For the 8th TransRockies seven days of riding, 532km, and 14,300 meters of climbing awaits 120 teams. Here are the stage descriptions:
Stage 1: Panorama-K2 Ranch
45.3km/2267m climbing/2513m descending
With North America’s third-highest ski resort vertical rise, Panorama Mountain Village is poised to its annual part in the epic send-off. Maybe that should read “send up” as riders climb straight up and over a vertical mountain wall into some spectacular scenic alpine singletrack at the literal high point of the week at nearly 2,500 metres.
While there’s no easy way to get 450 riders up from 1100 to 2500 metres in the precipitous Purcell Mountain Range, this year’s route has been modified to create a more rideable ascent. From the top, it’s a fast and fun descent straight down to the Columbia Valley where riders will finish at historic K2 Ranch, the first stopover of the 2009 route.
While weather in the Rockies is wild and upredictable at any time of year, this area is particularly wild in its patterns. If riders are going to encounter any snow, wind or hail, it will likely be at the upper elevations of Stage 1.
All in all, a suitably epic way to kick off the eighth edition of the TransRockies.
Stage 2: K2 Ranch – Nipika Resort
72.2km/ 2835m climbing/ 2650m descending
From an elevated vantage point on the bench above, riders start Stage 2 soaking up views of beautiful Lake Windermere and Lake Columbia. Those with sharp eyes might even pick out a bald eagle riding the lakeside thermals nearby in search of fish on the crystal water below.
Just as all this scenery threatens to turn the ride into a postcard, the field comes face to face with the sheer western face of the Rocky Mountains. This near-impenetrable fortress has very few paths over or around, so they face the biggest day of vertical served this week with three major climbs of at least 700 metres each and a total of nearly 3000 metres on the day.
From the break-through on the third pass, point they descend via the technical Bear Creek trails into the Kootenay Valley where a rolling 10km push gets them to the finish line at Nipika Mountain Resort where they’ll spend the next two nights in a pristine remote setting at the intersection of the Kootenary and Cross Rivers. The ice cold swim pond will be relief to weary legs after what will no doubt be a long day in the saddle.
Stage 3: Nipika Resort – Nipika Resort
44.1km/ 1129m climbing/ 1129m descending
Last year’s debut time trial was a popular first for the TransRockies and it will again offer riders a great opportunity to recover from the big elevation of Stages 1 and 2 with a tour around the sweet singletrack system of Nipika Mountain Resort.
With start times throughout the day and no move to be made, riders get to unwind a little and cheer for their fellow riders. The teams at the front of the field get no chance to be comfortable as the close on-course proximity of their closest overall rivals will keep the intensity high during the ride around the trails.
The ride throught the Rockies backcountry includes scenic highlights like trails along the rim of the Kootenay River gorge, and though a surreal forest fire burn area on Mitchell Ridge above Nipika Mountain Resort–which underwent a prescribed burn last year as a measure of protection against the destructive Mountain Pine Beetle ravaging the area’s forests.
A day like no other during the TransRockies and a perfect set-up for the three massive days to follow.
Stage 4: Nipika Resort – Whiteswan Lake
107km/ 1980m climbing/ 1951m descending
Upon leaving Nipika Mountain Resort, the riders are faced with the longest ride of the 2009, a 107km epic through the deep wilderness of the BC Rockies. The route follows along the base of the Royal Group, with the highest peak in the Range, Mt. King George looking down on their epic ride. At just under 2000m, Lodgepole Pass is the major obstacle of the day falling just past the midway point of the stage. Though riders will lose hundreds of metres of elevation on their way to the finish line, the route is relentless in its undulation through creek and river valleys. Riders also get their feet wet with a major river crossing early in the day. This will be an epic and remote test on the hump day of the 2009.
Stage 5: Whiteswan Lake – Elkford
87.5km/ 2254m climbing/ 2115m descending
After three days deep in the Rocky Mountain wilderness with no internet or cellphone coverage, Day 5 sees the TransRockies field ride from the shores of Whiteswan Lake over two major passes into the outdoor sport destination of Elkford. Much of the route travels through the remote Bull River Drainage area before a leg-breaking final climb to 2100 metres on the Crossing Creek route. Though the course points straight down at this point, it’s no cakewalk to the finish. The top section of the 800m vertical descent into Elkford is notoriously named the Rock Garden and consists of a largely unbroken steep field of boulders that require momentum, commitment and real MTB skills to negotiate without crashing or walking.
Even with gourmet feasts every night, the normal routine in Elkford is for hundreds of riders to attack the grocery store in search of the basics of cravings like beer, pizza and chips. The reappearance of signal bars on phones offers the chance to check in with family and friends again.
Stage 6: Elkford – Crowsnest Pass, AB
101km/ 2467m climbing/ 2419m descending
There’s no easy way into stage 6 as riders, head straight up from Elkford to the rim of the Fording River Canyon and past Josephine Falls along some sweet singletrack. This is a long day in the saddle and the 1,000m vertical climb up rugged Grave Creek Canyon is gradual and unrelenting ride. From the top, the route drops steeply into Alexander Creek, but don’t get too excited by the descent – you’ll soon be climbing to the summit of Deadman’s Pass and crossing the Continental Divide into the province of Alberta. The finish rolls through some steep drainages across the face of Crowsnest Mountain and into the finish line.
Stage 7: Crowsnest Pass – Fernie, BC
74.8km/ 1293m climbing/ 1633m descending
The final stage of 2009 rolls out of the historic coal mining community of Crowsnest Pass with a full menu of Rocky Mountain singletrack fun ahead. The advantage of a high elevation start is that the climb to the Continental Divide at Tent Mountain Pass is relatively gentle. Once back in BC the course rips through former coal-mining territory ending with a rewarding descent into Fernie via a speedway of famous singletrack. You will finish on Fernie’s historic Victoria Avenue to the cheers of thousands of fans.
