Evo at Waugh Creek
Great Trail Videos
Galloping Goose to Great Trail
Richard Baer's Great Trail Post, video-recording by my Bro'n-law, Stanley (it's a family affair).
This morning I cycled 17½km (11miles) roundtrip from Oak Bay Bike Shop (OBB) in Westshore Mall to the Wolf Hill rest stop along the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail (aka The Great Trail). It's 4km from OBB to the trailhead at Mt. Wells Park parking (Humpback Reservoir). It's another 4600m (4.6km) to Wolf Hill rest area (and restrooms) from Humpback Reservoir.
What an amazing ride! I rented an Evo electric-assist (e-bike) bicycle and rode the whole way there and back. The only time I dismounted was on one downhill (DH) section. Going up the steep hills is no problem on an e-bike the the DH on the loose gravel could end up smarting a bit. I didn't want to find out. A couple of DH switchback have signs stating to dismount but these were not as treacherous as the one where I chose to dismount (and which, BTW, had no sign). We already walked this section of trail so knew where the hot spots were.
Once over the suspension bridge northbound, the trail pretty much heads straight up. I timed the climb from my GPS track and it's over seven minutes at 10km/hr. Now that's a hill.
When this trail first opened, it was touted as "a 13km connector" between the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) in Langford to the Trans Canada Trail at Shawnigan Lake. According to my GPS tracks it's closer to 20km. So for those of us who plan on whipping up there to ride it out and back, we may want to re-think that plan. Unless you're exceptionally fit and can do 40km up hill in a day -- then go for it. There are several access points from Goldstream Heights Road so doing it in increments is an option.
Before I go, let me say what a professional, helpful staff Dan Scott has at Oak Bay Bikes in Westshore Mall. Dan had my ride ready the night before and Misha and Pete got me out the door by 10:30 this morning.
Evo at Waugh Creek
Great Trail Videos
Galloping Goose to Great Trail
Richard Baer's Great Trail Post, video-recording by my Bro'n-law, Stanley (it's a family affair).
This morning I cycled 17½km (11miles) roundtrip from Oak Bay Bike Shop (OBB) in Westshore Mall to the Wolf Hill rest stop along the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail (aka The Great Trail). It's 4km from OBB to the trailhead at Mt. Wells Park parking (Humpback Reservoir). It's another 4600m (4.6km) to Wolf Hill rest area (and restrooms) from Humpback Reservoir.
What an amazing ride! I rented an Evo electric-assist (e-bike) bicycle and rode the whole way there and back. The only time I dismounted was on one downhill (DH) section. Going up the steep hills is no problem on an e-bike the the DH on the loose gravel could end up smarting a bit. I didn't want to find out. A couple of DH switchback have signs stating to dismount but these were not as treacherous as the one where I chose to dismount (and which, BTW, had no sign). We already walked this section of trail so knew where the hot spots were.
Once over the suspension bridge northbound, the trail pretty much heads straight up. I timed the climb from my GPS track and it's over seven minutes at 10km/hr. Now that's a hill.
When this trail first opened, it was touted as "a 13km connector" between the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) in Langford to the Trans Canada Trail at Shawnigan Lake. According to my GPS tracks it's closer to 20km. So for those of us who plan on whipping up there to ride it out and back, we may want to re-think that plan. Unless you're exceptionally fit and can do 40km up hill in a day -- then go for it. There are several access points from Goldstream Heights Road so doing it in increments is an option.
Before I go, let me say what a professional, helpful staff Dan Scott has at Oak Bay Bikes in Westshore Mall. Dan had my ride ready the night before and Misha and Pete got me out the door by 10:30 this morning.