Mountain Biking - Is Whistler worth it for xc riding?

Is it worth the 9 hour drive for some basic xc type riding? My wife wants to go up there this summer and check things out and do some riding of course. We won't be doing any of the hardcore stuff.. most likely..

Why not just go to the North Shore?

Maelstrom's your man for putting you onto all of the good 'trail riding' trails up there. There are a bunch - - which I, unfortunately, was not able to really explore last summer. This map (http://www.whistler.com/pdf/maps/whistler_bike_trails.pdf)gives a good basic overview of what's in the valley and surrounding hillsides.

my impression of whistler when i was there was that it's mostly hardcore DH for people with serious skillz.

my impression of whistler when i was there was that it's mostly hardcore DH for people with serious skillz.That is the mountain bike park itself. And it's not all 'hard-core' - - there are runs that someone with a long-travel trail bike can have fun on for sure.

there are runs that someone with a long-travel trail bike can have fun on for sure.

No doubt, but that isn't me, considering I have 120/110mm of travel.

No doubt, but that isn't me, considering I have 120/110mm of travel.I realized that - - that answer was more in response to Zinn-X's statement.

If I recall correctly, trails like Comfortably Numb would be right up your alley. Not sure what skill/confidence level your wife is at; but if she is looking for the less gnarly, there is a fair amount of more buff singletrack in the vicinity of the Nordic ski trails - - and it's all in beautiful forest.

There's lots of good stuff down in the valley. Totally worth it.

(Although you should rent a big bike for at least one day on the mountain)

there is a fair amount of more buff singletrack in the vicinity of the Nordic ski trails - - and it's all in beautiful forest.

Lost Lake trails are mellow but fun.

All of this Whistler talk is really giving me the itch to go back over this year. Might have to schedule a long weekend with the boy.

All of this Whistler talk is really giving me the itch to go back over this year. Might have to schedule a long weekend with the boy.

Now you're talking! Pick me up at the airport in Van on your way through?

Why not fly into Spokane (wouldn't that be cheaper?) and we'll carpool over there. You can book Raleigh/Durham to GEG in June or July for $282 right now.

my impression of whistler when i was there was that it's mostly hardcore DH for people with serious skillz.

That would be incorrect. We have an abundance of xc trails some of them world renowned in the right circles.



Lost Lake trails are mellow but fun.


Definitely, but for whatever reason some visitors consider them technical (there is bridge work to get over swamps) but it is good for the family. Within that section there is also a lot of double track in case the family isn't used to single track. And if you have little ones there is also fire roadish riding too...

As for other trails. I could go on for a day but here is a synopsis

1 - river runs through it, classic west coast trail, lots of wood work for skills ranging from beginner to intermediate. Some sections might be considered advanced. In and around here is a beach ;)...but also emerald forest, mels dilema, part of flank trail, and exit of cut yer bars. All link together in an off flow type ride that can last hours.

2 - Thrill Me kill me - good uphill with a great reward at the end, now links into (indirectly) Comfortable numb, a 26k single track trail that bring joy to those who like to climb. The downhill at the end was my first downhill ever (called foreplay) and it is AWESOME, pulls out into lost lake where, if you still have energy you can continue riding or just go to the beach

3 - in emerald you have a short but good network of multiple black diamonds. They all more or less lnk together and off of flank...Emerald was used for the world cup 24 hour race 2 years in a row.

4 - Flank is a long...yes LONG double/single track which runs along the mid line of the mountains and gets you to the entrance of almost every single track. Its an "easy" ride technically, but is a grunt.

There are about 50 more, but they are all hidden, small or "linked" trails. All of these are whistlers xc trails. Excellent and all are fun.

oh and the answer is yes..it is worth it imo...

I could layout a week of fun for ya, easy enough to set up. Would be good as it keeps you to specific areas. The worst thing you could do is ride in emerald forest and then go for a jaunt to river runs through it...

trust me, that ride SUCKS!!!!...its all road (or flank) and about as exciting as getting punched in the head.

Not sure what skill/confidence level your wife is at;

I would define my wife like this:

(confidence level > skill) = lots of crashes

Seriously though, she can handle some mildly technical singletrack, but would probably attempt the downhill runs if I didn't stop her.

(Although you should rent a big bike for at least one day on the mountain)

Do they rent supplemental health insurance too.. oh wait, its canada, they will fix my injuries for free. hmmm...

That would be incorrect. We have an abundance of xc trails some of them world renowned in the right circles.



Definitely, but for whatever reason some visitors consider them technical (there is bridge work to get over swamps) but it is good for the family. Within that section there is also a lot of double track in case the family isn't used to single track. And if you have little ones there is also fire roadish riding too...

As for other trails. I could go on for a day but here is a synopsis

1 - river runs through it, classic west coast trail, lots of wood work for skills ranging from beginner to intermediate. Some sections might be considered advanced. In and around here is a beach ;)...but also emerald forest, mels dilema, part of flank trail, and exit of cut yer bars. All link together in an off flow type ride that can last hours.

2 - Thrill Me kill me - good uphill with a great reward at the end, now links into (indirectly) Comfortable numb, a 26k single track trail that bring joy to those who like to climb. The downhill at the end was my first downhill ever (called foreplay) and it is AWESOME, pulls out into lost lake where, if you still have energy you can continue riding or just go to the beach

3 - in emerald you have a short but good network of multiple black diamonds. They all more or less lnk together and off of flank...Emerald was used for the world cup 24 hour race 2 years in a row.

