Graham Agassiz: Digging for Galena - The Story of Texas Peak

Feb 24, 2017
by SRAM  

For thousands of years, we have been scratching through dirt and rock looking for our fortunes. Over a century ago, pioneers carved deep into the mountains surrounding Retallack Lodge, risking ruin in exchange for an ore rich in silver, zinc, and lead. They were Digging for Galena.

Today, exploration and adventure come full circle with the building of Texas Peak, one of the most adrenaline-packed gravity trails ever created. Join Graham Agassiz as he takes you on a journey that blurs the lines between here and yesteryear—a story of risk, adventure, and great reward.

Credits:
Cinematography and Editing by Mind Spark Cinema
Written and Directed by Mitchell Scott
Starring Graham Agassiz
Produced by Retallack Lodge and Mitchell Scott
Sponsored by SRAM, Kona, and Retallack Lodge
Music performed by Moontricks



MENTIONS: @SramMedia / @mindspark / @retallacklodge / @konaworld



Posted In:
Videos


Author Info:
SramMedia avatar

Member since Apr 1, 2011
178 articles

87 Comments
  • 85 1
 Texas Peak is one of the most amazing trails I've ever ridden. A trip to Retallack should be on your bucket list.
  • 36 1
 Yep, best trails I've ever ridden.
  • 6 1
 What kind of bike is best at Retalack? I see everyone in the videos riding DH bikes, is there no pedaling there? Is an Enduro bike a better choice?
  • 4 0
 @mxtommy: Either kind will do. I rode my Patrol and had a blast! If you take a trail bike invest in some DH brakes and DH casings.
  • 2 1
 @trimakas: seconded. i had single ply Minions and i was ok, but lots of guys got flats from shale cuts on my trip. just luck of the draw i think. my trip was probably about 50/50 DH bikes and Enduro bikes. not really much pedalling at all besides a section (most walked) that goes up for about 1/4th of a mile high up on the peak line they take you up on the helicopter. god that place is so good.
  • 3 0
 What @trimakas said. Texas Peak is the ducks nuts too. Defo put it on the list.
  • 2 0
 Definitely. The trails, the surrounding environment, the lodge, the guides and the staff are amazing! Great place!
  • 2 0
 @mxtommy: You can't go wrong with a DH bike at Retallack yet arguably a longer travel All Mtn bike will still be a lot of fun. You are either shuttling or taking a Heli to the trail heads. I rode a 2016 Trek Remedy on my 3 day stay and managed to squeeze in 2 laps of Texas Peak. It was an absolute blast! Mike Kinrade and his trail crew have done a truly amazing job. Quite simply put the trails at Retallack are ones you want to ride over and over and over again!!!
  • 2 1
 Apparently it's only an 8 or so hour drive from me, I should probably get over there at some point!
  • 1 0
 how does it compare to a whole enchilada in moab or a top of the world. Also, where would you put it in difficulty rating.
  • 2 0
 @scottsecco: how does it compare to a whole enchilada in moab or a top of the world. Also, where would you put it in difficulty rating.
  • 2 1
 @littermac: Haven't ridden Whole Enchilada, but dramatically better than Top of the World. Difficulty-wise I'm not sure how to rate it, Black Diamond I guess? It's basically as hard as you want it to be. If you're a pro then you can double or triple all sorts of stuff. If you're a weekend warrior then it's safe to roll everything and still an absolute blast. Seriously so much fun! If you can ride Top of the World, you'll be fine.
  • 1 0
 @scottsecco: cheers thanks
  • 1 0
 @littermac: Hope that helped! Send me a message if you have any more questions.
  • 2 0
 If for some reason there was ever an A-List hollywood movie that involved a miner reminiscing about his mountain biking days i feel like this would be a part of that movie
  • 40 5
 just WOW hats off ... very tastefully done and super job in the edit room an the writers, GREAT JOB super refreshing in a world that repeats itself, very original, Awesome sound track and Magically filmed .. I got to meet Aggy and shake his hand at 2016 Cruzfest and then got to watch him live at 2016 rampage ... I can say he is a class act !! plus his riding drips style ... an for me STYLE MATTERS !! it will be nice to see what they do to back this edit up or even outdo themselves... this VIDEO was WAY TO SHORT !!...IMO they way you guys did this ,you should do a simi serious Production big screen movie about the Mountains and how PASSIONATE we as MTB People are.... oh wait it might just be me....
  • 3 1
 @markpartain agreed! Hey, when are you and Gary making it to Bend?? We gotta shred!
  • 4 1
 Video of the Year nomination from me. Wildly creative and authentic integration of story-telling and mountain biking with a splash of comedy and satire.
  • 24 1
 Aggy´s riding is unreal - true business in the front, party in the back; his front wheel draws a perfectly smooth line down the mountain, while his back wheel is barely hangin´ on havin´ heeps of fun!
  • 23 1
 Please stop using the phrase "Get it, after the click".
  • 2 1
 Word
  • 2 1
 totally radical
  • 30 13
 Way too much buildup to the actual riding for my tastes, but worth it when it (finally!) came...

