Kicking Horse Bike Park - Trail Crew Update #7 - 2012
The straight goods on Kicking Horse Bike Park, straight from the trail crew's fingertips.
The final report of the season: Like that which holds your curry chicken and alfalfa sprouts together at lunch, it's a wrap.
Before we get started, let's see what happens when the crew finds a GoPro on the mountain. Can you imagine how many of these things there are out there, scattered on the ski hills of the world?
We managed to tinker with the trails a bit at the end of the season and beyond, ducking the swinging brushsaw blades of the slopes crew preparing for winter. Here's what got done:
Pipestone
If you think you haven't heard of this trail before, it's because you haven't heard of this trail before. Before, this trail didn't exist. Now, 2 days later, it does! In early summer, the treacherous 10Rd is the only route through the alpine until the snow melts. Well, we figured out what melts first and just built a trail there. Enjoy it next July.
![In early summer the treacherous 10Rd is the only route through the alpine until the snow melts. Well we figured out what melts first and just built a trail there. Enjoy it next July.]()
![Winter always pokes its head in at least once at the end of summer.]()
9 more months before we are even close to riding up here again.
Superberm
The Blue campaign continued as the mini-ex finished two complete section rebuilds, began a new entrance and corrected a mistake in the middle.
![The beginning of the new top section.]()
The beginning of the new entrance.
![Imagine that we found a wet spot in the new reroute. This is the easy-to-fix part.]()
Imagine that, we found a wet spot in the new reroute. This is the easy-to-fix part.
Easy Rider
As part of our Green campaign we are trying to not only make our beginner trails easier, but also more interesting. So the bottom of this trail is being redirected into a couple of small cedar stands. This effort will allow for a gentler grade, more turns and communion with the forest. The machine work is done, but we still have to do the hand work.
![As part of our Green campaign we are trying to not only make our beginner runs easier but also more interesting. So the bottom of the run is being redirected into a couple of small cedar stands.]()
Swamp Donkey
As for the Black campaign, we are in a bit of a pickle. Well, in terms of pickles, our problems out there are more like a Costco size glass jar of them that has just slipped out of our hands and smashed on the parking lot. It could be worse, they could have smashed in our driveway. At least we can go back in the store and get another jar. Unfortunately the line up is huge. The name becomes more apt each passing day: that trail is a sloppy, stubborn, ass-like creature.
![Earning its name.]()
![The short reroute needs to go to the right of the photo. The mini-ex tried but quit in frustration over the sloppy quickmud.]()
The short reroute needs to go to the right of the photo. The mini-ex tried but quit in frustration over the sloppy quickmud.
![Earning its name.]()
![No prizes but who can guess where the excavator ran into a spot of bother again The trail goes to the right.]()
No prizes, but who can guess where the excavator ran into a spot of bother?
Now, I don't mean the whole thing is a pain in the donkey. Some parts look lovely and almost ready to ride.
![It is going to be beautiful in here eventually.]()
![This is going to be the landing of a step-over.]()
This is going to be the landing of a step-over.
Stunt Park
Some of our woodwork and associated dirt got a facelift. It looks better, and perhaps more importantly, rides better.
![Finally got some mineral soil in front of this table. The transition is easier to get to now.]()
Finally got some mineral soil in front of this table. The transition is easier to get to now.
![This feature got reworked to make it more accessible to more levels of riders.]()
This feature got reworked to make it more accessible to more levels of riders.
Thanks again to Dakine for the duds. I really liked the shorts this year.
And thanks to [This space for sale] for kitting us out with bikes next year. I'm sure we'll love them and post images of them all season!
To close this final post, I'll leave you with some random images from this September. Did I ever tell you how much I love this place? Hope you enjoy your winter. I will, I'll be skiing here. Watch www.skiiinggolden.com for regular posts. And see www.kickinghorseresort.com for how to spend you winter vacation here. Or move here (that's probably your best bet).
Crowe
![The trails at Kicking Horse have undergone so many changes over the years. Once in a while I stumble upon a discarded section.]()
The trails at Kicking Horse have undergone so many changes over the years. Once in a while I stumble upon a discarded section.
![Act mouse. Act]()
Act, mouse. Act!
![One of these guys is out of place.]()
One of these guys is out of place.
![photo]()
![Early morning view from midway up the mountain in September.]()
Early morning view of the Rockies from midway up the mountain in September.
![Winter always pokes its head in at least once at the end of summer.]()
The final report of the season: Like that which holds your curry chicken and alfalfa sprouts together at lunch, it's a wrap.
Before we get started, let's see what happens when the crew finds a GoPro on the mountain. Can you imagine how many of these things there are out there, scattered on the ski hills of the world?
We managed to tinker with the trails a bit at the end of the season and beyond, ducking the swinging brushsaw blades of the slopes crew preparing for winter. Here's what got done:
Pipestone
If you think you haven't heard of this trail before, it's because you haven't heard of this trail before. Before, this trail didn't exist. Now, 2 days later, it does! In early summer, the treacherous 10Rd is the only route through the alpine until the snow melts. Well, we figured out what melts first and just built a trail there. Enjoy it next July.
Superberm
The Blue campaign continued as the mini-ex finished two complete section rebuilds, began a new entrance and corrected a mistake in the middle.
Easy Rider
As part of our Green campaign we are trying to not only make our beginner trails easier, but also more interesting. So the bottom of this trail is being redirected into a couple of small cedar stands. This effort will allow for a gentler grade, more turns and communion with the forest. The machine work is done, but we still have to do the hand work.
Swamp Donkey
As for the Black campaign, we are in a bit of a pickle. Well, in terms of pickles, our problems out there are more like a Costco size glass jar of them that has just slipped out of our hands and smashed on the parking lot. It could be worse, they could have smashed in our driveway. At least we can go back in the store and get another jar. Unfortunately the line up is huge. The name becomes more apt each passing day: that trail is a sloppy, stubborn, ass-like creature.
Now, I don't mean the whole thing is a pain in the donkey. Some parts look lovely and almost ready to ride.
Stunt Park
Some of our woodwork and associated dirt got a facelift. It looks better, and perhaps more importantly, rides better.
Thanks again to Dakine for the duds. I really liked the shorts this year.
And thanks to [This space for sale] for kitting us out with bikes next year. I'm sure we'll love them and post images of them all season!
To close this final post, I'll leave you with some random images from this September. Did I ever tell you how much I love this place? Hope you enjoy your winter. I will, I'll be skiing here. Watch www.skiiinggolden.com for regular posts. And see www.kickinghorseresort.com for how to spend you winter vacation here. Or move here (that's probably your best bet).
Crowe
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1 Comment
- 1 0
lightningskull
(Sep 20, 2012 at 5:40)
looking good fellas
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