Canadian Rockies Back Country Solo on an XR250 - Page 4

blueglide88 · 09-27-2007, 02:42 PM

Really great pictures and a great report too!

calrider · 09-27-2007, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueglide88

Really great pictures and a great report too!

Thanks Blueglide, there's more coming as soon as I get a few moments!

calrider · 09-28-2007, 02:37 PM

On the way back to the campground, we squeezed past a locked gate and made it down to these waterfalls I knew about.

A couple years ago, the gate wasn't there and you could drive down and camp by the lake in this beautiful location.

Seems like all the little secret spots are being gated and restricted by the land managers.

On another morning, Julius, from Victoria, and I zipped up the logging roads behind the campground.
First stop was the historic cemetery of Ainsworth Hot Springs.

Julius handled his 650 Suzuki like a little trail bike. Great to see! We switched leads a few times as we flew up the mountain side on single and double track. A great feeling!
Next stop was a nice lookout over Kootenay Lake…

This is the view across the lake to Riondel. The site of a former lead/zinc/silver mine, Riondel is now a quiet community at the end of the road.

This area has been extensively staked for mineral claims. This is one of the claim markers.

The road finally dead-ended at the end of a logging clearcut. We spent some time enjoying the view south down the lake.

I later looked at the area on Google Earth and noticed that there were roads that went higher up and even a trail right into the alpine. Check it out yourself on the GPS Track link in the first post. It would have been sweet… I guess I'll have to go back.

We made it back down in time to take in the afternoon and evening seminars at the HU meeting. Great presentations and amazing people. And several folks dropped in that were in the middle of their own major trips.

All too soon it was time to say good bye to new friends and head back to where we came from. Julius had his bike packed and ready to go. He was planning to make it all the way back to Victoria that day.

Another ride on the ferry, this time in the company of a bunch of folks on Harleys from Minneapolis. We had an interesting chat on the merits of bridge design.

Then it was back over the Grey Creek Pass again. This is the sign at the start of the gravel.

This time I took an alternate route and followed the power line over a different pass and reconnected with the road on the other side. This is the view from the top just before going down a bunch of steep, rocky twisties to join up with the main road again below.

The rest of the ride back to Cranbrook was uneventful…and so ended my little "hard way round" ride.

It was a nice little adventure. It started with some introspective time on my own and ended with meeting some great people. It was a great reminder that there are a lot of amazing people doing amazing things out there. And like any journey of discovery, the real discoveries were about myself.

Replies, comments etc. are welcome!

Budo675 · 09-29-2007, 03:32 PM

Absolutely beautiful... I want to grow up to be just like you!!!!

Put's my little road trip to shame :P

calrider · 09-29-2007, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budo675

Absolutely beautiful... I want to grow up to be just like you!!!!

Put's my little road trip to shame :P

Thanks Budo! Hey, I just read your ride report. Didn't look so "little" to me. Some great places, cool scenery and significant distance. Loved the critter disguising itself as a coke machine!
Keep reporting!

Budo675 · 09-30-2007, 12:16 AM

Thanks...

Very nice to hear that from a seasoned veteran

calrider · 09-30-2007, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budo675

Thanks...

Very nice to hear that from a seasoned veteran

"Seasoned veteran"??? I had to chuckle. I used to ride a lot as a kid on a little 125cc enduro, but haven't for years. Just got back into it this spring and am hooked once again.

idea man · 09-30-2007, 07:59 AM

Great report. Great trip! Thanks for taking us along.

calrider · 09-30-2007, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idea man

Great report. Great trip! Thanks for taking us along.

Thanks, Idea Man. Any time. I'm working on putting up a ride in did in Thailand in the winter.

grae313 · 09-30-2007, 10:45 PM

thank you for posting

calrider · 10-01-2007, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grae313

thank you for posting

Just read your post of your ride in the Santa Cruz mountains...nice.

tonic_water · 02-18-2008, 10:16 AM

Great trip report. Thanks for sharing. It brings out the longing to be on the road again.
When you camped at Lapointe Creek on the Rose Pass road and then turned back, you had already gone through the worst of it. Ask Surlyguy. He went over the top in September, 2007.

calrider · 02-21-2008, 05:39 AM

Thanks, tonic. I got your PM as well. Also got a PM from SurlyGuy describing his trip. (on a 640 ADV with hard luggage no less!)

I just got back from a 4 week ride in Colombia. Will start posting soon.

Chanderjeet · 02-21-2008, 10:57 AM

Thanks amazing, it really is a great solo trip and the pics are fantastic. Whats photomatic btw ?

d0gWateR · 02-21-2008, 03:18 PM

Great ride, thanks for posting! And thanks for posting the track as well!

