This past fall, my friends and I made the trip to Whistler for a weekend getaway. With no snow to ski or board on, we had to turn elsewhere to get our adrenaline pumping. I landed on mountain biking – although I’d never tried it, it felt like Whistler was the perfect place to give it a shot!
I grew up biking in rural Ontario, but I’ll be the first to admit I’ve never quite challenged myself to tackle any really tricky terrain. Until now…
We started our morning by wandering through the village waiting for nicer weather.
We had a bit of a late start to the day as it dawned rainy and overcast, so we spent the morning wandering the village, browsing local shops. Once the sun broke through, we kept our eyes peeled for bike rentals, settling on Evolution Whistler, which offered half-day rentals.
Equipped with our bikes and helmets, and the Evolution team’s trail recommendations, based on our experience and the adventure we wanted. With various difficulty levels available, including beginner, novice, intermediate, strong intermediate, advanced and expert, it’s important to choose trails that align with your abilities.
Between the four of us, we opted for novice and intermediate tracks and headed out, cutting around the village to the Lost Lake trail. (You’re not allowed to ride bikes in the Village and we wanted to spend as much time as possible riding, not walking.)
The first spot we stopped at had a sandy beach and boasted beautiful views.
Following the wide, gravel path as it looped around the lake, most of this section of the ride was level, with occasional inclines and declines. Stopping to enjoy a lookout view, we admired the sandy beach, calm water and clouds dancing over mountain tops in the background.
Back on our bikes, it was time for more of an uphill battle, before spotting a group of people down by the water. Tucking our bikes away, we strolled down the steep hill, greeted by an unexpected scene once the trees broke…
As we broke through the foliage of the forest we we’re greeted by this stunning scenery.
Stretched out before us, a dock was filled with giggling children casting their lines. Behind them, the colours of nature danced off the water with a beautiful blue-green tinge.
After finishing the loop, we spotted a sign with all the nearby trails marked.
Veering left to access a series of trails, it was soon apparent this would be a more challenging ride. Where the previous trail was well-maintained gravel, I now found myself winding along dirt paths going back and forth, up and down.
Although unarguably a step up, and maybe slightly out of my skill zone, it was still manageable and even more fun. The leaves kept the trails shaded so the morning’s rain hadn’t dried up yet, making things a little slippery.
During one of my pit stops on the more challenging trail, I snapped this shot!
As someone who trips on flat surfaces, I remained on high alert throughout the ride, but lo and behold, I survived. And while I was huffing and puffing by the end of it and my wheels did slide out once or twice, I never fully fell, so I’m counting it as a win!
The Pangea Pod Hotel had a intimate rooftop patio, where we sat, sipped drinks, and admired the scene below.
Biking back to the Village, we washed the mud from our equipment and freshened up back in our rooms to finish the ride the best way possible: with a cold drink overlooking Whistler Village. Making our way to the rooftop patio at Pangea Pod Hotel, we sat back, sipped cocktails and admired the scenery below, while reliving the day’s adventures.
Please note that Provincial Health Protocols currently advise against travelling outside your region to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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