Tyax Trip - Float Planes and Bikes

Posted: Sep 14, 2009

Float Plane Biking with Tyax Air – the Ticket to All-Mountain Riding in the South Chilcotins
By Amber Zirnhelt

As we loaded our bikes into the Dehavilland Beaver at Tyax Resort, our group of nine riding companions and our guide Ian Tierney of Tyax Air, were grinning ear to ear. The trip we were about to embark on to Warner Lake had been a long time coming and we could hardly believe we were there. As mountain bikers we are always in search of new lines, challenging descents and epic scenery and we were about to experience it all right in our backyard of the South Chilcotin Mountains.

Complete story and pics inside,

Our adventure began with a breathtaking drive from Pemberton over the Hurley Pass to Tyaughton Lake where Tyax Resort is located. Bear sightings, a great all-you can eat dinner at the lodge, some festive camping and three 40th Birthday celebrations later, we were up at the crack of dawn and ready to ride. The ride began with a beautiful 20 minute float plane flight from Tyaughton Lake to an elevation of 6,100 feet at Warner Lake.


The flight itself provided an unparalleled opportunity to take in the stunning scenery ranging from alpine lakes to glaciers, rugged rocky mountain ridges and sweeping valleys full of pine and spruce trees. Our pilot Terry Knight spoke with enthusiasm as he told us about his love for flying in the Chilcotins. He’d flown all over the Northwest Territories, into the Arctic and the Dominican Republic and he said that nowhere beat sweeping beauty, rugged nature, and great people he encountered flying in the Chilcotins.


Once on our bikes we found ourselves hooting and hollering our way through sweeping single-track that wound its way over mountain ridges, alongside glacial lakes and through coniferous forests. The terrain was as diverse as the geography of BC can offer – from dusty smooth interior tracks to the rocky shale found in areas such as Golden, the trail network offered something for everyone’s likings. We spent over 8 hours on our bikes leisurely covering over 40 kms of ground.


Thankfully the only mechanical we had during the day was the seat clamp on my seat snapping and luckily it was only one hour prior to the end of our ride.



As a downhill racer that has spent many years focused on developing my skills, fitness and technique – I love every moment I spend on my bike. But there was something about the magic of this ride that made me remember exactly where my love for the sport was born. From the magic of riding new trails in new places, to shredding the gnar with your favorite people to taking in epic scenery, riding in the South Chilcotins offers a bit of everything. And it left me re-affirming one thing – moments like this are exactly why I ride my bike.


What to Bring:

Your Steed - All mountain bikes are a must for the Warner Lake ride. My Devinci Hectik was the perfect bike for the job as I could rail the descents and smell the wildflowers on the alpine ascents without feeling totally spent by the time we reached the top of an alpine pass.

Gear - If you are embarking on a one day trip, Tyax Air provides you with a lunch and a couple of snacks so all you really need is your Camelback, some tools and spare tubes, and a few extra bars or snacks.


Additional Tyax Air photos here from a trip one week after this one took place.

Setting up a Tour:

Website: Tyax Air

Phone: 1-888-892-9288 (toll free in Canada) or 1-250-238-0177

Tyax Air tours are extremely professional and account for all elements of safety, while assuring that you and your riding mates have the ride of a lifetime. Tours are run by Dale Douglas of Tyax Air. Dale has been a part of the mountain bike scene for nearly 30 years and has competed professionally and coached for the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association. He originally began guiding back-country mountain bike tours in the South Chilcotains to share his love for the local area.

-Amber