Big Timothy

Biggest turn out for a ride in a long time. Must have been the blue bird day. 

We started out with 15 riders in the parking lot. Unfortunately one sled was missing a "key" ingredient so couldn't come. 

Lucky the parking area could accommodate all of us

Trying out the new Cobras - longer than a bungee and next best thing to a tow truck!!

Blue skies smiling down on us

Regrouping again

Waiting for the rest of the crew who were having a pre-lunch workout

Hey, hey, the gang's all here. This is where we leave one more rider behind with sled problems.

Carving hearts for valentines day

Look out - Norm's making plans

Thanks to Jim and Vic for doing such a great job of keeping track of everyone. Not easy with this many riders.

The sled had its own agenda. Could have been worse - no tree well.

All tracked out, all tuckered out and time to go home.

Last 2 rides of the season ???

Spring has sprung ...with a lot of hot air.
The warmth sure feels good but not good for riding at the lower elevations and no new snow at the higher elevations.
The Club went out this past Sunday and Tuesday - both awesome rides despite the combination of freeze and melt.

Sunday funday ride.

Decisions, decisions ....what road next?

New logging slash - more great views

Enjoying the view, at least for a minute

Lone representative of the female riders

Last rest of Sunday's ride - heading for the barn

Tuesday's ride - another new area. Definitely riding here again next season. Another secret place (hahaha).

Doo-lightful day

Modelling for Ski-doo

Lots of play area - envision this after a fresh snowfall

Terrain for everyone

Maybe the die-hard sledders in the club will do another ride. We will see what Mother Nature's decision is.

If you're interested in back country riding, you should join the club next season.

Weekend Rides

When you haven't been out riding in 2 weeks due to the polar vortex, you have to go for it when the weather lets up.
2 days in a row of riding for those who had capable bodies :)  (Not the blog editor)
Saturday - the Taj loop.  Did the loop in reverse from the previous ride.

Some challenges as a result of the reverse order but nothing the Club couldn't overcome. Made it in - the proof is in the pudding - or the picture above.

Low visibility but still good to get out after 2 weeks of cabin fever

Thuya Lake on the way back to the parking lot

Sunday's ride was out to Big Tim.

Swamp riding - this is where the Doo bucked off the rider. A little disabled but still smiling and ready for more riding.

Awesome view

The recovery team coming back. Isn't this a fantastic photo!

Snow covered trees - so beautiful

End of the day - playing in the logging slash

Our area has been discovered. Should never have blogged about it - haha. Tracked out and wind blown up top.

Big Tim Ride

What's not to love about the Big Tim/Hendrix area. The only complaint is that there still isn't enough snow. Especially when the weekend sledders have already been in there :)
Actually, it's a big area and there is always untracked snow to be found.

These aren't all the Club's tracks but makes for a good patterned photo.

Beautiful scenery - check out the snow ghost.

At the top the snow is hard and windblown but it's still great to get up there to admire the views, especially when we have new riders. The conditions made it easy for everyone to get up there.

The peak of Big Tim  - gotta love the blue skies.

One of the club's new riders enjoying the view

Lunch time - basking in the sunshine

If it doesn't snow soon, we're going to run out of places to ride. Might have to do a road trip!!!

Last Ride of the Season

What a season - last ride was on April 19th to Big Tim.
Wow - don't think we've ever ridden so late in April.

If there's snow in town, there's snow up high.

Early enough that it's still frozen in the parking area.

Perfect blue bird day. Uncomplicated. Almost no stucks - just one tree well incident.

Superman snow. Could go anywhere. 

The dark speck on the hill is a sled.

Tracking out the hills.

Perfect day for a last ride. So spoiled with all the snow this season. Can hardly wait until next season. 

Hendrix

Hendrix Ride January 9

The temperature when we all arrived at Hendrix was -20, over 10 colder than our meeting place in 100 Mile, however the recent trend towards inversions held and it got considerably warmer the higher we got.
We had a beautiful sunny day, and the snow is building up nicely.  We were able to make our way into the lower meadows, the final trail proved quite difficult but Marcel was able to lead the way, and we were able to do a bit of work to improve the trail.
The snow was really nice, and there had been little to no traffic, it didn't take long to carve the meadows up.
We made our way up to the hill overlooking the bowl, but there was considerable mist blowing through causing poor visibility, so we chose to play on the hillsides in the surrounding area, which for the most part was undisturbed.  It was a lot of fun and the views were spectacular.  
There are still some rocks showing in this area especially where the snow is windblown so some care has to be taken.
There appeared to be active logging up past the turnoff for Spanish and part way to Hendrix.  The turnoff to Spanish was plowed and seems there is logging going on there as well.
I hope everyone is doing the snow dance, there is a good base in Hendrix and if we can have a couple of feet of powder, it could be pretty awesome.

Big Timothy - Hendrix

Saturday, Jan. 18th
Rode to Big Timothy out of Hendrix Lake. Found the top very wind blown, hard thin snow pack, large rock formations showing. Not a good place to be. Dropped down toward Hendrix, playing in the trees, found some large open meadows with really good snow. Met a couple of riders from 150 Mile, they passed on more information on the area. Tried for other meadows, but the trees got in the way.  Very good day in the end, the ditch play was great.

 

 

 

 

                                                                     Meadow

                                                           Big Timothy near summit

Big Timothy in the background

Sledding Addiction

Even though our Club's last scheduled ride was on Sunday, a few of us just had to do a "wee bit" more riding.  We headed back to Big Timothy on a glorious blue bird Friday.  The only thing missing was the  powder.  But hey, you can't have everything.  After all, it is spring!
It was a bit icy going in but that improved as we got further in and the temperatures warmed.
One good thing about spring sledding is you can challenge the hills.

Here's a few pics of our day:

Sledding "addicts"

And yet another beautiful view

Jeanne tracking out the hills

Jim "hot dawging" it

Looks like lots of untouched snow down there

Miles of visibility from the peak

View of Mica Peak and area (where we were on Sunday)

Checking out the view over the edge

For those who can't quit sledding, keep sending in those photos..