Building a Riding Destination in Valemount, BC - Video

 AGREED.

..and while the rest of BC and Canada is settling under a blanket of snow, we are still riding here on Vancouver Isle. #RideBCdirt

 please a minute of silence for europeans including me

 @woodtigerfish: little bit of snow doesn't stop us from riding up here!

 @woodtigerfish: still ridimgnin the okanagon

 @woodtigerfish: Still riding in Kamloops.

 @RedBurn: I feel for you

 @RedBurn: Come to Tennessee, year round riding, not too hot in the summer, not too cold in the winter!! Sure we don't have the huge mountains ya'll have but 2500 vertical feet at Windrock and 1000 vertical at TTC and Neko Mulally pushing both venues! Come visit at least, grass roots gnar at its best!

 @woodtigerfish: Still riding clear trails in Edmonton (but from the Island).

 @warehouse: Hell yeah!

 ...and the next Jumbo...only this time with reported support of the community and first nations stakeholders. The area will definitely see a lot of traffic if there is year round skiing and biking in the summers.

 @snl1200: If you look at the master plan, skiing looks good but no real investment or effort is planned to go in to a bike park or the surrounding trails.

 Look at a map. Valemount is far too isolated to become a major destination anytime soon, and that's a good thing!!!

 @Golden-G: Agreed. Same goes for places like Smithers. Really cool little towns and the people that are around are super chill and eager to show off their awesome trails.

I will be heading back to Valemount again next summer for sure. Can't wait to see what the new upper trail (can't remember the name) looks like.

 @Golden-G:

6 hours from us here in Calgary.
That's closer than Silverstar, and half the distance of Whistler.

Even closer for the riders up in Edmonton who make the same journeys.

 I wasn't saying the next Jumbo would be a good thing either. Jumbo was a political and environmental atrocity. I would assume with the resort municipality would come investment into other sports. The type of people attracted to the site would no doubt be interested in seeing outdoor rec of all forms grow. Let's hope Oberti learned from the last flop though and doesn't drive through on a plan for his own narcissistic "cathedral" regardless of views of those more connected to the area. Looks like a beautiful spot and I would love to explore it someday.

 @WolfStoneD: Only three hours from PG so I'd say just over four from Edmonton...............ok, maybe five depending on how many tour buses are stopped in the middle of the highway to look at sheep in the park.

Also, camping at Tete Jaune Lodge is pretty cool. They have some sites right on the Fraser River. They also have neat little cabins for those that don't quite camp. Only about 15 mins from Valemount. The Sunday brunch at their restaurant is awesome and worth the trip alone.

 @j-t-g: the bike park is a totally separate project, community initiated, and managed locally by VARDA. Funded trail building is a couple of years underway already, with more exciting stuff in the works for the future. It is awesome to see locals taking up mountain biking for the first time, including all ages and rider types. It is worth stopping for a ride if you are driving through (but maybe not until April now that we are under snow!).

 @WolfStoneD: to have a chance at being a successful international destination you must be within 2-1/2 drive from a major international airport. Whistler is a 2hr drive from Vancouver!!!

 @snl1200: Jumbo is/was/will be a complete fantasy. Not logistically feasible due to the infrastructure costs and avalanche control cost fir the access road.

 @urinalmint: You said it. I just spent my first season riding in Smithers (& Burns Lake & Terrace & Houston). Great trails, and growing the network every year! #mtbnorthernbc

 @Golden-G: Yes. The reason I commented was that Oberti, the man responsible for Jumbo, has now given up on that project and moved his interest to Valemount. Unlike Jumbo though, he appears to have First Nations and community support for his planned "year-round skiing resort" in the area.

 Unfortunately most of the last 3 months has been wet without enough heat to dry it out properly.

 @Dethphist: Yup, horrible summer for riding!

 Fatbike season should be starting momentarily.