In 2013 when Outside Magazine awarded the Yukon as the best mountain biking destination, we have been keen to return, except of course, this time we’d have our bikes. We last visited the home of the world’s toughest dog sled race in 2008; we could see the potential then, but knew the area needed more time to mature and develop. With the opening of mountain bike tour companies like Boréale Explorers and the founding of the esteemed trail building project, Singletrack to Success, both instrumental in the growth of mountain biking for the area, we knew we wouldn’t have to wait long.
It's now October and you're either squeezing in one last bike trip, or planning for next season's two-wheeled adventures. If you have the Kootenays on the brain, you're not alone. In this Ride Diary Leigh and Russ head south for the challenging trails the area is famous for and end up finding awesome in Nelson, BC!
For a long time Williams Lake managed to keep their secrets relatively safe, but with local legends like James Doerfling, and Mark Savard propelling the ‘Puddle’, it was only a matter of time before there would be a leak. When your secret is so good, it catches the attention of high profile events like the BC Enduro Series (BCES) two years in a row, you can easily predict that things are about to get busy, real busy.
Even though I grew up on Vancouver Island, I’d never been to Cumberland to ride. Maybe Cumberland wasn’t even on the map as a ride spot back in the 90’s and early 2000’s, I don’t remember…
I cut my riding teeth on the short, wet, technical trails of Victoria and now often long for something more rooty, more rocky, and steeper than what the Okanagan has to offer so, I travel to ride as much as possible.
