Ride Day 2, First Day at Baldface

Posted by Charles Sat, 02 Aug 2008 06:12:00 GMT

We have completed our second day riding in the Nelson area, both in town, as well as from the Baldface Lodge 4000 feet above town. While we originally found Canada a smaller place than originally stated (metric conversion conspiracy. Every thing in Canada is about 1/3 closer than it sounds), we have found the 4000 foot drop into town is at least 5000 feet, and a “full day” of riding can be had by noon.

Our group started with 14 eager campers, and a 45 minute push from the Lodge up to Cherry Tops, because the aforementioned 4000 feet evidently wasn’t, by local standards, enough. Our guide today was some available local named Mike, and we followed him to the best of our ability down High Man to Swamp Donkey. The best of our ability turned out to be better than the ability of at least six of the riders in our group, and they got on a truck at mid mountain. Four were never seen again.

After leaving Swamp Donkey, we proceeded to climb Shannon Road and the descending resumed down the Shannon Trail. We popped out back in town to meet our shuttle van and about half of the remaining group had had enough. We all might have been happy to head back up to the lodge for massages, meals, and showers, but since it was raining, and we were in BC, we did as any local would do, and went for coffee, with just about every other person within 5 or so miles, er, kilometers.

After loading up on caffeine courage, we decided one more loop was in order, and we shuttled half way back up the mountain to drop Placenta Decenta, to Skiers Right. We had been experiencing a positive decline in the days activities, in that as we got more tired and hammered from rocks, drops, and ill timed tree huggings, the technical difficulty of the trails also subsided. These two last drops were no exception to that rule, so by the time we rolled off the last section of trail, we were riding something akin to a California double black diamond, or what here would be considered a blue trail. We also rolled off the trail completely stoked, with more energy than we had at the beginning of our rally and second loop. We did not, however, rally for a third, and instead stopped into the Sacred Ride bike shop in town to grab some shorter stems, and a crankset for one rider that had ridden his XC crank to its limit. While some shopped at Sacred, others grabbed a case of beer to sustain us for the at least 60 minutes of dirt road between us and the Lodge. Needless to say, we did not unload any beer at the Lodge, only empties.

The massages here at $110 per hour appear to be a good value, the meals plentiful and not too large for our eyes, and the couches, beds, chairs, and in one case floor, are very comfortable. We are looking forward to more of similar tomorrow.