4 - Flank is a long...yes LONG double/single track which runs along the mid line of the mountains and gets you to the entrance of almost every single track. Its an "easy" ride technically, but is a grunt.

There are about 50 more, but they are all hidden, small or "linked" trails. All of these are whistlers xc trails. Excellent and all are fun.


Awesome.. thanks for the info.

. . . but would probably attempt the downhill runs if I didn't stop her.Then you both definitely need to block out a day to do like Maelstrom says and do the rental/lift thing on the mountain. They'll hook her up with the whole armor and full face deal and an RM Switch (or whatever is the bike du jour this year) and she can play on B-Line and stuff until her skillz catch up to her confidence level.

Do they rent supplemental health insurance too.. oh wait, its canada, they will fix my injuries for free. hmmm...

haha. not they won't. You will need to provide a CC in order to get fixed up ;)...

Its free because we pay taxes, unless you have been paying taxes in bc :D

Then you both definitely need to block out a day to do like Maelstrom says and do the rental/lift thing on the mountain. They'll hook her up with the whole armor and full face deal and an RM Switch (or whatever is the bike du jour this year) and she can play on B-Line and stuff until her skillz catch up to her confidence level.

Agreed, summit still rents out switches, depends on the shop and who sponsors them

day 1 - lost lake. Get a feel for our easy trails and it lets you gauge where you stand
day 2 - easy day on mountain with rental
day 3 - Ride to lorimer, hop on cut yer bars, ride to emerald forest, hit river runs through it and then ride back on mels dilema hitting the valley trail to the beach or back to the village
day 4 - good and warmed up ride to kill me thrill me, and IF you have the energy hit up comfortably numb. Bring lots of food, drink and enjoy the sites. Its a beaut
OR
day 4 - rest
day 5 - do the day 4 tough ride or if you have ridden every day, maybe hit up the mountain again and see how much easier those rock faces are after you have ridden kill me thrill me

Thats a week...you have seen most of whistler, ridden 4 of the mountains and enjoyed some of our best singletrack.

cheers

Sounds like a long haul. Bend/Sunriver is a lot closer for you with loads of XC trails. Have you stayed and ridden around there?

Sounds like a long haul. Bend/Sunriver is a lot closer for you with loads of XC trails. Have you stayed and ridden around there?

I try as hard as I can to avoid anything east of the cascades in oregon, having lived in K Falls for 3 years of hell.

I already also have a weekend planned for Oakridge, which has a lot more to offer and is much closer to me.

. . . having lived in K Falls for 3 years of hell.Oh. I think you just answered my question. Wife and I have been toying with trading our week for the Running Y sometime. I was thinking on asking you if you knew what the riding scene was like down there. . . .

Oh. I think you just answered my question. Wife and I have been toying with trading our week for the Running Y sometime. I was thinking on asking you if you knew what the riding scene was like down there. . . .

The riding scene is non existant in K falls IMO. There are a handful of dusty double track trails and a rail trail.. but nothing great. Lots of cougars and rattlesnakes. I rode once at Lake of the woods, thats west on 140 at the top of the pass, right next to Mt. Mcloughlin.. some ok trails, but thats 30+ minutes from town.
The nearest mountain with a lift is at Willamette pass ski area on 58, thats about 90 minutes north, or Mt Ashland which is about the same distance. Mt. Ashland's Super D is in June..

Go to the Running Y if you like golf and western style resorts.. think horseback riding and eating a lot of beef.

eh.. I'm heavily biased at this point, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I try as hard as I can to avoid anything east of the cascades in oregon, having lived in K Falls for 3 years of hell.

I already also have a weekend planned for Oakridge, which has a lot more to offer and is much closer to me.

Okay...nevermind then. I'm usually looking for excuses to get over to Bend (and out of the Western Oregon rains). But I'll note your review of the K-Falls area. I've never been that far south in Central Oregon.

Go to the Running Y if you like golf and western style resorts.. think horseback riding and eating a lot of beef.That's what I had my suspicions of. Guess that's why we haven't pulled the trigger on going there. A golf course and little else is why I shy away from Fairmont, BC any more too. Not that there has to be the big-mountain/chairlift-and-bombing deal - - I like regular ol' trails too - - but there should be the possibility of some good mtn biking.

Dang! I wanna go!
Gastr was tellin' me about the Shore when we were camping and it really gave me the itch.

66, we'll sneak in with the luggage.

Dang! I wanna go!
Gastr was tellin' me about the Shore when we were camping and it really gave me the itch.Start checking air fares - - or motor freight charges for you and your bike in a crate :D

Speaking of the Shore, I really want to see if I can hack the CBC.

Is it worth the 9 hour drive for some basic xc type riding? My wife wants to go up there this summer and check things out and do some riding of course. We won't be doing any of the hardcore stuff.. most likely..

There's lots of non-hardcore trails at Whistler. I went last year with the wife. I had basically no MTB experience, but I rented a bike and had a blast on the trails. As far as I could see, there was nothing I saw near the village that required a ton of skill if you were willing to take some parts slower or walk for a section.

Dunno if it's worth a 9 hour drive, but I had a good time.

So.. heading up to whistler this week.. is it possible for me to ride my short travel bike on any of the lift accessible trails.. or am I going to eat shlt?