Sooke Canyon Ride
Wheel Life column - 10 July, 1999
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute
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Sooke Canyon Ride |
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It's a pleasant stretch of trail through vibrant forests with two spectacular crossings over refurbished railroad trestles and many lovely views. Our family had a delightful time riding it last weekend. We hope you will too. You can ride the Goose all of the way from Victoria, or start at Cooper Cove, where the trail crosses Highway 14, just east of Sooke. There is a small parking lot for people who drive, or you can catch a ride from anywhere in the region on the BC Transit #61 bus, which has bike racks. Note that Leechtown is no longer a town. In fact, there is virtually nothing there except some logging roads and various bits of junk indicating where some shacks once stood. If you choose to proceed further you can easily get lost among the various trails and roads, which is normal for mountain bicycling, and part of the fun if you are prepared. So, what constitutes proper preparation? Here are a few recommendations. Carry about twice as much food and drink as you expect to need. That way, if you do get delayed you won't need to forage for roots and grubs, or drink potentially unhealthy water. Surface water (streams, rivers and lakes) may be contaminated, so either bring lots or carry a water purification filter, available at sporting goods stores. Be sure to pack out your garbage. Don't litter the trail with empty wrappers or the forest floor with drink cans. This helps maintain a good reputation for mountain bikers. Just imagine that your strictest grade school teacher is watching and will make you write "I will not drop litter in the woods when mountain bicycling" 200 times if you do. Also carry enough clothing for the worst conditions you could possibly encounter. A sunny day can quickly change to cold and rain, ruining your trip if you don't have a jacket. A cloudy day may become sunny, and you'll miss not having sunglasses and sunscreen. Also be sure that at least somebody in your group has a basic tool kit. Exactly what tools you should bring depends on circumstances. If properly maintained, modern mountain bikes are unlikely to have mechanical failures on a sedate ride, but problems are more common when you ride aggressively on rough trails, or if you have an older or discount store bike. A basic repair kit includes tools to adjust nuts and bolts (screwdrivers and hex keys) and to fix a flat tire (spare tube, patch kit, pump, tire irons and sometimes wrenches), plus a small role of electrical tape for holding together things that fall apart. There are lots of other tools you could carry to deal with special problems, such as a broken chain or spoke, but don't bother unless you know how to use them. A map and compass can be handy, particularly if you are new to an area. For off-road riding, you may want to use topographical maps which show altitudes and other landscape features. These are available at some sporting goods stores, or Crown Publications Bookstore (521 Fort Street, Victoria, phone 386-4636) for $11.35 each. Also bring along toilet paper (a little package of tissues works great), although thimbleberry leaves are a good substitute. A small first aid kit with bandages and antiseptic is also helpful to deal with minor injuries. For easy rides you can carry this gear in a bag attached to your bike. A small waist or back pack works better for rough trail riding since less weight on your bicycle makes it easier to handle. |
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Today's map shows the portion
of the Galloping Goose Trail along the Sooke River Canyon. It's 10 kilometres of unpaved,
good quality trail with a mild but steady incline to Sooke Potholes Provincial Park, and
another 10 kilometres to Leechtown. For more information contact the Capital Regional
District Parks department at 478-3344 or visit website 