[Ridemonkey.com]

The Seven Summits trail has been classified as an epic trail by IMBA, the KCTS, and various other abbreviated organizations. But what is epic, and what does it mean to you?
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Words and Photos by David Peacock

Ridgeline singletrack, Great Success!

Epic; in the mountain bike world, it is not a word thrown around with any great degree of thought or care. The scope of epic is wide, so wide that one man’s epic may be another’s breakfast. Regardless, there are certain trails that cannot be referred to as anything less. Barring the possibility that your home has been located underneath Aare’s Rock for several years, you have probably heard of the Seven Summits Trail. This masterpiece of trail building is located in Rossland, British Columbia; it also serves as my personal definition of the word in question.

International male model Aaron Milburn tops out the first of many climbs, to find a delightful downhill

When I said something about a wide range of adventures classified as epic, I meant that every rider is different. Some spend the majority of their time preparing “goodies” for the trails’ peak, while others can’t fathom dropping pace below that of a possessed Ethiopian marathoner. Seven Summits has surely experienced both, and her sensual curves accept all oncoming tires with the welcoming wave of a switchback. Case in point: the fastest times hover just under the 3 hour mark (a remarkable feat of spandex and dangerously high seatposts), while our bevy of photo-taking, full face wearing big bikes rolled round in at a decidedly average six hours.

A most auspicious alpine section of trail after Plewman Ridge.

The summer season in Rossland usually deposits an endless stream of sunny days and, consequently, outrageously high temperatures. This is generally combated successfully by sleeping downstairs, drinking unhealthy amounts of poorly mixed ice tea, and avoiding bicycles at all costs. For the citizens infected with “mustaridabike” syndrome, shuttling generally lessens the problem. Not on this one. Seven Summits has a whole lot of uphill. For the 20% of you that have continued reading after this last statement, thanks for your understanding. The blessing in disguise of the first and largest climb on the trail is its forest cover. Shade is a commodity not to be underestimated whilst struggling away in the granny gear. Following the heinous (in my rather jaded opinion) first climb, a total of 1500 feet of singletrack, the trail plateaus, and even affords some downhill. The next 14 kilometres or so are almost entirely filled with undulating alpine ridgeline singletrack, the stuff of MTB dreams. For our posse, the customary stops to fill our memory cards, both digital and gray matter, begin once the original climb ends. Fooling around with cameras, stopping for lunch (in what looks curiously like grizzly bear territory) and completing the odd side hike to one of the peaks are essential to any leisurely “Suave Summits” ride.

Skid lid notwithstanding, the trail is classified in the "all-mountain" category

Topping the ridgeline is an awesome feeling on the trail, as you know it will be succeeded quickly by a few thousand feet of solid descending, no big deal. After skirting around the local ski hill, a short climb leads to the aforementioned blissful downhill. Tight switchbacks, long sweeping turns and even the odd technical section to keep the toes extended follow. Taking out the cameras at this point becomes difficult, as nearly everyone adopts a “no-friends-on-a-singletrack-day” mentality. As such, your creative minds must here imagine the trail, instead of having the point and shoot visuals previously afforded. At the trail’s end, a quick shuttle (or lengthy pedal for the truly dedicated) leads to the trail known simply as Oasis. Suffice it to say, therein lies yet another 1200 feet of descent. But, as most do, let’s save that for another day.

Your bumbling author clumsily negotiates a corner; Old Glory lies in the background. Photo by Jake Muffly

So what makes the Seven Summits epic, is it the dreaded uphills and the joyous descents, the hundred thousand dollars it took to create? Who knows, but I do know that every rider has a different definition, what’s yours?

 

[Skookum]

Well i've always considered an Epic to mean a ride of over 25 miles with a cumulative vert of over 5k. But i've been on rides that have been less that have kicked my ass, particularly thos with rugged rocky terrain, which i've heard the Summits is.

Every year doing the Kettle Crest rides just a few hours south of Rossland, there are a number of riders who venture up north to ride there. Must say that the sentiment is fairly lukewarm, with more positive vibes coming from the gnarly freeride downhill trails in Nelson. But i think once you put ANY trail on a pedestal in this regard, the level of scrutiny get's raised, and you wind up getting more negative feedback than if the trail got little pub.

i tell you what is truly Epic. Trying to keep "epic" trails open in the United States. i get feedback that the XC in the Chilcotins blows away the 7 summits. Canada considers this area to be a great protected wilderness, and still allows for bikes. But the most prime real estate has been or is going to possibly closed to bikes under Wilderness Designation, along with lack of organization of mt. bikers involved in the process.

i'm actively working closely with mountain bikers as we are engaged with a variety of environmental groups and such attempting to minimize loss of access to the Kettle Crest, which in my opinion if you actually go up to ride the Seven Summits you should drive down and ride the Crest as well. But the process down here is quite challenging, and it would be nice if the environmental groups and the status quo in general were a bit more up to speed like the Canadians, as far as accepting mt. bikes as the incredible quiet human-powered recreation it is. And be more progressive in allowing and welcoming mt. bikes in beautiful scenic wild places, for we truly belong, and it would enhance our great sport in turn with much more respect and admiration for these awesome "epic" places.

More epic porn.

 

[Peterjems]

I am new to this site. I was just going through the threads on this site when I found this thread on Epic. I read it and I must say it was a very good one with some very good information. The snaps that you posted were marvelous. Thank you such a good post. Keep up the good work going. Looking forward for more such posts.