BC road trip or whistler from the back side

[Mani_UT]

Hello all,

First post here :agree:

After a first look at whistler doing the first of July WE, I am finally going back late august for 2 weeks. As a windsurfer, I am going to follow the coast a lot (driving from Salt Lake City!!) and will be coming through Port Angeles then Victoria via the ferry before taking the ferry again in Nanaimo to go toward Sqamish / whistler.

Any advice on a good ride in the Victoria area? I will be alone so shuttles are out of the question I guess but I can pedal!

Also, how about Sqamish? Any must do ride I should go to while driving up?

I am looking for fun technical but not "over the top" trail :dizzy: (for reference lower clown shoes scares me but the other trails a the whistler resort are mostly ok )

Thank you very much !!

Mani.

[RaID]

Hello all,
I am looking for fun technical but not "over the top" trail :dizzy: (for reference lower clown shoes scares me but the other trails a the whistler resort are mostly ok )



for techy trails you should definately go to the shore
the home of tech

[Mani_UT]

for techy trails you should definately go to the shore
the home of tech

I'll stop there on my way back in september.. waiting for a little rain to have it the way it should be.


(I am kidding on course... dry would be nice for a first :) )

On the Victoria side, tech would be a plus but I just would like to see new terrain (everything up there is just sooo different from here it's like riding on another planet even for pur XC stuff!)

[LeeLau]

I'm assuming you'll be coming from the Gorge and the OR coast. If so, you should head to Nitinat; windsurfing in old growth rainforest is pretty special stuff.

On the way to Nitinat are awesome trails in the Duncan area; hit up Prevost; Tzouhalem; Sicker; Bretton - there's more trails up there then you can shake a stick at.

You'll be going through Nanaimo then on the way to the ferry; stop at Ladysmith too where Ive been told there is some cool stuff. In Nanaimo - maybe hit up the Abyss and the Dumont trails.

That'll give you a taste

[Mani_UT]

I'm assuming you'll be coming from the Gorge and the OR coast. If so, you should head to Nitinat; windsurfing in old growth rainforest is pretty special stuff.
On the way to Nitinat are awesome trails in the Duncan area; hit up Prevost; Tzouhalem; Sicker; Bretton - ...- maybe hit up the Abyss and the Dumont trails.


Wow This is great info... So many options and places I never heard of! Just finding where Nitinat was took me a while :) I guess I need a much better map.

I will be indeed coming from either the Gorge or manzanita/oceanside depending where it's blowing.

This helped: http://mappoint.msn.com/(cm5vujen30oghgzr5sgvzm45)/directions.aspx?&StartName=Nanaimo%2c+British+Columbia%2c+Canada&StartLocation=49.16429%2c-123.93617&EndName=Nitinat+Lake+-+near+Carmanah+Valley%2c+West+Coast+Tr&EndLocation=48.8091660000%2c-124.6730550000&DataSetLangID=USA&RouteType=Quickest&RouteUnit=Miles

Are "Prevost; Tzouhalem; Sicker; Bretton" in the Duncan area? Do you know where to find reviews / access.. of these trails as I probably won't have time to do everything I'll need to pick one or
!! :D

Anyway, thanks a lot!!

[LeeLau]

For more on Nitinat - see this: www.rkwave.ca - ts mostly 5.0/4.5 bump and jump stuff. Locally, i use to sail a lot off Cook Street in Victoria. You'll know its windy if you're coming across on Black Ball and everyone gets seasick. It can be anywhere from 3.5 to formula gear http://www.leelau.net/2004/NitinatJune2004/nitinat.htm - earlier shots are sailing off Cook Street and another local victoria sailing spot

http://www.wildisle.ca/activities/mtn_biking/ - for mtb in Duncan. Someone operates a shuttle service for PRevost. Tzouhalem is more xc but still very technical - think of it as park city in the trees on steroids. Maps are useful but its kind of easy to get lost on the trails there.

Another good shop to wander into and ask questions is Experience Cycling - they are on tee main highway on the east side going into town. Call ahead and ask for group rides or whatever.

[Rat]

the guy who does the shuttle is called backcountry taxi.

[PT-Colin]

Wicked winds in Squamish during Aug. The spit has a new launch and with the right tides its good sailing. Solid 5-5.5

Nitinat is a special place but you need at least 4 days.

I'll yake ya ridding in Squamish when ya get here.

[LeeLau]

Wicked winds in Squamish during Aug. The spit has a new launch and with the right tides its good sailing. Solid 5-5.5

Nitinat is a special place but you need at least 4 days.

I'll yake ya ridding in Squamish when ya get here.

colin - you don't want the poor guy to freeze his ass off do you? Take him biking in squish and not sailing so at least he leaves with a good impression

[PT-Colin]

Maybe unlike you and I he can acually sail for a good few reaches before blowin up.

I actually used to think it was to cold but sailing upwind into the salt lic, it actually becomes bearable.

[Mani_UT]

Maybe unlike you and I he can acually sail for a good few reaches before blowin up.

Thank you fall for the infos!!

Haha.. The quality of my jibes are quite dependant on water temperature so if it is really cold I should not see much water ;) How cold is cold? Are we talking pinguin cold or oregon coast cold? :agree:

Anyway.. time for me to do more research with all this links/names you guys gave me.. it's going to be fun!!!

Also, any phone numer or contact for the "backcountry taxi" mentionned above?

Thanks again!