Rambling the Powderface...

This has to be one of the best short, accessable gravel rides around Calgary!

The Crown King it ain't...

It's such a pretty scene.

Powderface trail is a relatively short, gravel connector between routes 66 and 68.  Most visitors do an about face at pavement's end once they've reached the Elbow Falls campground at Forgetmenot Pond.  At one point in time, the road continued into the Rockies, looping around to the Sheep River road farther south.

That forestry road was the only way to get into the back country to fight fires.  Today, helicopters have pretty much obsoleted such "fire roads" as they were called. 

From Calgary, the PFT climbs top about 5500'

You can't access the back country along that route any longer except by snowmobile during winter months.  I myself have ridden in there and I can tell you, beautiful as it is in winter time, it is actually deadlier than riding here in summer months.  A breakdown on your sled without proper survival gear and or communication equipment would strand a sledder many miles back in completely wild terrain. 

I love riding the PF trail!

Little traffic exept today, there were gravel trucks kicking up more dust than a Texas cattle drive, choking me in gray powder as they went by.  The dust hung in the air like volcanic ash.



Campers...?



Once upon a time ago, I thought this was a fairly challenging route.  In the couple of decades since, I have ridden far more difficult and dangerous rides on the XT's I own.

There have been several excursions into Baja's heart, a mountain top in British Columbia, numerous desert rides and of course the latest adventure up the Crown King in AZ.

Powderface can bite you if you're not careful.  Winter, summer rains, truck traffic, animals darting out... can all turn a peacefull day ride into a sudden horizontal trip. 



The entire trail climbs and twists and entertains.



Today, while enjoying one of the few warm days of 2011, a Beemer pilot decked out in hard core riding gear passed while I was perched above the road snapping digital impressions of the surroundings.

One of two 'secret' crossings.

I wasn't a whole lot further along when he came towards me.  We had a little roadside chat, he informed me that the road up ahead had a grader on it and as a result, the gravel was 6" deep.  Too dicey for him on his 500 pound plus "off-road" motorcycle.  He warned me that it may be 'impassable'

I felt like telling him my recent encounter with CK.



Home of young brookies!



There was no point, you would have to have been there to have an inkling...

A Fab day ride!

I thanked him for his advice and 'soldiered on.'

There are many creeks, most notably Jumping Pound, that cross the road in numerous places.  Much of the crossings have been modified to prevent 4X4's from rooting up the environment.  Two however, remain in their natural state, and with all the water rushing from the snow caps, I played a bit, splashing the 600 through a dozen times.



GS pilot, "You may want to turn around, the gravel is 6" deep!"



It was a lovely day.  Even the gravel trucks and grader, which by the way was only there to aid the truckers, could not detract from the ride.  Warm enough, blue skies, white fluffy clouds... yup, a perfect day to be riding an old XT.



I once saw a bull moose, chest deep in this pond.



By now, my bike had taken on a light sheen of gray.  Indeed the gravel at times where the grader had passed, resembled ash and was 6" deep.  Too tough for a BMW GS?  Maybe, but not for a veteran traveller of an XT Yamaha.

What a great bike this is! 



The Rockies!

Okay, so our Route 66 may not cross the continent like theirs did, but ya gotta admit... it is drop dead spectacular gorgeous.

Closed for the winter season, time is limited when travelling this way.  I have ridden the Powderface Trail, which begins once the pavement stops, on wheels in the summer and track during the winter, when it is open to snowmobiles. There is something incredibly peaceful being back there in February, when the facilities are absent of people.

Trout lover's paradise.

No winter today though.  Today I was sitting tall in the saddle of a two wheeled Yamaha, my 21 year old SOHC venerable 595cc XT, Big Blue.  Tall is actually correct as the seat leaves me tip toeing at traffic lights.

All downhill from here?

Off road is never a problem, there is always a rut or rock or tree root or endangered turtle* to place a foot down.  In the (very) old days, as bike suspension grew, I found myself racing a YZ400 open class Moto-crosser.  I would trench out my spot on the starting line, digging a few inches deep and carefully building up the "berm" so's I could get a foot down.  I'm no taller today, maybe even shorter after that '02 rear end collision!

A rider's favorite road sign.

I'd picked a beautiful day!

To say that spring was a bit wet and summer slow coming, was like telling your Mom you'd be home at 11 on your 16th birthday.  A bit misleading...

Elbow River valley looking west.

By noon I was shedding a layer of clothing, taking my camera for a walk to Forgetmenot pond.  Crystal water so clear it would rival a jar of moonshine, trout hopping for insects, few people to spoil the view and tranquility.  Of course there was that idiot on his Harley, open pipes, shorty helmet, good looking young blonde perched on the "Bitch Pad".  I just can't understand these guys.  Their obvious need to be the center of attention,  pissing people off left and right, including a long time motorcyclist like myself. 

