Today's Question What should you do if you get lost driving in a snow storm? answer 
Today's Question Can I really damage a coral reef with sunscreen while snorkeling? answer 
Online FavoritesSpecial Issues
Photo Galleries |
Wild Canada The Bounty Up North Whistler Blackcomb, Gulf Islands, & Sentry Mountain Lodge
Whistler Blackcomb British Columbia So you call yourself a mountain biker. You rip local ribbons of singletrack, bunny-hop logs, and drop wheelies off rocky steps like a pro. But deep down inside, you know there's more. Those pictures of riders speeding over scarily narrow log bridges look like so much fun. Problem is, you're made of breakable bone, and the thought of busting a clavicle on some do-or-die jump isn't your style. Well, there's hope. This summer, Whistler Blackcomb opens about seven miles of new singletrack, accessed from the top of the Garbanzo lift, part of a network totaling more than 125 miles, with a whopping 3,200-foot vertical loss—arguably the largest downhill bike park in North America. Here in southwestern British Columbia, the nexus of the fast-growing, thrill-based mountain-bike subgenre called freeriding, you can test your mettle at three separate areas that have jumps and stunt obstacles built by adults who know that injuries can mean lawsuits. No rickety teeter-totters built by a 14-year-old using garbage-picked wooden pallets here—the resort spent close to $750,000 building the trails. Pro riders like Richie Schley were called in to help design jumps, making sure they're solid and have good landings. "We need to make things safe," says Whistler Mountain Bike Park manager Tom "Pro" Prochazka, whose 12-year-old son, Alex, braves every one of the park's dozens of stunts. "You'll get the same butterflies as if the net wasn't there, but we've taken out the element of danger. Last thing we want to see is a broken neck."—T. N. DETAILS: Summertime Whistler Blackcomb lift passes cost $26 per day (800-766-0449, www.whistlerblackcomb.com). Full-suspension downhill bikes rent for $76 per day. New Park Gulf Islands National Park Reserve B.C. This 6,425-acre reserve, off the southeastern coast of Vancouver Island, has one of the province's highest densities of marine mammals. Kayak among harbor seals and the occasional killer whale; camp on any of eight islands.—Pieter vanNoordennen DETAILS: 250-654-4000, www.pc.gc.ca/gulf Hiding Away Sentry Mountain Lodge British Columbia Your journal might read like this: "We flew in to Sentry Mountain Lodge by helicopter, dazzled by Kinbasket Lake and the Columbia Icefields. The bird dropped us at a cedar house, on a meadow at 6,920 feet, cradled by the Selkirks. Before settling in, we explored some of the lodge's 13 square miles of alpine meadows and interlaced ridges. A black bear and two cubs crossed our path in the distance, but otherwise we didn't see a soul. Afterward, we sipped Big Rock ales, basked in the alpenglow, and waited for Venus to pop out and guide us on a midnight hike." Of course, that would be just the first entry. This hideaway, which you share with only seven other guests, feels like a European-style mountain home: vaulted ceilings, mural-size windows, and a piney kitchen in which your hosts rustle up cheese fondue and coq au vin. —Amy Marr DETAILS: A one-week all-inclusive package (heli access from Golden, excursions, meals, and nonalcoholic drinks) begins at $1,280 at Sentry Mountain Lodge (250-344-7227).
|
Ski Resort Finderadvertisement
 
 
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
More From Outside Online
Outside Exclusives
Ask the Experts
Outside Features
Outside Photo Galleries
Top Gear
- Climbing Gear Reviews
- Mountain Bike Reviews
- Ski Gear Reviews
- Sleeping Bag Reviews
- Trail Runner Reviews
Personalities & Profiles
Outside Blogs
Outside Classics
- Home |
- Travel |
- Gear |
- Bodywork |
- Culture |
- Videos |
- Ski |
- Photos |
- Archives |
- Feedback |
- RSS Feeds |
- Subscribe to Outside Magazine
©1994-2009 Mariah Media Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of material from any pages without written permission is strictly prohibited.
Reproduction of material from any pages without written permission is strictly prohibited.