The Kettle Valley railway
The Kettle Valley Railway was once a busy mountain railroad, zigzagging its way through high, treacherous mountain passes, connecting the South Pacific Coast of British Columbia to the Southern Interior and South Eastern Mountain ranges of BC. It is now an abandoned rail bed (and one of the most beautiful cycling/hiking paths in the world). The section of trail closest to my home in the Okanagan, winds its way through the Monashee Mountains. It crosses many, towering, narrow wooden trestle bridges. The area is bursting with wildlife: wolves, coyotes, rabbits, picas, bears, lynx, cougars, bobcats, deer and grouse to name a few.
Mountain Biking as a Family
Mountain Biking as a family has been a dream of mine since our first daughter was born 17 years ago. Since that time we’ve always had a child who was too inexperienced to cycle the mountain trails on the Kettle Valley Railway. Finally we deemed our youngest daughter Pip ready this season. She proved her skills a week ago, cycling around Stanley Park (over 12 km) on the busy city trails.
Dangers of Mountain Biking on the Kettle Valley Railway
Kettle Valley Railway trails are sometimes narrow and can be busy with fellow cyclist. Stanley Park Cycling trails are also narrow and can be busy. The trail experiences differ in where you might end up in an accident. Stanley Park’s danger is the hard cement trail itself. Kettle Valley’s danger is the cliffs. One careless turn might have you and your bike sailing over a rocky cliff hundreds of feet above the valley below.
Cycling Through Railroad Tunnels!
On my birthday, my family got up bright and early (before the 40 degree Celsius heat of the day hit) and drove up to one of the railway’s old train station locations to start our cycling trip. My eldest daughter Mist had a summer job interview and could not join us. But Tabs and Pip were up for the challenge.
The trip was a cycling success. Pip managed to even cycle across the trestle bridges! I video taped our journey through a few of tunnels. They are one of the highlights of the trip. It is so dark in the centre of one of the tunnels that you are literally cycling through black momentarily. I love those few moments of blackness, a little thrill of the unknown.
httpv://youtu.be/Hy56XCP06jo
It was an awesome birthday present to be able to cycle on the trails of one of my favourite places on earth with my daughters. Of course, it was Pip’s first time and we had to adopt a slower pace and only stay out for about an hour worth of cycling time. Through, we’ll be back up there for a little longer trip next time and hopefully Mist will join us too.
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