It was that time of year again when the Fat Bastards venture off the island to explore the lands of B.C. This trip would see them heading to the far off lands of Fernie and stopping off at the familiar surroundings of Nelson on the way back. Gillian and Jason were heading there in their new Honda after checking out the Ralph Klein territories called Alberta. Pete and Karen were coming after a layover in Kaslo. And I was hitching a ride with the Tannocks - Randy, Wendy and Corey as they were passing thru Osoyoos.
(photos of the trip are in our Photo Gallery under the Album Fernie/Nelson 2006 trip).
Day One - Mount Fernie Provincial Park, Fernie
First thing to do in Fernie, after checking into the Provincial campground, was acquire a trail map, which meant checking out the local bike shops. The best bike store in town for directions and general local lore was Straightline Cycle. These guys took the time to ask us what kind of riding we were into and giving us their “two cents” on which trails to hit. Hell, they even sketched out instructions to get to trail heads that were missing from the map. On the topic of the Fernie Bike Map, it folds out to be a large map and is a little cumbersome but it was easy to read and we found the trail descriptions to be "spot-on". It even includes the Fernie Alpine Resort.
So, after setting up camp at the Mount Fernie Provincial Park, checking out downtown Fernie and purchasing some maps, we figured we had enough time left over to hit a couple of the trails around the campground. When the Hotel gang (Pete, Karen, Gillian, Jason) showed up, it was off to explore ”Stove”, which we used as an uphill trail, and then flowed back down ”Dem Bones", a classic winding single track, right back into the campground. With the Tannocks still not satisfied that we had appeased the riding gods for the day, we decided to get one more ride in. Since the Hotel gang had already ridden earlier in the day, they figured they had done the penance to the bike gods and were off back to the Hotel to get cleaned up for dinner, with the exception being Pete of course. Off we went, back up ”Stove” and this time down “Hedonism” which was a double black with log rides stunts and berms, just like the map described it – a great little trail. We then hooked into the “Sherwoody Forest Network”, over the bridge at Lizard Creek and back to the camp. Since the campground has no shower facility, it was off to the ice cold, refreshing creek to clean up before calling it a day.
Day Two - The Tower Epic
Other than doing the “Twisted Sister” epic, which would involve six hours, that’s right SIX hours of uphill, we decided to ride the epic “Microwave” trail combined with “Three Kings”. So after dropping off the Kelly shuttle truck at the bottom pick-up point (no pun intended), we made our way along fire roads, over bridges, past the gun range and up the hill to the microwave tower. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, which provided a spectacular view of Fernie from the tower. The beginning of the trail starts you down but then heads back up to another plateau and then the steep side slope ride begins. This trail was just like the map description with steep gnarly, rocky sections and alpine side slope riding that you did not want tip over and fall to your left side or you would be tumbling down the slope for a ways. After the alpine setting of “Microwave”, the trail heads into “Three Kings” which becomes more of the old school single track. After a great descent and flow through the lower trails we ended up right at the truck (like I said, the local directions were spot on). With great homemade sandwiches in one hand and a woobly pop in the other (thanks Gillian & Jason), we stared back up at the little dot that represented the microwave tower where it all began and decided it was a trail that everyone should hit when in Fernie.
So while Pete, Jason and Randy went to retrieve the shuttle vehicles, the rest of us decided to hit the pavement and pedal our way back to the rendezvous point. But since the road was basically flat and the Hotel wasn’t that far away, we decided to keep on going and meet up at the Hotel – it also helped in the motivation factor that there was a Dairy Queen right beside the Hotel.
After relaxing at the DQ, the people that could get cleaned up, Karen and Gillian, got cleaned up. Never one to miss an opportunity, I bummed a towel from Gillian and had a warm shower instead of a cold creek bath (thanks Gill).
A great ending to a great day …
… or so we thought.
Once the shuttle boys returned, it was off to campsite to get ready to head out for dinner. As we were getting ready, a couple of French guys, that seemed to be just walking around the campground, tried to bum some smokes of us. I’m not sure if Corey had a premonition of things to come but we decided to load the bikes on the truck and take them with us to downtown Fernie for dinner. On the way back and just as we were pulling of the main road a couple of cop cars just happened to be pulling out and it looked like they had people in the back seats. Well, you may have guessed it by now, but it seems the two French guys were helping themselves to stuff in other peoples’ campsites and when they tried it at ours, our neighbours called them on it and called the cops. In case you are wondering why we labelled them as “French”, it wasn’t that they had an accent, but they did take our wine, cheese, olives and yoghurt, so they had to be French.
Day Three - The Fernie Alpine Resort
The day started out ugly and overcast with a little thunder and lightning tossed in for good measure, but today was the day we had earmarked for riding at the Fernie Alpine Resort. With the weather seeming to be turning in our favour, we bucked-up for the lift tickets, put on the armour and full face helmets and raced to the chair lift. A couple of things to remember if you hit the hill; the resort map seems to be a little out of whack, the posted trail ratings differ from the map and the Timber Bowl High Speed Quad chairlift only runs on the weekend. Since we were there on a Wednesday, only the Elk Quad chair was running and it is anything but high speed.
Getting your steed on the lift was not what we were used to from riding at the other bike parks. It involved lifting your bike in the air, front tire pointing down, back tire pointing up, with the disk brake side closest to you, you then wait until the chair makes its hairpin turn and jog, run, scamper after the back of chair in hopes of hooking the rim of your back tire over the hook located at the back of the chair. If it all sounds a little awkward that’s because it is and is probably the reason they have to run the chair at a turtle’s pace.
