Let me start off by saying that I've wanted to ride my bike up in Chipmunk Creek for the past 5 years and have always found a reason not too. I've been up a few times in the 4x4, once with Radek on moto, but never sucked it up and pedaled under my own power. Now I can say that I have ridden in the Chipmunk Creek Area of the Chilliwack River Valley and inside you'll find all that went into my little solo 5 hour journey from the weekend.
Story inside,
Chipmunk Creek is a recreational area South East of Chilliwack that offers all outdoor enthusiasts a place to really get out and enjoy the wilderness. I have wanted to ride my bike on the old logging and quad trails for some time, but putting together a route was always tough as I only have a few 4x4 adventures to go on and one moto trip that was so fast paced that my concept of distance and time were really skewed prior to Saturday's ride. Basically I knew that everything went up from the valley floor to the look out points and peaks surrounding the Fraser Valley, what I wasn't sure about was the distance or how long to expect to be out for. Those two things can still be planned for though if you know yourself and what you are capable of getting done in a day. Here is how I prepped for my little adventure -
Google Earth is your best friend, zoom in, print screen shots and take them with you for reference if you are ever questioning yourself and your bearings. I checked my intended route several times and even talked to Radek about it as he's spent time up there on motos. This is also key so that someone knows where you are planning to go and that they too are familiar with the area you'll be in. Next up was packing for the day trip, what would I need? Forecast was for a high chance of rain and the past days leading up to Saturday had a trend of overcast and then raining in the afternoon, so rain gear and warm layers too. Food, need to have real food and energy supplements (Power Bars, snacks etc.) as well as a lot of water on an all day wander. Here is everything that I took on the ride:
Yeti AS-R 5 C (Custom Build)
Dakine AMP pack with 3L reservoir of water
Turkey and Cheese sandwich
Peanut Butter Sandwich
Energy snacks x6
Bib shorts - they don't move around
Wool socks
Leg earners
Wool base top
T shirt style jersey
Mid weight riding shorts
Gloves x2 pairs
North Face rain coat
XC helmet
510 riding shoes
Tools:
Allen Keys with Torx heads as SRAM XX is all Torx
Chain tool that will work on 10 speed chain
Shock pump
Wood saw
Tire Pump
Patch kit
Quick stick (tire levers)
Zip ties
Extras:
Glasses (in case contacts fail or overnight happens)
Aerial maps via Google earth
Canon Elph SD1100IS and Canon G11 cameras to capture the trip
Small light (test to make sure it works)
First aid kit
Toilet paper
Suncreen
Spare tube
Zip loc bag (Cell Phone, Wallet and maps stay dry)
Pen
Cell Phone
Wallet
Full pack weighed just under 15 pounds.
Post ride gear:
Jeans
Socks
Shoes
T Shirt
Hoodie
Touque
Here is a video of what I wanted to see if my ride were to go as I hoped it would:
Woke up to overcast skies like that past few days and started getting ready. I'd laid everything out the night before as I wanted to see the weather and if I had to pull the trigger or not on the ride - 11 degrees and over cast meant I was loading up and rolling out within an hour. 2 bowls of Raisin Bran would have to be my fuel to start the day and then into the Power Bars until lunch was my plan. The drive is about 45 mins from my house to where I would drop the truck for the day. I encountered a check stop - looking for booze, unregistered ATVs and general trouble makers. After I gave the officer my Visa instead of my ID, I figure they thought I was too dumb to worry about and waved me through for the day.
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| 11 degrees and overcast and I wanted to ride up into these mountains. |
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| Clean bike, all ready for a big day. |
At about the 4-5km mark on the way up I ran into a family that informed me that I'd hit snow on the Mt.Cheam side in less than 5 more kilometers. I thanked them for the info and was happy that I was not headed that way on this trip. On the last climb up to the sign that gives people a general bearing as to where they are, I was passed by a Jeep that was headed up to the Cheam side - good luck I thought to myself.
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| Clouds had burnt off and it was getting nice out. |
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| It needs a permanent sign post, but it's a great marker none the less. |
Turn left at the sign marker and keep pedaling up, up some more and then up again. I got passed by 4 quads on this stretch and they were all very courteous on their way by. At the upper gravel pit (noted on the sign in above pic) I ran into the group of quaders eating lunch and decided that it was a good time to stop and have a snack too as I was just over 2 hours in and nowhere near the top. Half a turkey sandwich, some water and a bite of Orange Smoothie Power Bar and it was time to keep going up. This next section, based on memory, was going to be wet and fairly grown in.
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| These will go pretty much anywhere. |
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| I was pretty sure at this point that I may be traversing that valley in a few hours if all went well. |
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| River runs down it |
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| First signs of snow, more to come. |
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| This little guy must have been here for a bit. |
Good to know that my memory was still intact as the trail got pretty wet from the spring run off, running right down it and the alders were all reaching for the middle of the trail. A few kilometers of this and I had caught back up to the quad riders (stuck in snow) and 2 moto riders watching them. It would appear that this may be the end of my upward progress as in order to do the loop I had a peak to pass over and another valley to traverse and I had no idea what lay in that valley. Talking to the quaders, one of them had at least managed to make it through to the saddle and view point overlooking the Fraser Valley - this would now be my new short term goal. I pulled my leg warmers back up and headed into the snow and in no time I was looking at one of the best views that sweat can buy in lower main land.
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| The steed that got me up here. |
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| Pretty content |
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| Picture says it all! |
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| Peanut Butter does make it even better! |
At the look out, I got my Google Earth maps out and looked at the situation a little closer. Truth was that I would not be going any higher on the mountain today and would be returning the way I had come up (3.5 hours up, so it should be a pretty rapid trip back to the truck). On the way out I stopped and took pics of cool view points and generally enjoyed the pedal (when I wasn't coasting).
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| Snow up high that was keeping me from cresting the summit |
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| I had to get back out through these hills to the valley floor, way, way below. |
Half way down I ran into another group of quaders that way really astounded that I was out riding alone. I think that if you take enough precautions, you should be good out there and I explained that to them. Everyone that I ran into was so nice and willing to chat about the beauty we were all surrounded in. When I got back to the truck, my stop watch read 5 hours 9 minutes and 9 seconds, so I was quite happy with the time spent on the bike even if my plans had to change due to snow pack. It was a beautiful day once the clouds burned off and temps hit 20 degrees!
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| Back at the truck 5 hours, 9 minutes, 9 seconds |
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| All cleaned up post ride |
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| Trusty steed in need of a shower of its own. |
My ride may not have gone 100% to plan, but I am really happy that I got out and enjoyed some to the beauty that surrounds me on a daily basis. I hope that this inspires some of you to get out and ride now too. More trips like this in the works and then Hurtin' for Vert II in late August - stay tuned!
Happy Trails,
Tyler Maine
