Mountain Bike Activities
Wheel Life column - August 26, 2000
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

After you've spent hundreds, perhaps thousands of dollars on a new mountain bike, what do you do with it? Here are some suggestions.

Galloping Goose Trail

Today's map shows one of our favorite rides, the stretch of the Galloping Goose Trail up the Sooke River canyon. It is a lovely trail through forests and over two spectacular trestles that cross the Sooke River, past the Sooke Potholes Provincial Park, and up to Leechtown. Because it follows an old railroad right-of-way, the grade is gentle. The surface is firm gravel.

You can access the trail at Sooke Road or Roche Cove Regional Park, which have outhouses but no fresh water, so bring your own drinks. Be courteous to other trail users: yield to pedestrians and horse riders, and be particularly cautious when passing horses (which may be startled) and people with pets on leashes (which may get tangled). For more information visit http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/parkgse.htm or call 478-3344.

Mount Work Trails

There is a wide range of trails designed for mountain biking at Hartland/Mount Work Regional Park in Central Saanich, from easy to extremely challenging. You'll find washrooms and fresh water at the parking lot, which is located near the entrance of the Hartland regional landfill.

For more information get the Mount Work/Hartland Mountain Bike Trails Map available at most local bikeshops, visit the South Island Mountain Bike Society (SIMBS) website at http://www.simbs.com/, or call their hotline at 477-2455.

Mountain Trails

Both mountain Washington and Whistler ski resorts become centers for mountain bike action during the summer season. Bikes can be carried on the lifts so riders can descend the slopes, and there are trails through the forests and villages around the resorts. A one-day lift pass for bike and rider costs $14.95 at Mt. Washington and $29 at Whistler. Whistler also offers a variety of mountain biking clinics, camps and private lessons for cyclists who want to develop their down-hill technical skills, and tours for those who want to explore and enjoy the alpine environment. Some are tailored to women or children. For more information, including trail maps and activity schedules, visit http://www.mtwashington.bc.ca and http://www.whistler-blackcomb.com.

Wilderness Bike Camping

If you enjoy sleeping outdoors you may want to try wilderness camping by bicycle. It's a wonderful experience to get away from the noise of vehicle traffic, and experience the sounds, smells and dark, star-filled skies. Although most wilderness trails are closed to bikes, and too rough for a fully-loaded bike anyway, there are thousands of kilometres of forest roads and hundreds of wilderness campsites maintained by the provincial government that are perfect for a mountain bike camping adventure.

You'll need regular camping gear, including a tent and sleeping bag, cooking gear and food, warm clothes and walking shoes (long cotton underwear make a good pajamas), plus bike repair essentials such as tools, a pump and a roll of electrical tape. Use sturdy racks and panniers, front and rear to balance the load. Bring a light pack for day hikes, but don't use it while cycling.

A small axe or handsaw is handy for preparing firewood, and a small stove makes cooking easy. Bring plenty of water bottles and a water purification filter or tablets (otherwise you must boil all your drinking water, which becomes quite tedious). Many campsites have pit toilets, but bring a small shovel to dig your own if you may be camping in less developed areas. Also, be prepared for bears, cougars and wolves (check with forest rangers for advice), and don't forget to bring along plenty of ghost stories for entertainment around the campfire.

You can obtain information on wilderness camping from the B.C. Parks or B.C. Forest Service regional office for the area you want to visit. We recommend the "Backroad Mapbook: Outdoor Recreation Guide" published by Mussio Ventures, which has maps showing forest roads and campsites. Local outdoor equipment stores may also have topographical maps and good advice for wilderness camping.