crashes then a long run all the way back to the dock- yes I could get addicted to this!

Rebirth and renewal

"...human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them, but...life obliges them over and over again to give birth to themselves."

Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

I may sound a little chilled today as I've been lazing on the dock and swimming in the lake all afternoon for a change and a rest.

Above is the quote from a friends tattoo, that I've been contemplating all afternoon as it really struck a cord with me.
There have been many phases to my life so far, each one a variation of the last but certainly each has brought a new life. Never regretting leaving some parts of my old life behind, but keeping them as good and bad memories but most importantly I have always embraced the new life that evolves for me and brings new territory.

I am so glad that this year I have "given birth to myself" once more and come out here to jump at all the opportunities that come my way and experience all these new places, people and things. It's what makes you feel alive. I have not quite reinvented myself but rather allowed my playful side to expand and my responsible side to subside a little. It's so good for the soul!

So I looked up old Gabriel Garcia Marquez and found another quote that rings so true:

"It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams."

I am determined to keep pursuing dreams therefore and like Peter Pan never grow old! (I wrote that down to remind myself whenever I forget to pursue my dreams which I will some day in the future I am sure)