IMBA just declared the Ape Canyon/ Plains of Abraham trail one of their epics. And while it is a trail everyone should do once, and is certainly a unique experience, it isn’t my favorite trail on the mountain. In fact, the descent back down Ape Canyon goes by so quickly it is sad. For anyone looking to do a unique ride, the view and the terrain at the top of the volcano, as well as the experience of riding in the blast zone of a volcano is something you won’t forget.
That said, the locals don’t mind one bit that all the visitors to the area head straight to the “epic” trail. It just leaves the rest of it to them. I was lucky enough to meet up with a good sized group of NW riders for a ride on the other side of the mountain. Starting off on the Red Rock trail, we did a loop that connected a number of trails in a ride that featured almost every type of terrain found in the northwest -including a monster climb, burly rock gardens filled with baby heads, hike-a-bike sections over washes, and finishing with a killer descent along a ridge with serious exposure. What didn’t the trail offer?
A full review is coming soon, but until then, enjoy this reel featuring highlights of our recent ride. The footage was shot using a Canon Powershot G10 and GoPro Hero.
It’s funny how watching this clip just makes me want to ride more killer northwest trails. Anyone else?