After getting in a couple of runs, we thought the rumbling we heard was coming from Randy, but when it was followed by lightning, we knew the lift would be shut down and we may as well head in for lunch. The weather decided to cooperate after lunch and we spent the remaining hours exploring the hill with only a couple of minor mishaps. The first was me crashing on my head (fully absorbed by my helmet, shoulder and hip) after attempting an elevated skinny (Pete said I would be able to do it and I should have known better than listen to Pete).
The second incident once again involved Pete. With Pete basking in the sunny afternoon while riding the chair and dreaming of the next run down the hill, he must have been in a euphoric daze as he jumped of the lift and onto the closest bike. After pounding down the first section of “Aggravated Assault”, Pete noticed that his brake levers seemed a little weird. Then we noticed that his bike had changed colour. Hell, not only had it changed colour, it had changed from a Norco to a Specialized. You guessed it – NOT his bike. Well, after all the head scratching, pushing back up to the top of the lift, roaring to be the bottom of the lift, swearing, heated discussions, apologies and the proverbial “sh!t happens”, it was all good and the bikes were reunited with their appropriate owners.
At the end of the day, we, the camping people, made sure to catch the last chairlift to the top of the hill since there are trails that will dump you right back into the provincial campsite – how sweet is that. So, at the top of the Elk Quad chair we headed right to the double track (fire road) and followed it down until we came to the “Black Forest” trail, you then take “Mega Hurtz” to “Old Gotz” and finally onto “Gorby Road”, which is a double track, then finally over the bridge at Lizard Creek to the fire road and it’s a quick jaunt to the campground. The great thing about this loop back to camp, is that it’s a fun, windy, constantly heading downhill single track that only had one very small section of uphill at a creek crossing.
Back at the campsite, we phoned Pete to let him know that were back and in the process of getting ready to head out for dinner. And as stated earlier, never one to miss an opportunity, as Pete graciously invited me to use his shower and again I was able to have a warm shower instead of a cold creek bath (thanks Pete).
Another great ending to a great day.
Day Four - Kokanee Creek Provincial Park, Nelson
Well our time in Fernie was at an end as we all packed up and headed to the Balfour ferry on route to Nelson and the Kokanee Creek Provincial Park (Gillian and Jason stayed at one of the hostels in Nelson).
First thing to do after setting up camp, you got it, go for a ride. In checking the Nelson map book it seemed that they were missing a couple of trails that we have ridden before – “Nooner” and “Ledges”, but in talking to the locals, they were purposely left off the map because they are in the Provincial Park and you’re not suppose to ride them anymore. So what trail do you think we tried first, well that would be “Ledges” for about half way, then a bit of exploring and over to “Nooner” to finish it off.
Day Five - The Vein
Since it was Gillian and Jason’s last day, the jury was out on doing a Nelson epic ride and the chosen trail was the “Vein”. Pete and Karen decided (and it turned out to be not a bad decision) to hit some of the Mountain Station trails as the rest of us hiked to the “Vein”. So off we headed on the scenic route via “Expresso” and the Forest Service Road (FSR). Up and up we went past two signs that pointed the way “to the Vein” until eventually we reached “the Vein” sign. Taking a break at the sign was a couple of visiting North Shore guys that were heading to “Spacejunk” and after checking their map we were off to the viewpoint. For the record, as you come up the FSR and see the sign, the entrance to the “Vein” is to your RIGHT with the FSR continuing on to the LEFT. And in case you are wondering where the FSR goes, we can attest to the fact that it does indeed go further up and up for at least another half hour of pushing one’s bike. And Randy can further verify that it goes even further up. Enough said.
After a quick run back to the entrance, up more nasty climbs (accurately described in the map book) we finally started to head down the hill instead of up. It was kinda a cool trail with lots of steep descents but I wouldn’t describe it as being “rock and stunt infested” as map book leads you to believe. The trail ends by dumping you on the old railbed and then it’s any easy roll back to the parking lot. The rest of the gang thought it was a great trail, but I thought it was just O.K. considering the amount of pushing one had to do to get to the top, especially if you compare it to a trial like “Bedframe” which takes us to Day Six.
But wait, I almost forgot …
Before we start in on Day Six, the gang, less me and Karen, decided they still had enough gas in tank to take a run on “Newtsack” which is a quick shuttle from the campground. After that, it was one last time to have a beer by the campfire with Gillian and Jason before they headed for home the next day.
Day Six - Bedframe
For our last day of riding (“our” refers to me and Pete as the Tannock express still had another week of riding planned) we decided on hitting old reliable “Bedframe”, which, for me, is still my favourite trail in Nelson. This time around though, we would head up to start on “Upper Highballer” and catch “Highballer” as well before we drop into “Bedframe”. And it just wouldn’t be riding with the Fat Bastards if the older Tannock express doesn’t decide to go exploring higher than “Upper Highballer” ‘cus he’s sure there has to be a trail up there. After waiting awhile at the trailhead, we decided that he and the dog must have met their demise with a bear and we eventually left without him. But, to our credit, we at least took our time and sessioned a bunched of sections just in case he didn’t get eaten by a bear. Randy and the dog caught up to us at Bedframe and further to his credit, he did find another trail complete with a trail marker sign further up the fire road, but in his excitement to catch up with us, he forgot the name.
As always, “Bedframe” didn’t disappoint anyone and we took in “Pulmonary” on our finally run into the parking lot at Grohman Narrows Provincial Park or as some of us call it Grope-Him Park for the number of old guys cruisin’ the parking lot.
All in all a great ending to a great trip.
Day Seven - Headin' Home
With the bike stowed in the Kelly-mobile and the camping gear all packed up, it was time to say good-bye to the Tannocks and hitch a ride back to Vernon via the Nakusp route, with Pete and Karen being nice enough to drop me off at my front door.
Thanks again to everyone for letting me tag along and I can’t wait to hear what the plans are for next year.
