kanedog
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This is a ride to showcase the spectacular views, crazy long springtime glacier climbs and descents of the Brandywine sled area. Big Glacier ride(Bgr).
Everyone is welcome and it is free except for the trail fee. No registration, names or nothin, just show up. It's all good.
It is suggested that you be a really really good hillclimber, expert rider and are not scared of heights.
But don't let that scare you! Here's some details to chew on.
When?
Sometime between May 16 and June 25, 2018
Where?
Brandywine sled area, 15 minutes south of Whistler.
Who?
Everyone who dreams of wfo mile long climbs.
How?
Sleds, snowbikes are not recommended, snowbiking on this ride will end badly as this ride requires speed and momentum. Bikes don't have either of those. Haha so true!
Here's some details in no particular order-
Suggestions for a fun and enjoyable ride-
-avy safety is your personal responsibilty.
-Carry min 3 gals of extra gas.
-Ast1, beacon, shovel and probe on body, bca radio or equivalent radio that you can hear while riding. This is important. Channel will be 69.
-Well running and maintained machine.
-Leave mag side side panel off. Spring temps are warm, sometimes hot.
-be willing to learn and execute the "slingshot." This is where you climb a big hill to go up and around an object like a crevasse or a rock face. This is done using speed, momentum and gravity. Sometimes it feels like vertigo. Don't be scared you just need to know about it. You won't die from it.
-rider skill defieciencies and mechanical defieciencies will show up really fast so prepare both man and machine.
-clean/rebuilt clutches, new belt, new spare. 850's will need at least 2 spares.
-if you are a tree riding hero, on the glacier that means zero. You will only use about 1% of tree skills on Bgr. Hopovers, cutesy turns, pushing with one leg while sidehilling do not end well on big hills. Rollover technique for getting unstuck will result in a written off sled.
-tow outs are not possible. Heli only.
-ride is weather, avy and snow condition dependent so all 3 have to be perfect. There is 50/50 chance the ride may not happen due conditions.
-the weather dictates when we can ride so unfortunately, there may only be 1-4 days notice.
-access is a single wide logging road so no trailers of any size up the logging road. Decks and trucks only. You can park your trailer in the lower 4 acre parking lot and transfer the sleds to the sled deck/truck and shuttle the sleds up to the snowline if you have a trailer. Don't be stupid and attempt to bring the trailer to the snowline.
-plenty of parking/camping for overnighters. Huge main parking lot for all to enjoy. No power or water, just good ol' campin!
-bring sunscreen, expensive sunglasses, fully charged go pro, motocross gloves, recommend to wear good dark sunglasses instead of goggles.
-plan on one to four kilometers of rock riding. No one can predict snow melt. The good stuff ain't easy!
-hotels-Whistler is 15 mins north, Squamish is 45 mins south.
Recommend executive inn suites in Squamish. They even accept Albertans.
-fuel-chevron 94 octane at chevron. Ham and cheese croissant cooks great in muffpot.
-this is a springtime only route. Some areas only open to motorized traffic on May 16. Check out the closed areas and educate yourself on where the closures are. Dont try this is in winter. You could die and then get fined.
-follow as close to the lead sled tracks as possible when unsure. Especially on descents. Sometimes 5ft either way and it could be a permanent sleep.
-there could be 10-200 sleds so even though we are one big group, pick 2,3 or 4 riders to be in your "sub group." Your group is responsible for each other so that 100 riders dont have to stop to change one belt.
-the route is time(nesw exposures) sensitive and fuel will need to topped up at certain points to keep the weight up front. It will be a group stop top up kinda thing. Like a group bonding thing.
-barring any breakdown from the lead, there will be 3 rest stops. If you like to get drunk and super high while riding, this may not be the ride for you.
-watch snow and mud for the date.
-In the unlikely event that you may have a medical emergency call 911, they will dispatch a heli to get you out. Min. 1.5 hr wait time.
-mechanical breakdown heli fly out-Blackcomb helicopters-604-938-1700. Prices are around $1200-1500 cdn.
