Kamloops Race the Ranch

We'll last weekend saw Race the Ranch in Kamloops come and go. It was a fun weekend, as all weekends that include friends, bicycle and a mountain always seem to be. I have to say racing in Kamloops is an entirely different ball game though., and the picture to the left sums it up pretty well. The thick powder of dust on the trail resulted in perpetually changing lines, and multiple riders falling into pillows of Dust. For myself the runs where mixed. In all honesty I only had one practice run where I felt good in this foreign terrain. So I had hoped to just take it relatively easy on my race run in the top portion which seemed to be claiming so many racers and then pedal my @#% off on the bottom to tie in a decent run. Well the top third went well, but trying a slightly different line I got sideways took out flag pole amd in an attempt to make up the lost seconds bailed twice on the bottom sections killing any hopes of a decent finish. However as always it was fun weekend rippin' on bike, and I can't wait till the next race to try reclame a little bit of pride ; ).

Baseline Mountain

First chance to get out and ride some vertical and looking forward to Race the Ranch in Kamloops this weekend.

May Long Weekend in Banff National Park

May long offered a chance to get out for some early season hiking and we lucked out with the weather as many complained of snow and rain, we saw warm Sun and Clouds all weekend. With the high pass and good hikes still covered in snow we had to do some of the more tourist oriented hikes, however it was a great way to start the season, and get the legs moving. Here's some pics enjoy!

Day 1 - Near Banff - Hoodoo's - 1/2 way to Johsnton Lake and back - Bow River Trail - Tunnel Mountain; 13 KMs easy hiking). Iwouldn't suggest the hike unless you are in the early or late season and their aren't many options, most views are scared by the development around the city of Banff and there's very little elevation gain except for Tunnel Mountain where the views are over rated.



Day 2 - Bow Glacier Falls - Nice hike, especially at this time of year where the only people we met where skiers coming back from a backcountry trip and the snow added a little adventure. Would be busy in the core season since it's short, easy and offers great views, which wouldn't make it appealing to me in the summer months. About 10KM out and back and a couple extra of exploring.

Lake Minnewanka - Spring Bike Ride

Me and Marty drove out to Banff yesterday to ride at Lake Minnewanka for an out and back trip to the Warden Station resulting in a picturesque 22km spring ride. We lucked out with the weather as the forecast was cloudy with sunny breaks, showers and a chance of snow (I offer my thanks to the weather man for that insight). But after driving into what looked to be a day drink pints on a covered patio in Banff instead of riding, we arrived at our destination with break in clouds and they weather stayed that way for most of the ride. The first KM or so was slush and mud but as soon as we turn the corner after the climb the trails where dry and we had a great day of ridding. If you haven't ridden here before it's a nice spring ride before the loop has a lot of tourist, dries quickly, doesn't have too much climbing for the winter legs, and is a nice intermediate skill level ride (nothing to technical a beginner/intermediate rider could probably get through the trail with only some small hike a bikes.) Anyways enough chatting and here's some pics.

Endless Ocean of Air?

"We look into the sky it seems to us to be endless.... we think without consideration about the boundless ocean of air, and then you sit aboard a spacecraft, you tear away from the Earth and within ten minutes, you have been carried straight out of the layer of air, and beyond there is nothing! Beyond the air there is only emptiness, coldness, darkness. The "boundless" blue sky, the ocean which gives us breath and protects us from the endless black and death, is but an infinitesimally thin film. How dangerous it is to threaten even the smallest part of this gossamer covering, this conserver of life."

Vladimir Shatalov, The Home Planer

and on that note I'm off to Banff to Mountain Bike this weekend, if I remember to take pictures on the weekend I'll post some pictures.