Whistler Day 23

Flank Trail view point, originally uploaded by kendyck1.

August 4th

Bear and Cougar sitings= 0 (phew!)
Kms= 25
Ascent= 850m
Descent=
Picture = Flank Trail view point

So I worked today and it was tough as it’s so hot outside and everyone else was riding, but hey I knew that and I can ride later and one does have to work to pay for this fun!

I finished by 4 and went out for a long cross country/all mountain ride. I hike a biked up Rick’s Roost to Rainbow-Sproatt Flank trail – tough work. Some fantastic view points of the valley below and all the mountains and lakes. I rode down and counted the 27 switchbacks which was so cool, across a beautiful waterfall and then climbed back up the Flank trail sometimes hike a bike with my 40.8lb Cove not really made for climbing.

Eventually I got to my target trail “Cheap Thrills” a double diamons black trail. Oh and boy was it worth it. It started rolling rooty and rocky then a great little rock roll past a mini waterfall (see video)- some bigger rock rolls and wood work and some real skinny skinnies with a “must not fall” drop on the left (I walked those). More switchbacky, rooty rocky rock slab features all with loads of flow then a couple of huge vertical rock drops that I clambered down (not to be attempted alone!).



I emerged and took Blue trail Beavers Pond to Beavers pass and climbed up to the power line and rode half the rock slab not making the right turn half way down. Rode the rest of this rooty tight trail with a few pieces of woodwork until I emerged at alta lake and took the valley trail home- exhausted 4.5 hrs of riding later but glowing with the exhilaration and energy expenditure achieved.

This is the real old school riding style, earn your turns but still have a challenging descent.