What a wonderful, joyous morning of mountain biking!
And we saw a bear on the trail – first one. And elk. And deer.
Heading out of Cranbrook on the Chief Isadore trail we were delighted to see that the information boards contained full involvement of the First Nations in the trail. This is the land of the Ktunaxa, who have lived in this area for more than 10,000 years and whose territory covers much of the area we have already cycled. It stretches over 70,000 square kilometres of British Columbia, Alberta, Montana and Idaho.
The trail followed an old railway for about 15km and it brought us our first bear – a beautiful, large but timid black bear that ran along about 80m ahead of us – some elk, deer and lots of very healthy truly free range, grass-fed cows. We then turned off onto the Mayood trail – a delightful sweeping single track of gravel that felt completely at one with the forest. Clearly the trail was cut to fit the forest and not the other way around and it provided a truly special ride. We climbed for the first 10km then sped along a rolling, cruising, switchbacking run with such narrow gaps between trees it felt intimate with the forest and the wildlife. We kept thinking of all the family and friends who would LOVE this trail. But it also presented us the first grumpy, unfriendly mountain biker we have ever met. No amount of friendly “hellos” from us could raise his eyes from the trail. Or a smile.
But we were still grinning as we cruised in to the hamlet of Wardner to meet our delightful roadie Liz for a picnic lunch.
But that was pretty much the end of the fun for the day and we were less than half way. The afternoon was mostly a sloggy climb of pine forests, puddles and potholes as weary bodies travailed on a rocky road. Recent downpours meant every dip was filled with puddles or mini-lakes and we were caked in mud when, about 10km outside Elko, we broke out into beautiful blonde grass plains under craggy mountains.
Liz picked us up in Elko and we happily headed to our three-night base in Fernie – which snuggles up against the Rockies – to make up for lost calories and plan for tomorrow.
A footnote … if you ever find yourself in Cranbrook and don’t eat dinner at a restaurant called Allegra, you are sorry people. One of those remarkable surprises that stay on the lips forever.
Today: 93km, 860m climb
Total distance 1,457km
#Thegreattrail
#transcanadatrail
Trans Canada Epic 
Go girls!
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