09-27-2007, 02:42 PM	#46
blueglide88 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2006 Oddometer: 159	Really great pictures and a great report too! __________________ 1988 FLHS 185,000 miles 2006 FXDI just a few miles

09-28-2007, 02:37 PM	#48
calrider ^OP I'm Lost Too!! Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Calgary, Canada Oddometer: 673	On the way back to the campground, we squeezed past a locked gate and made it down to these waterfalls I knew about. A couple years ago, the gate wasn't there and you could drive down and camp by the lake in this beautiful location. Seems like all the little secret spots are being gated and restricted by the land managers. On another morning, Julius, from Victoria, and I zipped up the logging roads behind the campground. First stop was the historic cemetery of Ainsworth Hot Springs. Julius handled his 650 Suzuki like a little trail bike. Great to see! We switched leads a few times as we flew up the mountain side on single and double track. A great feeling! Next stop was a nice lookout over Kootenay Lake… This is the view across the lake to Riondel. The site of a former lead/zinc/silver mine, Riondel is now a quiet community at the end of the road. This area has been extensively staked for mineral claims. This is one of the claim markers. The road finally dead-ended at the end of a logging clearcut. We spent some time enjoying the view south down the lake. I later looked at the area on Google Earth and noticed that there were roads that went higher up and even a trail right into the alpine. Check it out yourself on the GPS Track link in the first post. It would have been sweet… I guess I'll have to go back. We made it back down in time to take in the afternoon and evening seminars at the HU meeting. Great presentations and amazing people. And several folks dropped in that were in the middle of their own major trips. All too soon it was time to say good bye to new friends and head back to where we came from. Julius had his bike packed and ready to go. He was planning to make it all the way back to Victoria that day. Another ride on the ferry, this time in the company of a bunch of folks on Harleys from Minneapolis. We had an interesting chat on the merits of bridge design. Then it was back over the Grey Creek Pass again. This is the sign at the start of the gravel. This time I took an alternate route and followed the power line over a different pass and reconnected with the road on the other side. This is the view from the top just before going down a bunch of steep, rocky twisties to join up with the main road again below. The rest of the ride back to Cranbrook was uneventful…and so ended my little "hard way round" ride. It was a nice little adventure. It started with some introspective time on my own and ended with meeting some great people. It was a great reminder that there are a lot of amazing people doing amazing things out there. And like any journey of discovery, the real discoveries were about myself. Replies, comments etc. are welcome! calrider screwed with this post 03-06-2013 at 01:33 PM

09-30-2007, 07:59 AM	#53
idea man Plate Spinner Joined: Jun 2006 Location: 101 and 246, CA Oddometer: 2,508	Awesome Great report. Great trip! Thanks for taking us along. __________________ "You know sir, there is a fine line between Badass and Dumbass." Medical Records Lady []'06 1150 GSA Thread: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=375824[]'06 1150 GSA SE Registry: http://www.ericsyn.com/2006bmwr1150gsadv.html[*]Great Ride North, Alaska/Yukon '09 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494846[/LIST]

02-21-2008, 05:39 AM	#58
calrider ^OP I'm Lost Too!! Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Calgary, Canada Oddometer: 673	Thanks, tonic. I got your PM as well. Also got a PM from SurlyGuy describing his trip. (on a 640 ADV with hard luggage no less!) I just got back from a 4 week ride in Colombia. Will start posting soon. __________________ Some of my other ride reports! A little ride up Mt. Fisher in the Canadian Rockies......... XR250 Multi-Day Cdn Rockies back country solo. Snow, Fall Colours and Altitude in the Cdn Rockies........Colombia 2-Up on a 200cc China Bike My Work: Team Building, Facilitation and Leadership Training.

02-21-2008, 10:57 AM	#59
Chanderjeet IndiYeah !! Joined: Mar 2006 Location: New Delhi, India Oddometer: 5,597	Thanks amazing, it really is a great solo trip and the pics are fantastic. Whats photomatic btw ? __________________ Himalayas on a Motorcycle - Photography book by Chanderjeet Mango Lassi of the bumfucked hillbillies MC

09-29-2007, 03:32 PM	#49
Budo675 Studly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX Oddometer: 855	Absolutely beautiful... I want to grow up to be just like you!!!! Put's my little road trip to shame :P

09-30-2007, 12:16 AM	#51
Budo675 Studly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX Oddometer: 855	Thanks... Very nice to hear that from a seasoned veteran

09-30-2007, 10:45 PM	#55
grae313 Idiosyncratic Misanthrope Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Ithaca, NY Oddometer: 990	thank you for posting

02-18-2008, 10:16 AM	#57
tonic_water Adventurer Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Calgary Oddometer: 11	Great trip report. Thanks for sharing. It brings out the longing to be on the road again. When you camped at Lapointe Creek on the Rose Pass road and then turned back, you had already gone through the worst of it. Ask Surlyguy. He went over the top in September, 2007.

02-21-2008, 03:18 PM	#60
d0gWateR Goat Stuntaz DSMC Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Chilliwack, BC CANADA Oddometer: 463	Nice one! Great ride, thanks for posting! And thanks for posting the track as well! __________________ You were born an original, don't die a copy. Cambodia 2013 Blog

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