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Singletrackin’, Fraser Valley style
The start of the climb. This section only lasts about 200 meters but it’s pretty challenging and most riders walk it.
When I tell non-locals that I’m from southwest BC, the first thing I’m usually asked about is the gnarly stunts and steep ladder bridges that populate many of the trails in the area. And, while that’s a core component to many of popular ‘North Shore’ rides, trails in the Greater Vancouver area are more varied than the photos in popular magazines make them out to be.
After the jump you can check out some shots that I snapped during the climb at a local riding spot. Depending on your level of fitness and the route you take, it takes between 25 and 45 minutes to get to the top. An average loop (parking lot to parking lot) takes anywhere from one hour to three hours, depending on skill level.
Most of these snaps were brightened up — if I’d left them as the camera grabbed them, you wouldn’t see too much because it’s pretty dark in these here woods.
A before and after. Looking downhill, you can see the tight switchback that I climbed to reach this point (above). Turning around, check out how steep the terrain is around here (below).
Getting ready to traverse a bridge. This one took about four days to construct.
Continuing the climb. This section of singletrack is about halfway up the hill.
The tail end of the climb is rocky and loose, with no readily-defined line. It’s not the toughest slog around, but it’s technically challenging.
I’ll post up snaps of the descent the next time I ride this route. I took a pass this time because I just wanted to cruise uninterrupted for a little while.
1. Posted by Geof Harries | 2:29 pm, 20 August 2006
When you say the FV, where?
I used to live in Abbotsford and did a lot of riding near there (Sumas and Ledgeview), Mission and of course, at Seymour and Fromme, but I don’t recognize these trails you’ve photographed.
What I don’t miss about the Lower Mainland is the lack of xc-type rides, which this sadly appears to be. Too bad I didn’t know about it then…
My wife and I grew tired of always having to deal with stunts, mud and danger, when all you want on a ride on some days is uphill, downhill and singletrack.
Hence our home of several years now in the Yukon :)