Great music but surprisingly weak audio-wise considering what the budget for this project must have been. Awesome cinematography, as you would expect from Mind Spark.
  • 9 16
flag Deep-Friar (Feb 24, 2017 at 13:27) (Below Threshold)
 In a ten minute movie it took about six minute and thirty seconds until riding a bike was featured. Who has that kind of time?
  • 19 1
 Fuck im shit
  • 13 1
 Aggy, Ratboy and Brannigan's videos in one day! Merry Christmas everyone! also, this three videos should end all the debates on what kinds of bike is necessary for the variety of facets of mountain biking, now time to punch out early to prep my bike for tomorrow's early roll out.
  • 5 1
 Speaking of Rotboy - I can understand Rotboy better than the dude with the german? accent in this video, although I am german.
  • 3 0
 @Gondoletta-Watussi: He's just goofing! He doesn't really have that accent.
  • 1 0
 @DirtbagMatt: I know, me too.
Is that correct? Or should I say me neither? Because I don't have this accent, or at least I hope I don't.
  • 7 0
 Admittedly I'm a little drunk but seeing Aggy riding again brought a tear to my eye. How the fuck do you come back like that from such a knarly crash. What a bloody hero. Can't wait to see some Dark Fest edits.
  • 9 0
 yeah he is back, but they filmed this before rampage
  • 1 0
 @loganmerringer: that makes more sense. He is at DarkFest though so maybe he'll get back at it. I'm not expecting 3s or anything though.
  • 7 0
 I'm not normally into the whole half piss take documentary style video, but that was so well done. Best edit I've seen for a good while. Job well done.
  • 7 0
 Mike Kinrade and the Retallack trail crew, you guys rock! Nice work fellas!
  • 7 0
 Shout out to TREELINES!!! Such a great group and Adam @ Treelines just bleeds for the sport. Well done boys!
  • 6 0
 Awesome edit, f*ck work, I'm gonna ride my bike with Moontricks in my ears Smile
  • 7 0
 Damn great edit. So good to see Aggy back on his vehicle.
  • 3 1
 What about that? Is it filmed after his Rampage injury?

