With the colder-than-usual El Nina hitting BC hard this winter, and the snow line creeping down to the water, I retreated to Vancouver Island with born-and-raised Islander, Andreas Hestler, and mainlander-soon-to-become-Islander, Jamie Biluk, to check out some classic trails near the Island's capital of Victoria.
Jamie Biluk, going with the grain.
The area we rode is part of the Hartland trail system, which is massive. It would take you a week of all-day rides to scratch the surface, and the best part is that no matter which trails you take, you usually end up right back at your vehicle, or at the very least, a quick cool-down road ride from where you parked.
What are the definite, not to be missed trails? DH and AM.
Cheers
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hszZmFRPqx8
Come on guys, go explore. The island is loaded with all kinds of amazing riding, from xc, to old and new school freeride lines and plenty of DH (Even around Victoria).
Great article! Those photos really capture the atmosphere of riding here in the winter. Can't wait for your Sooke edition. Harbourview has some of the best singletrack I've ridden and Broom is always a good time. Looking forward to what trails you guys ride in your upcoming articles!
Also there is a great trail map of most of the trails on the island. www.pursuitofsingletrack.com
Harbourview is about to become the only other OFFICIALLY LEGITIMATE, fully endorsed, regionally managed mountain bike park on the South Island.
I don't know how long you've been in the scene, but Hartland as you know it didn't magically form all those trails all by itself- it's taken over ten years of blood, sweat and tears of countless hours of volunteer labour, though SIMBS, to bring those trails to us all.
The Sooke Bike Club, www.sookebikeclub.com, will be working with SIMBS and the CRD to turn Harbourview into a shining example for legit MTB everywhere, just mark my words; when that place opens up, the trails will be crankin fast and furious!
There's a trail just a bit before said bridge that, if it was clear, I bet would give us a great loop.
Maybe I can meet up with you for a ride?