This weekend, some 500 cyclists will take part in the annual two-day, 150 kilometre Sea to Sky Trail Ride, pedalling from the Anderson Lake area to Whistler, and from Whistler to Squamish. At press time, there were still a few open spots.
It’s not a race or overly technical, but the Sea to Sky Trail Ride is a grind. The organizers at R.E.M. Event Management are providing breakfast and lunch, plus regular pit stops for water, snacks and minor mechanical repairs along the trail.
If you’re not from Whistler, you can also camp out on the fields or the gymnasium at the Myrtle Philip Community Centre. Saturday night (July 7) there will be a party at Myrtle Philip, including a wine and beer garden, and entertainment. The following night in Squamish, you can also enjoy a finish line barbecue.
The route is impressive. The trail starts at the Crossroads Mountain Bike Campsite in Devine, just south of D’Arcy and Anderson Lake, and follows a system of single track trails, logging roads through the Birkenhead Lake area, Gramsons, and Owl Creek. Once you reach Pemberton, you can either pedal the highway to Whistler or take a bus.
The following day, cyclists will ride the Cheakamus Canyon to Squamish. The second stage is basically the Cheakamus Challenge course in reverse, without the Whistler Mountain component.
The ride starts early on Saturday (July 7) but it’s a good idea to book your spot in advance. You can also register on Saturday morning if there are any standby seats available. In Whistler, buses will leave Myrtle Philip at 7 a.m. sharp.
The entry fee is $129, which includes food, drinks, entertainment and freebies, or $79 for one day (Whistler-Squamish). Transportation and barbecues are extra.
For more information and to guarantee yourself a seat on the bus, call Great Explorations at 1-800-242-1825.
