It’s 5:00 p.m. on a Monday, and my mind has successfully achieved adull-numb delirium from staring at a computer screen all day. My droopingeyes wander the walls of my office until they fall upon a trail map of theGolden, B.C., area. My left eyelid starts to twitch, the skin rash on myelbow starts to itchSah, yes, the day is now about to begin.
I sit smiling one of those detached smiles-the type you’d see on the lipsof a second-rate porn star. I’m feeling frisky. Shall I ride theMoonrakers, with more than 45 kilometres of rolling technical single track?Perhaps kick back in the plush seats of a gondola and revel in the newresort’s wicked downhill trails. Or maybe some old-fashioned dust-inhaling,truck-shuttling sickness to the top of Mount 7’s infamous 15-kilometredescent? Ah, the sound of riding ringing in my ears….wait, that’s thephone.
“Hello. Yeah, workin’. The Moonraker trails? Nah, I rode there the last twodays in a rowSpedaled out. I was thinking steep, B-12 maybe. No? Well, Iguess I’ll ride up and see who comes along. Yeah, later.”That was the most I had said to anyone all day. Looks like I’m onmy own, but a little woodwork and white-knuckle descents are calling. I’mnot worried; no doubt someone will come along and pick me up. I turn off,tune out, and strap on the accustomed head-to-toe armour and squish away onmy fat-tire bike.
The rift of rider style in Golden is continually expanding. Big drops,roots and rocks on one side of the valley, and, on the other, the long,meandering world-class single track that begs you to smoke less thanhalf-a-pack a day.
Golden sits in the Rocky Mountain Trench between the PurcellMountains and the Rockies themselves. Minutes of pedaling out of town-eastor west-and you’re quickly linked to extensive downhill and cross-countrytrail systems, depending on your delight. Today, I’m heading east to Mount7.
In minutes, I reach the forestry road and begin the slow, squeakyascent. Luck is with me. A truck full of smoke-toting, armour-clad riderscomes barreling up the dusty road behind me. There are at least eight bikeshanging on the tailgate. “Wanna lift?” asks Ruby. I accept the ride and,with the twist of my rubber arm, a smoke-after all, this is my downhillday.
Bouncing along the winding road, Ruby looks at me with adirt-coated grin. “This is our fifth run today. Thought we’d finish it offwith Erich’s Trail and B-12.” That’s just what the slowed synapses of mycomputer-numbed brain need.
In a matter of minutes, our shuttle arrives at the panoramic view atopMount 7-15 kilometres and 4,500 feet above Golden. We unload ourbikes-averaging about 40 pounds apiece-and spend a few minutes watchingpara-gliders soar from the world-class launch area into the evening sun.Not long after our arrival, a few other trucks laden with downhillmonster bikes pull up to the parking area. It is no surprise that they allhave Alberta licence plates. It’s something of a running joke, the wayGoldenites make fun of Albertans. There’s no particular method to themadness-people just do it because they can.
The main reason riders from Alberta flock to Golden is that thenumerous trail closures around the communities of Banff and Canmore, sincethey fall in or near national parks, have forced them to go elsewhere.Golden, the first town west of the provincial border, isn’t inside a park.This flood of out-of-town riders does, however, create a sore point withboth local riders and the Ministry of Forests, which is responsible formost of the land surrounding Golden.
Recreation officer Jon Wilsguard says a cohesive group of localsdedicated to trail upkeep, signage, and development is necessary to keepthe amazing trails in the area open and accessible. Currently, no trailshave been closed, but some rerouting and upkeep have been required.However, most everyone, including government and businesses, is thrilledabout the influx of bikers to the region. Extreme is a four-letter word formany in Golden. To exclaim this proverbial, logo-infused term is akin totattooing “yuppie” on your forehead. It’s not that Golden doesn’t have anample amount of wicked single track and extreme-damn!-terrain; rather, it’s that its history is rich in the cutting edge, not hype.
