PUMPED WEST OF COQUIHALLA

Flowing through the lush forest floor, the trail becomes far less steep and suitably more favourable to our bicycle’s brakes. Now pushing over the front, we ride more aggressively to maintain speed through the trail of soft, organic matter. Brittany and I begin to leap frog, with both of us enjoying the ride. Hooting and hollering, we choose separate lines through the roots, and bounce our way down through the wooded haven.

Following short breaks filled with giant smiles and high fives, we find ourselves gradually descending into signs of fresh trail work. Built up turns where once flat and awkward corners used to lie, we begin to note fresh borrow pits where men have sourced golden clay.