Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/126959
Continued from page 26 covered rock around the north side of Bald, my quads burning, abruptly aware of the crunching footfalls of another participant gaining ground behind us. Then the sharp smell of wood smoke fills my nostrils. Back at Groundhog Lake, where our bikes are waiting, course volunteers are huddled around a crackling fire. They cheer us on and toss candies to boost our blood sugar, until, back on our bikes, we rattle down a jeep trail littered with loose rocks and branch onto a ditch line – an ingenious engineer's way of channelling mountain water to power hydraulic drills and prise gold from underground mines. So far, relying on gravity to spin happily downward, I still feel strong. Three hours on, during the interminable climb to Mount Murray's summit, it's a different story. Leg muscles ache from lactic acid accumulation. The caloric demands of the three hours already behind us have narrowed my focus to the most basic movements: one step, one pedal stroke, one metre closer to the finish line. Admittedly, it's not a race in the conventional sense; the emphasis is on friendly competition. In fact, the entry rules allow participants up to three months to complete the circuit. But most of us are determined to finish in a day – and a few, like my brother, are after the "race" record (a little under six hours). Still, I force myself to stop and take in the magnificent view, for this is big country. Sweeping forest, quilted with logging-cut blocks, unfolds westward onto the vast Fraser Plateau. To the east, ominous black clouds accost the ragged skyline of the Caribou Mountains, threatening rain over the Bowron; the sky is a startling, cloudless blue. Half-delirious, half-euphoric, we've already traversed 25 km of pack-horse trails past twisted spans of rusted rail and scabbed-over scars of century-old placer mining. We've also discovered evidence all around Barkerville and Wells of a modern-day gold rush: prospectors, spurred on by record-high mineral prices, working new claims or poring over old ones. These echoes of the past, now reverberating with the sounds of a new mining fever, give this 7-Summits slog an extra dimension, turning an arduous physical challenge into a moveable feast of history and geography. Mount Murray behind us at last, Turner and I trace a windswept horseshoeshaped ridgeline up Slide Mountain. Dogging our trail, among the broken rock and stunted trees, are a few slow-moving splotches of red- p24-27_Seven_Summits.indd 27 and-blue – two 7-Summit participants also digging deep into wellsprings of fortitude. At the domed summit, the wind whistles through the guy wires of radio antennae, and there's a brief moment of euphoria, then a punishing, steep descent through thick forest. We long for the rhythm of our bikes. At last, we saddle up and follow rolling old logging roads and new quad trails in the forest around 8 Mile and 1 Mile lakes. The sun, low on the horizon, peeks from behind the clouds, tempting us on. The final few kilometres trace the paved road between Barkerville and Wells, a gentle, almost level, grade. But my leg muscles are tapped out, and I feel as though I'm pedalling through quicksand. When Doc and I finally clock in at the Bear's Paw Café finish line, six and a half hours after barrelling out of Barkerville, there are no cheering crowds; just my brother Pete – already showered and fed – and Cheryl Macarthy, Jorgenson's partner in life and fun who is standing, apron on, in the doorway of the café. "Way to go guys. Come on in, soup's on," she says. I tuck into a ham-and-cheese sandwich and bowl of tomato soup, the total body buzz of race fatigue hitting hard. Minutes later, my brother strolls in. He finished an hour ago, in casual fashion and setting a new course record of 5 hours, 12 minutes and 44 seconds (obviously, he inherited the long-distance gene, I the one for perseverance). Suddenly, Jorgenson bursts through the door, clipboard in hand, surprised to see us already – and without hesitation disappears into the kitchen to return with two slabs of homemade cranberry cake, as per tradition. "Way to go, guys, you earned it," he says before racing back outside to welcome another 7 Summiteer about to pedal across the finish line. sign-up 2014 registration and course details: 7summitsbikeandhike.org; cost is $45. prep Though the 7 Summits Bike 'n' Hike Challenge emphasizes participation, not racing, pre-training is highly recommended: i.e., a few months of biweekly long hikes, trail runs and bike rides. gear mountain bike, warm clothes (expect subzero temperatures in the mornings), rain gear, sturdy hiking shoes (plus ski poles if you like knee relief on steep descents), plenty of snacks and fuel (it's a long day). inspiration All proceeds are donated to the Friends of Barkerville's trail restoration projects and ongoing efforts to preserve the historical and natural heritage of the region. Y Member savings and benefits for B.C. travel at bcaa.com/cariboo 13-04-18 1:33 PM