In the early 1890’s , CP Rail executives decided to promote their new railline and tourism to the West by employing Swiss mountain guides to take thewealthy into the famed Rockies and Selkirk Mountains. These guides were thebeginning of what would become a tradition of guiding, and hardenedadventurers continue to come to this day.
Golden is in the process of redefining itself. With the recentexpansion of the local ski hill into a four-season mecca called the KickingHorse Mountain Resort, the town and its residents are bracing themselvesfor the mad explosion of tourists who crave such purified mirth. That’s notto say that “the mountain” and the town don’t have their share of high-endterrain-they most certainly do.
Ruby and the rest of the crew in the truck work for the mountain. Each hasa specific job, but they all share one thing: a passion for mountainbiking. Due to the spirited nature of these riders and the dedication ofthe resort’s management, Kicking Horse is quickly making tracks with bikerseverywhere.
Since 2001 was the mountain’s first year of summer operations, muchconstruction and limited trails created hazards for riders, so guided tourswere necessary. But as the summer progressed, a few of the finesthandcrafted trails in the area, with their drops, slick rocks, and woodwackiness, were opened up to freeriding on Thursday evenings. Internationalmedia have hyped the Horse’s winter ski terrain to sensational levels.While the white stuff is certainly stellar, the apparent enthusiasm ofmountain bikers is not lost on managers. The downhill future of Golden islooking up.
The gondola offers 1,110 metres of tear-streaking vertical in lessthan 15 minutes. Kicking Horse estimates that an expert rider could descendmore than 15,000 metres in a single day. Eleven trails were created lastsummer, and management expects to expand to 20 by the end of this summer.While the downhill aspect of the area is all the hype, the mountainalso has trails for the moderate and beginner rider, and offers anextensive rental fleet of Rocky Mountain Edge bikes.
This year, there will be unguided riding on the mountain onevenings, weekends, and holidays; however, guides will be necessary onweekdays. on Aug. 24, the resort will host a Cycling BC Downhill Race, andlater, in early September, the Terminator Downhill. According to thepowers-that-be, they’re also planning to construct a dual-slalom course,and hope to attract Canada Cup races in the future.
The mountain, along with the town of Golden, hosted a SubaruAdventure Race this year with remarkable success. With a 135-metre-long and90-metre-high Tyrolean traverse (with bikes attached), it was certainlyextre-uh-hairy. Next year, they will feature a five-day event.
One thing is for sure, Kicking Horse has positioned itself toattract the big-bike guys and gals, as well as providing a well-roundedfamily experience.
We’re taking our time on the trail, watching each other drop sections andhike some of the fine wood bridges and logs. The ride is long, at timesfearfully steep, and always wild.
At the bottom of Mount 7, we part ways as twilight sets in. Maybe we’llmeet for a few beers at the Mad Trapper pub later, or maybe I’ll just dreamof what tomorrow’s ride will bring.Life is Golden, after all.
Pure Insanity… Psychosis Downhill
The year 2001 was the third year of the legendary, ever-growing PsychosisDownhill Race held at Mount 7 every June in Golden, B.C. This race can besummed up in one word: epic. Psychosis is defined as a severe mentaldisorder that distorts a person’s perception of reality. Imagine bombingdown 12 kilometres of insane steeps and manmade obstacles. Golden’s premiere downhill race began with 25 riders and expanded to more than 150last year. If things go according to plan, that number will have to becapped at 300 this year. Scott Hicks, a former pro downhiller, and founderof the race, says that organizers listened exactly to what the riderswanted: a well-designed, challenging course that has adequate safetymeasures and, of course, a cash payout-all of which the Psychosis provides.
More than 100 volunteer hours went into shaping last year’s course, andthis year’s is expected to be even more involved. The race offers twoclasses: one for recreational riders that starts halfway down the run, andanother for those in the expert/pro category that runs the entire 12kilometres. The race also features food kiosks, information booths, andcompany displays, as well as more than a few parties. If insane downhillepics are your bag, the Psychosis is sure to thrill.