Is there a prettier place?

The Bear warning sign a reminder that I was now in the official Wilderness...

No kidding Sherlock!

The heat was most welcome, once on the Powderface, I'd be running in shadow much of the time and unless temperatures were above 20C... it could be cool at times.  Not a problem today as I would see a high of 29 on my travelling thermometer attached to my Baja MUV**

Deep subject.

Being a deep subject, I pondered my ride, a thousand memories flooding thru my mind.  I had ridden this route perhaps a hundred times in my sixteen years in Calgary, sometimes with groups during my Magical History Tour*** days while in the "Biz"... most often as today, by myself.  It's a very easy 200km loop from my NW Calgary Silver Springs home.  Typically takes about 4 hrs, I like to sightsee and photograph often.

You are here... soon to be there!

In days of old, there would be the setting of film, the careful plotting of the lens opening, the film speed, attention paid to lighting condition.  Almost romantic in fact.

Now you just point and shoot two hundred photos.  Not much romance there.

* just kidding, don't send me angry letters.  I love critters honest

** Self designed Baja Multi Use Vest

*** I'd developed a whole series of Day rides during my career in the MC biz.

Route 66

Trading Post in Bragg Creek

Go West young man!

MacLean Creek camper's store

For those of you that are not aware of this fact... Alberta (google Wikipedia info) is a totally landlocked province established officially in 1905.  It used to be the Wild West and if you believe the promoters of the self proclaimed "Greatest outdoor Show on Earth"... still is.

The annual Calgary Stampede (taking place as I write this ) celebrates the Cowboy heritage of this rather large CDN province of nearly 4 million people.  A million visitors a year, land at the Corral grounds for 10 days of "hootin' and hollerin'."  We even had the newlywed Royals, Will and Kate, stop by for a visit this week to kick off the festivities.

Beginning of the MacLean Creek trail

Although I myself have attended the GSonE several times over my lifetime, I typically avoid the hawkers, gawkers, crowds, bad (overpriced) hot dogs and teeth rotting candy floss.  I'd rather go biking.

Dented!?  Suzuki.

Today I find myself on the Rte 66 portion of the Cowboy Trail headed thru B.C. and into the Rockies.  I'm thinking of riding the MacLean Creek trail, a nearby off road public road, where dirt bikes are not allowed, but dualies like me can satisfy the Forestry guys every time.

hard to imagine...

The sleepy giant at the information booth just inside Kananaski's Country tells me  the Sheep River/Gorge Creek Trail is permanently closed, due to very poor road conditions.  When I quiz him why, he tells me in an almost snarky but matter of fact way, 

'the province would rather build hospitals than fix a back country road that only some appreciate.'

at least the spare is good!

While picking up some health food (Old Dutch kettle crunch potato chips) at the MC camper's store, I notice a Suzuki 4X4 sitting at the junction to MacLean Creek Trail. 

To say it is damaged, is akin to telling someone that the Titanic hit an oversized ice cube!

Elbow river

This little, once pretty mini SUV is trashed.  It's obvious to me that someone has seriously off-roaded it!

the picture tells it all...

In any case, while pondering the situation as to what calamity/stupidity may have caused this body damage... I change my mind as I often do, and decide to ride the pavement to it's terminus at the end of 66.

After a brief stop over at Allen Bill Pond, for a snack and a couple of photos, a quick pet of a very affectionate pooch, and some shedding of gear as the temperature climbed, I was on my way west...

Rte 66 to Elbow Falls

You are in the Rockies here, and the scenery is appropriately drop dead gorgeous.  As I ride my thumper deeper into the hills, I can't help but wonder how I will miss the west once I've moved back down east.  I try to convince myself that the Maritimes have just as beautiful, if much different scenery.

The Dr... grabbing some shade on a 29C day

nevertheless... I will miss very much my Alberta home, where I have spent most of my life.

The OTHER route 66

A few years ago, while in my bachelor mode... I had asked a date to take a drive to B.C. on route 66, topless.

She was aghast at my directness.

Thought it may be a bit much on a first date...

"What..."  I stammered, "was wrong with taking a nice afternoon drive in my MGB... to have a quiet dinner in Bragg Creek?"

Women eh?  Always jumping to conclusions!?

B.C. (not British Columbia) is a very quaint little hamlet a short drive/ride west of Calgary.  During the week, you may see some ranchers in having a breakfast, or local deliverymen, a few bikes perhaps, but come the w/e and this quiet little burb takes on a whole different personality.

You see, Bragg gets invaded by hordes of cruiser motorcycle types, sports car enthusiasts and campers heading for the hills beyond!

Bragg Creek is on the Cowboy Trail and also the starting point for our Alberta route 66.