Training Log Archive: 'Bent

Nice social ride with the whole group.
I was able to scoot up the doubletrack hils well on a "regular" bike, but was still very cautious on technical downhills.

VO2max had another plan for some exploration today.
Goose and Coach LD would start out with us up the damp forest trail to Marvel Pass, but then we'd leave them and head out off-trail to Aurora Pass. From there we'd check out the possibilities of going further.

The hiking was amazing. Wildflowers were jaw-dropping in the high meadows. The slopes were rocky but not unstable, and once we gained the pass the views were fantastic in all directions, with lakes and meadows in front of high spiky peaks. There was a lake full of ice floes, and we made better time on some snow sections. Vmax thinks this would make a decent day trip for clients or an overnight for a loop coming out a different high pass.

We got whistled at by marmots and buzzed by a bald eagle. Back down through some boot-ski sections and some marshy bits to join the trail, then we caught up with Goose, and LD who was cooling her knee in a creek, just before the truck.

Another paddling day on the Kootenay, but this time with clear sky. Great mountain views and perfect temps. Easier paddle this time. We also did a hike up to see the canyon and falls near the warming hut on the Nipika trails, before finishing up where we started on the first paddle.

Bash and I headed out for a ride on the local trails.
I had modified one of the bikes with a more upright stem for my neck. It wasn't too painful to ride, but I have no downhill skills on these things. I felt like I was on a Penny Farthing bike.

I had brought my own pedals, but had foolishly tightened the springs up a bit and couldn't unclip when I stopped on a steep downhill, so went tumbling down the side. How do you ride those bikes?

Still a fun ride on some very nice trails with great views of mountains and deep river canyons.

VO2max wanted to try an exploratory route up to Mitchell Ridge via some neat lakes. We dropped off a dirt bike to shuttle, and headed in the thick forest to find some old trails. After a bit of good AR-style bushwhack



we encountered a trail, which got better and better.







We followed it all the way up to a snow patch in a fantastic meadow with sweeping views then it basically ended at a hunt camp.




From there we would catch small bits of overgrown trail, then fight our way through avalanche chutes for a bit then back to a bit of trail.
We finally gave up on it and scrambled straight up to the ridge. The last bit was very chossy- loose sliding rocks, so it made for an interesting climb.



Once there the views were fantastic in all directions, and the smoke wasn't too bad.





We headed back peak-to-peak along the ridge,




then through fantastic alpine meadows before a pretty direct descent through the forest.

Vmax had run on ahead and jumped on the bike to fetch the truck, so we got to pick some wild strawberries before heading down to meet him.

Back to Nipika for another fantastic dinner, although we did miss the 4:30 appetizers.

Pretty epic day!

C • You can't 'paint' a pic(s) like that... 5

Kootenay River Paddle. Too smoky to hike.
VO2max guided us down the river in an inflatable canoe, while Goose and Coach paddled the second one. It was a fun ride down the river, and the boats bobbed easily down everything. Some gorgeous canyons, a few waterfalls, just a great trip.

Skies cleared up and we got some better views and easier breathing too.

Kootenay River Trip from Richard Ehrlich on Vimeo.

C • Kootenay Video 5

Thick smoke in the air from forest fires. Mountains all but disappeared.
We drove from Canmore to Nipika, where VO2max assured us there really are mountains. Went for a short bike ride with Goose and Coach LD, but you can feel your lungs burn.

CO took us up Windy Ridge, on a perfect bluebird morning. Very alpine feel once we got out of the forest, probably great practice for UTMR. Spectacular ridge with jaw-dropping views. We stopped at the high point of the ridge then headed on, but black sky and hail turned us back. The return trip had some quick running bits, until CO discovered his phone was gone.

We spent quite a while scrambling around looking for it and trying to find Cell signal to use Find My Phone and ping with help from Carbon back at HQ to turn it on. Did a lot of extra climbing in the search, until Carbon figured out that it was moving. Luckily some hikers had heard it ping and we got it back at the parking lot.

Canmore Hikes from Richard Ehrlich on Vimeo.

C • Video 4