Eagle Ridge Expedition - Vancouver (IMBA epic) beta needed

[bennymac]

Eagle Ridge Expedition near Vancouver - IMBA epic trail

Just wondering if any locals can weigh in on this trail, it doesn't seem to get as much attention as C-numb or 7summits. With this sunny weekend on the horizon a group of us (mixed bag of abilities but all used to long rides) were considering giving this a go. Probably the last time this crew will be assembled for a group ride in 2010 and we're all kind of excited about the idea of doing a trail none of us have done before.

Any words of wisdom? Reports on recent trail conditions? Route finding hints?

Thanks in advance

[LeeLau]

There are much better rides out there - I don't know why this is an IMBA epic. I have no idea what type of riding you'd like or if you want Vancouver area or willing to go to further or how much time you have so can't really offer alternatives

[bennymac]

Lee, thanks for replying, was hoping you would be weighing in on this with your trail knowledge. Really appreciate it.

We're all Vancouver locals looking to do 4-5 hours of riding (with 2-4hrs of total drive time). Although the bikes range from Elements to SXtrails we all ride about the same and can do long climbs in the saddle and none of us would have much of a problem riding the Plunge or Nicole's cleanly.

Despite being decent riders we're still pretty much jongs when it comes to trails outside the regular areas (highway trails on the coast, TOM/Gjammer trails in Squamish, Kill me and C-numb in whis)

None of us have criminal records so we would be open to crossing the border. Any advice?

[LeeLau]

Hop on the Horseshoe bay ferry. Ride up to Sprockids. Ride Sidewinder - section 102 - section 103 - play around on some of the trails up top (janet's jungle, cunning stunts etc) then ride back up the road and reverse section 103 - section 102 and back to the ferry. Don't bother with the shuttles unless you're fat lazy pigs as the ferrys are a pain in the ass. I don't know where trail maps are for this on the web. I think its just at bike shops

Theres also great riding at Galbraith but if you don't have someone to show you around you'll prob get lost.

The riding in squamish is a lot better for epics unless you want to do a lot of all-mtn, freeride epics

[bennymac]

Awesome man, thanks for the advice. Have a great weekend of riding!

[kevin267]

^that would be the hsb-langdale ferry if you didn't know

[bennymac]

Thanks for making sure we knew that, would suck for someone to end up in the 'mo asking to ride the "highway"...might get some strange looks/advice

We're actually well versed in the 102/103 trails on the coast...that's our standard go to area. Taking some new people there tomorrow and was showing some Alberta friends around there last week in the rain...I love hearing what XC riders say when they finish 103 when heading north for the first time. That last section is money. Then onto Mach chicken, some other trail I don't know the name of, and then Black Tower. Even though I've ridden them so much I could ride those trails blindfolded just based on memory I still find them fun as hell.

But because they are so good we've rarely done anything but the same route...will have to branch out at some point

[LeeLau]

Thanks for making sure we knew that, would suck for someone to end up in the 'mo asking to ride the "highway"...might get some strange looks/advice

We're actually well versed in the 102/103 trails on the coast...that's our standard go to area. Taking some new people there tomorrow and was showing some Alberta friends around there last week in the rain...I love hearing what XC riders say when they finish 103 when heading north for the first time. That last section is money. Then onto Mach chicken, some other trail I don't know the name of, and then Black Tower. Even though I've ridden them so much I could ride those trails blindfolded just based on memory I still find them fun as hell.

But because they are so good we've rarely done anything but the same route...will have to branch out at some point

honestly i think those are the best rides close to Vancouver

some stuff in Squamish that's worth while

Word of Mouth
Angry Midget
Hoods in the woods

the alice lake trails are now legal to ride too and are awesome

all of the xc/am variety

look at the Just another bike race course maps - lots of choices there if sunshine coast might be more of the same thing?

[bennymac]

the now legal Alice Lake trails, which ones are those?

I've ridden the TOM ones plenty and Credit Line a bunch (which I think is a fun trail) but that's about it. Are these newly legal trails on the 2010 map? If you drop some names I can always ask the corsa guys to point them out to me.

I like the Squamish idea because regardless of what trails you ride they all seem to lead to the brewpub in the end. Hope I'm not the designated driver.

[LeeLau]

The trails around Alice Lk are legal to ride after labour day long weekend. Ask at Tantalus or corsa for trail maps of those trails. The rest of those trails are off the Ring Creek FSR. Even Half-nelson with all its hype is really fun

Do this as a loop
loop1

park at university
ride up to the pseudotsuga shelter
over to word of mouth.
down to uni.

loop2

ride up to angry midget
then down and over Another Mans gold
over bridge to powerhouse plunge
Plunge then to hoods in the woods/
Finish Hoods then over to ring creek bridge and back to university


if you want more then loop 3

Up again to Half nelson
Up again to pseudotsuga

back down to university\

That 3 loops should take 5 - 6 hours

[bennymac]

Lee, thanks so much for the suggestions, had 2 killer days - riding the coast then Squamish. First time I've cleaned the plunge on my element and then onto Hoods for the first time which was awesome.

Next time we're gonna go Chesire Cat -Corners-Credit Line-Recycle then Half Nelson-Plunge-Hoods to beers (will have to shuttle a vehicle to Cat Lake).

Celebrating on the way home on day one with some brewskis...life is good.