I'm on holiday...

...so I am being lazy and not blogging in great detail, I am having too much fun riding up passes and getting on trails to want to play online much. For a taste, here is today's run, at the top of the Jakobshorn, which towers above Davos, I linked it up into a great loop, with some amazing high alpine single track and some forest running lower down:

Chill'in in the Chilcotin

This past weekend I joined the Arc'teryx crew in the Southern Chilcotins for some shooting and a long run.

I don't want to give up too much, since a story will be coming up about the trip in a little while, but the trip was memorable for sure. The region is absolutely stunning, if you enjoy alpine singletrack and mountain vistas, then a visit to the area is a must.

We camped at Tyax Resort and then flew into the Spruce Lake Protected Area for an 8 hour point-to-point run that involved some scree scrambling, ridge running, two-passes, alpine meadows, some desert and overall sweet single track.

For those who know the area, we went through Deer Lake-Windy Ridge-a ridge run and up to a Peak along an earty looking scree slope and down to Eldorado Meadows and Taylor basin (this may not be entirely accurate)-then back to Tyax.

We saw a flock of big horned sheep and hoary marmots were whistling at almost every bend in the trail. Although we were in serious bear country, we didn't come across any grizzlies.


Off of Windy Pass, the ridge is in the background:


I have to give serious props to Brian and Angela who schleped giant packs and pushed and pulled their bikes up some nasty terrain. They hiked their bikes more than they rode on the day, but it was great to have them around and to get to know them better. Their attitude was amazing and they have a serious passion for their craft. The trip wouldn't have happened without them, so thanks, I can't wait to see the finished product.

Behind the scenes:



The Lodge was undergoing some renos:



Feeling safe in Canada, no second amendment here:


How we Rolled:

Love you Granny

CAMPBELL, Penelope (nee Grantham-Hill) Passed away in Ottawa on July 28th, 2010 at the age of 87. Pippa was throughout her life the quiet and elegant force behind her family. Pre-deceased by her husband Ross, Pippa is survived by her two sons, Hugh (Robin Campbell) and Tim (Rosemary Meilleur); four grand-children, Adam Campbell (Lauren), Matthew Campbell, Genevieve Lascelle (Chris), and Jean-Francois Campbell; and four great-grand-children, Gabrielle, Dominique, Skyler and Kathleen. Sister of the late Jerry Grantham-Hill and the late Rodney Grantham-Hill. A Service of Remembrance will be held on Thursday, August 5th, 2010 at 2 p.m. Saint Marks Roman Catholic Church, 160 Aylmer Road, Aylmer, Quebec, followed by reception in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, a charitable donation may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. Arrangements in the care of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street, Ottawa.


Granny Campbell was an elegant, caring, fun and remarkable woman. She was raised in the Sudan, before returning to England as a young girl. She served her part in WWII, on tugboats, where she met a Canadian Motor Torpedo Boat Officer, my grandpa. They wed after the war and she moved to Canada and proceeded to follow my grandfather, who was serving in external affairs, to diplomatic posts in Norway, Denmark, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Algeria, France, Belgium, Korea and Japan, raising two young boys, including my father, along the way. She was able to handle my grandpa, who was once described by the Globe and Mail as an "outspoken and irreverent fellow", with ease and grace. She was just as comfortable walking the hills of Spain and frequenting the local tavernas with a glass of sherry, as she was in the company of heads of state and always enjoyed a good party.

I am very grateful that I got to know her, and all my grandparents, as well as I have. I'll miss her stewed rhubarb, mint falvouring and incredible stories of her life experiences. Love you granny and thank you for all the amazing memories, you have been a huge inspiration to my love of travel, sports and adventure and will always be my model of grace under pressure.