матрациJust when all the switch-backs on the new Hyper Ventilation were completed and ride-able, the trail gang from the Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club bunkered in on an even greater project – a trail to the top of Castle Mountain.

I gathered with a few riders on Saturday for what I believe was the first ride from the summit of Castle Mountain. Castle Mountain has been a local hike for many years and I had never been to the summit and once there was stunned with the breathtaking vantage. The trail requires a few days of work to be complete however at present it offers a nice adventure ride with a 700 meter downhill.

We met local climber Sean Staplin and geologist Pat Gilmar trail building on the summit. They observed the Moose Mountain limestone that forms the summit outcrop. This sedimentary rock is especially hard and offers good rock climbing with a Southern exposure.

Overall I must say that the trails in Fernie keep getting better. From Castle Mountain the Microwave trail is only another few hundred meters. I complement Pat, George, Doug and the others who have opened up this exciting terrain with great trails!

The second annual High Roller was a great success despite the whether. Fresh snow in the Alpine and rain in the valley with mixed hail greeted the riders. Regardless over thirty riders rode the 46 km and 6000′ vertical on Saturday.

HighRoller Poker Ride

1st Ride - Big Money
2nd Ride - Up Phat Bastard, over Mushroom Head, down Dem Bones
3rd Ride - Verboten
Optional Ride for a “wildcard” - Project 9

Ride Details….
Ride in groups of 3 or more people for safety

This ride is a self supported bike ride, be able to have all your water, food, tools, extra clothing, first aid, and trail knowledge.

Each trail has a possibility of two cards, except Project 9 wich will give you an automatic wild card(just one). To get a wild card you MUST have ALL other 6 stamps on your card to be eligible for the wild card.

All riders must check in to the Gorby parking lot after riding Dem Bones

There is a 3:00pm cut off time to do Project 9, no riders after that time.

All riders must be in NO later than 5pm at the BBQ site, or be disqualified.

This is NOT a race, it is a fun day of riding your bike, to challenge yourself, and socialize with others while riding bikes

The 2nd annual Dirtdiggler DH race off Fernie’s Microwave tower was a great success with a
field of 22 men and 2 women. The top 10 finishers and their times were:

1 luke nelson 14.28
2 cody macarthur 14.42
3 conrad sprig 16.14
4 derek bird 16.41
5 don arsenault 17.13
6 kurt adams 18.15
7 pat demers 19.32
8 lucy richer 19.41
9 jimmy grant 19.43
10 erik Nicholson 19.45

Above: Top finisher Luke Nelson and Dirtdiggler creator and master, Derek Bird.

A party at the finish.

The Dirtdiggler winners trophy.

Fernie’s Mountain Lakes Trail (aka Heiko’s Trail) is a great ride for the adventurous rider. The views and the downhill would be enjoyable by all however the three plus hours of pushing uphill and the ever present hazard of bears make the trail exclusive. Here are a few choice shots from a great day.

First there was Roots, then Roots Extension followed by Roots Hyper-Extension and now Roots Hyper-Ventalation and it is open for business.

The builders put up the sign on last Tuesday night and are receiving riders daily. It was built by the Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club in co-operation with the Fas Gas Townies Monday and Wednesday night cyclists.

It is a nice 15 kilometer evening ride from downtown Fernie, the return trip is a 486 meter (1600′) climb and a 1600′ descent. The loop is enjoyable in either direction however was created as an uphill to connect with the top of Roots Hyper-Extension. Access it from Coal Creek Road, River Road and the top of Roots Trail. Turn at the sign and start breathing hard.

The builders labored extensively to create this trail and deserve many cold beers. Well done.

Enjoy!

The trail that many of us of have waiting for is finished and riding well. Big Money has been billed as a trail for everyone, a single-track downhill alternative from the “Bear Chutes” climb in Ridgemont, that is not as extreme as the Watering Hole – and it fits the bill. Everyone, is a very subjective term however – “Big Money” is not a beginner trail.

Expect a 2500 foot downhill with steeps, lots of nice berms, switchbacks and overall solid construction. The trail follows some old lines and ridges, a nice creek, and dumps out on the Hosmer forestry road about 700 meters from the Coal Discover Trail (CDT). Either will route will take you back into Fernie. For extra single-track from the CDT take the first left onto “Little Chainring Big Trouble”, connect to “R” trail and finish with “Oh Deer”.

Overall “Big Money” is Fernie’s best big mountain loop and can be ridden in under 4 hours.

I have to comment on the name, “Big Money”. The story goes that one of the trail builders drove his GM Tracker up Bear Chutes to transport workers and tools and on the decent tipped over the ridge. Luckily the vehicle arrested on a tree and didn’t careen down the mountain side. “Big Money” came from the insurance payout – apparently thousands more than originally paid for the vehicle.

Thanks to the trail builders for the great effort and good vision.

Fernie’s trails are in great shape thanks to lots of volunteer work from dedicated riders. Recently the Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club reconstructed a flood damaged bridge connecting Fernie Mountain Park to lower Gorby Road, a gradual climb to great single track and Fernie Alpine Resort.

The materials package was donated by Transwest Mining Systems.

The first image shows the builders enjoying their accomplishment and the second image depicts the technical difficulty of the first turn!

The Elk Rim Dorr bike loop is one of Fernie’s premier x-country rides and it’s riding well. This early season ride is dusty in the summer months however it’s a slick ride in the spring. The trail is windy and hilly rather than a typical Fernie straight up and straight down ride. Take hwy 93 south from Elko and turn right at the second right hand exit past the bridge. I recommend printing the following images to help with directions as the route can be confusing. Have fun!

Click For Full Size Image

Click For Full Size Image

This trail is in keeping with Al Matador - steep and unforgiving. Expect lots of tight technical single-track and powdery chutes. The photos have captured some of the ride.

You can find this trail at the top of the first climb of Al Matador - look for a pile of rocks and drop in if your dare! Also see the GoogleEarth map with a GPS overlay courtesy of P. Gilmar.

Many thanks and appreciation to the builders who have spent many days labouring on this fine trail.

September 23rd
$10 to play
Registration at the Guides Hut

A poker ride/game! Each individual racer receives a card at the bottom of each run. The rider with the best hand wins!
First Ride: Watering Hole
Second Ride: Project 9
Third Ride: Verboten
BBQ to follow
For more information, visit the Guides Hut.