If that is the case, welcome back Aggy!!!
  • 3 1
 @gapos999: to be honest: I dont know when they filmed that. But for me its always nice to see Aggy riding (again).
  • 4 0
 Filmed before his injury, although he is back now which is great to see
  • 8 1
 riding starts at 6:00
  • 4 1
 Its better if you watch the whole video though.
  • 2 0
 this brought back so many memories. We used to go camping in New Denver when I was a kid, and we would take day trips up to Sandon and Cody and go exploring around Idaho Peak. Before Retallak opened up for biking, we would drive past the chalet and up into the saddle and ride down the back side into Cody. Absolutely love the Selkirk range. A very, very special gem on this planet earth.
  • 7 0
 Love the Herzog parody!
  • 2 0
 But Eagle is gold, and Herzog's characters are less tourism-oriented. Helis and trailbuilding machinery OK, but E-bikes--waaaaaaa!
  • 4 0
 This video was great!! Quite a chage from the uisual hard-hitting short vids we get. I really enjoyed it!
  • 4 0
 Almost spit my coffee out when the narrator came out with that little Herzog mountain top intro.. I loved it! Made my day!
  • 2 0
 A man mining on his mule in the hills. Reminds me of my Appalachian brethren of old. Mosdef riding to work with harmonicas and a pick in the brain toodayy!
  • 4 0
 Shoulda shown more of the trail work but, what a gnarly edit.
  • 3 0
 Mind blowing cinematography/story telling, incredible riding and even better trail building!
Serious props to all involved
  • 3 2
 These sponsors need to just let Aggy shred from start to finish. The last few edits have had a ridiculous amount of filler that isn't even related to mountain biking. His riding never disappoints though!
  • 1 0
 What a masterpiece of a video segment! Captivating visuals, immersive tunes and spectacular riding by Agassiz. This is what mountain biking is all about! Thank you for this, totally made my day Wink
  • 4 0
 AND THATS HOW YOU MAKE A REAL MTN BIKE VIDEO BOYZ!
  • 5 1
 That was art. So imaginative. Killer stuff Aggy and the team.
  • 3 0
 Looks like Aggy is indestructible...cool movie...so much style! i can only wish...
  • 2 0
 Loved the vid, the filming and riding were both stunning. Glued to it from start to finish. That dudes fake accent is truly terrible tho! Haha
  • 2 0
 Wow. The effort going into making videos is insane. Loved this and we get it all for free. Keep the films coming.
  • 3 0
 Werner Herzog wants his voice back.
  • 2 0
 @ 5:45 This is the dopest summit ride eva!!! I have dreamt of this epicness!
  • 11 8
 holy shit theres no riding in this 10 minute video!!!lies all lies
  • 2 1
 Exceptional!!!! The ONLY flaw in that movie is the complete unnecessary narrative with a poorly done "German?" Accent. Why? Anyway, everything else was beauty.
  • 3 1
 cause it was funny ! duh
  • 2 0
 What a great way to start my friday...........
  • 1 0
 Nice work! Looking forward to going back to Retallack and shredding that line.
  • 1 0
 Does anyone know if you have to stay at the lodge to have access to the trails?
  • 2 0
 free country man. nobody owns the mountains .
  • 1 0
 Just wow! Aggy is amazing! Reminds me great cinematography of legendary NWD movies.
  • 1 0
 That was sick!!!!
One question....
Does the narrator really talk and twitch like that???
  • 2 1
 this was so good!! Crazy how it took time to edit knowing this was shot before rampage... they apparently did take the time
  • 1 0
 Awsome! Story really well goes together with riding! 1 idea - 2 different times super!
  • 1 0
 Just curious. How much does it cost to have you and your bike brought on top of a mountain in a chopper?
  • 3 2
 Just makes me dreaming. Thanks Sram!
  • 1 0
 Really nailed that one....
  • 1 0
 @BenNbike we gotta plan a trip to retallack
  • 1 0
 Dam I'm putting that trail on my list to ride!
  • 2 1
 Poor german accent ruined it. Otherwise... really good!
  • 1 0
 New trail for my bucket list
  • 1 0
 You need no more , thanks
  • 1 0
 P.s
Would be nice we could fave Big Grin
  • 1 0
 primo dirt, dialed jumps and epic scenery....wow
  • 1 1
 The fake accent was annoying and uneccessary. Otherwise awesome ???? definitely getting out there this year.
  • 1 0
 i will ride that trail in 2017 !
  • 1 0
 RIP rear tire
  • 1 0
 Epic trail, epic riding!
  • 1 0
 MASTERPIECE.
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