Tag: tout singletrailer

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bikes canada general moosling

Biking Revelstoke II: Keystone Standard Basin

For the second day of the Great Revelstoke Bike Trip, we gained one more member for our cycling posse, and set off to do the epic logging road drive to the trailhead of Keystone Standard Basin. This drive is even longer and more painful than the one to access Frisby Ridge, but on the plus side you’re very nearly in the alpine from the get-go.

Keystone Standard Basin was designed as a hiking trail, but is one bikes are allowed on. As a result it is more technical, with rocks, roots, and gruntier climbs than Frisby Ridge, but to make up for this – wildly spectacular views.

We made it all the way to the hut on the lake, fighting our way through the other hoards on the trail. This lake was less soporific than the one at Frisby Ridge, and we had a nice lunch by the hut, constantly hitting at bugs.

The Moosling was kicked out of the Singletrailer for a few sections – so he could have a run, and for Alex’s sake.

There were definitely a few sections where Alex had to push the Singletrailer – unlike Frisby Ridge, where the whole thing was eminently rideable.

And Alex started to look a bit worn out…

I even got a flat tyre! And won an award for the most scenic tyre-changing location ever.

Then it was back to camp again, and the menfolk went to sea in Steve’s boat. Strangely, the Moosling hopped right into the boat and immediately tried to insert the oars into the oarlocks, and then tried to row. We’re not sure what else he’s learning while he’s at his dayhome, but as long as he doesn’t know how to assemble an AK-47 we figure we should be fine.

boat

Distance: 23km return
Elevation gain: 950 metres
Max Elevation: 2060 metres
Good with the Singletrailer: Do-able, with a persistent and strong person towing, though you’ll probably need to walk at least a few hills

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bikes canada general moosling

Finally biking Revelstoke I: Frisby Ridge

This was a bike trip that ended up being so epic I’m going to have to split it into three posts. We’d been wanting to ride some of the trails in Revelstoke for a few years now. First up on the hit list was Frisby Ridge, just to the north-west of Revelstoke. A nice flowy trail that was built with bikes in mind, it’s a simple out on back with basically all climbing on the way out, all descending on the way back. We were hoping it would be easy enough for towing the Singletrailer (and it was).

The climbing was slow and steady, and finally we left the forest and emerged into an alpine wonderland. So many wildflowers! The views! The perfect blue skies! The alpine lakes! The perfect strip of single track! We found a few piles of snow to cross near the highpoint, and decided to drop down to the lake that’s the official end of the trail. There we had lunch, and nearly fell asleep. I suspect it’s an enchanted lake to be honest. It was very difficult to get back on my bike and ride uphill again.

I managed to avoid falling asleep on my bike, and the descent was fantastically good fun. There was a lot of yelling of “Wheeeeee! Down the hill!” from the Singletrailer.

Then it was back to the campsite, and some splashing about in the cold cold Revelstoke Lake before dinner. Day One successfully complete!

Distance: 25km return
Elevation gain: 850 metres
Max elevation: 2010 metres

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bikes canada general moosling

Return to Lake Minnewanka

A return to Minnewanka with the Tout, because it’s a nice cruisy place for a family ride…. and this time it was actually sunny.

This time we dragged Joel along too

A couple of places are a bit tricky with the Singletrailer, and it needs some assistance

Flat and mossy forest makes for relaxing Singletrailer terrain

Unbelievable but true, Alex does sometimes smile when he’s out riding

Moosling grins by the beach at the Warden’s Cabin

Playing around by the shore at the Warden’s Cabin

Alex’s obsession with fat tyres continues unabated. Now he’s selling off all his normal bikes so he can buy another bike with fat tyres.

The Moosling discovers Joel’s scroggin! At least he asked for permission before raiding it for M&Ms

Trail running for 1.5km on the way back to the trailhead. People certainly give you some odd looks when you’re biking along while your toddler runs in front of you.

Distance: 30.5km
Elevation gain: 400m

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bikes canada general moosling trip reports

The traditional early season family epic up Skogan Pass

It was around the time of the year when we start getting impatient to do longer rides. The trails in town are dry. Surely some of the trails further out of town are dry too? And so we set off up Skogan Pass, hoping the snow at the top would have cleared.

We didn’t get away super early, despite the threat of worsening weather in the afternoon. The scenic powerline trail was as scenic as ever, as we pedalled from downtown Canmore towards the Skogan Pass trailhead. The Tout Singletrailer has been making everything easier, even wide double track like this. The start of Skogan Pass was clear. Half-way was still totally fine. But then at that fateful bend to the south, just two kilometres from the summit, and the snow began.

After some silly antics to push the bikes through the snow, we gave in and walked. A kind grizzly had left tracks through the snow for us, so we didn’t have to do our own post-holing. Vicious sharp crystals in the snow tore at our legs though, rubbing them raw, red and angry.

At the pass it started to snow, so we briefly admired the view and then started the trek back downhill. The snow turned to rain, and for a while things got quite miserable , but the weather improved as we reached the bottom of the trail to the pass, and the sun started to dry out our soaking wet clothes. Once we hit Canmore the weather was downright lovely again.

Distance: 45km
Elevation gain: 1100m

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bikes canada general moosling

The Tout goes on a local adventure

There aren’t many dry trails around here yet, but the Lake Minnewanka trail is pretty close. The first kilometre or two has a lot of mud and ice, but once you round the hill, the trail was bone dry. Until it started raining anyway.

We gambled on the weather and lost. Actually, the rain was a bit of a foregone conclusion, and it wasn’t so bad for the first half of the trip. After a short lunch at the Warden’s Cabin, the return trip just got wetter and wetter though.

The single trailer experiment was a success though. Apart from a few fallen trees that haven’t been removed by Parks yet, the trail was great for the Tout… actually, great may be a wee exaggeration for the enormous hill climb at the end, I don’t think that was particularly enjoyable. Apart from the enormous hill, the trail was great for the Tout.

Now we’re just waiting for more warm weather to clear some more trails for us.