Wow, I just wrote a book on 2018 Bgr. This is good ****ter reading material.
Everyone is welcome and it is free except for the trail fee. No registration, names or nothin, just show up. It's all good.
It is suggested that you be a really really good hillclimber, expert rider and are not scared of heights.
But don't let that scare you! Here's some details to chew on.
When?
Sometime between May 16 and June 25, 2018
Where?
Brandywine sled area, 15 minutes south of Whistler.
Who?
Everyone who dreams of wfo mile long climbs.
How?
Sleds, snowbikes are not recommended, snowbiking on this ride will end badly as this ride requires speed and momentum. Bikes don't have either of those. Haha so true!
Here's some details in no particular order-
Suggestions for a fun and enjoyable ride-
-avy safety is your personal responsibilty.
-Carry min 3 gals of extra gas.
-Ast1, beacon, shovel and probe on body, bca radio or equivalent radio that you can hear while riding. This is important. Channel will be 69.
-Well running and maintained machine.
-Leave mag side side panel off. Spring temps are warm, sometimes hot.
-be willing to learn and execute the "slingshot." This is where you climb a big hill to go up and around an object like a crevasse or a rock face. This is done using speed, momentum and gravity. Sometimes it feels like vertigo. Don't be scared you just need to know about it. You won't die from it.
-rider skill defieciencies and mechanical defieciencies will show up really fast so prepare both man and machine.
-clean/rebuilt clutches, new belt, new spare. 850's will need at least 2 spares.
-if you are a tree riding hero, on the glacier that means zero. You will only use about 1% of tree skills on Bgr. Hopovers, cutesy turns, pushing with one leg while sidehilling do not end well on big hills. Rollover technique for getting unstuck will result in a written off sled.
-tow outs are not possible. Heli only.
-ride is weather, avy and snow condition dependent so all 3 have to be perfect. There is 50/50 chance the ride may not happen due conditions.
-the weather dictates when we can ride so unfortunately, there may only be 1-4 days notice.
-access is a single wide logging road so no trailers of any size up the logging road. Decks and trucks only. You can park your trailer in the lower 4 acre parking lot and transfer the sleds to the sled deck/truck and shuttle the sleds up to the snowline if you have a trailer. Don't be stupid and attempt to bring the trailer to the snowline.
-plenty of parking/camping for overnighters. Huge main parking lot for all to enjoy. No power or water, just good ol' campin!
-bring sunscreen, expensive sunglasses, fully charged go pro, motocross gloves, recommend to wear good dark sunglasses instead of goggles.
-plan on one to four kilometers of rock riding. No one can predict snow melt. The good stuff ain't easy!
-hotels-Whistler is 15 mins north, Squamish is 45 mins south.
Recommend executive inn suites in Squamish. They even accept Albertans.
-fuel-chevron 94 octane at chevron. Ham and cheese croissant cooks great in muffpot.
-this is a springtime only route. Some areas only open to motorized traffic on May 16. Check out the closed areas and educate yourself on where the closures are. Dont try this is in winter. You could die and then get fined.
-follow as close to the lead sled tracks as possible when unsure. Especially on descents. Sometimes 5ft either way and it could be a permanent sleep.
-there could be 10-200 sleds so even though we are one big group, pick 2,3 or 4 riders to be in your "sub group." Your group is responsible for each other so that 100 riders dont have to stop to change one belt.
-the route is time(nesw exposures) sensitive and fuel will need to topped up at certain points to keep the weight up front. It will be a group stop top up kinda thing. Like a group bonding thing.
-barring any breakdown from the lead, there will be 3 rest stops. If you like to get drunk and super high while riding, this may not be the ride for you.
-watch snow and mud for the date.
-In the unlikely event that you may have a medical emergency call 911, they will dispatch a heli to get you out. Min. 1.5 hr wait time.
-mechanical breakdown heli fly out-Blackcomb helicopters-604-938-1700. Prices are around $1200-1500 cdn.
Wow, I just wrote a book on 2018 Bgr. This is good ****ter reading material.
Last edited:
