One of the reasons I sold the DR650 and got a Husaberg was because the Berg is light, nimble and quick, and I want to challenge myself to become a better rider and tackle more technical trails. Trials is interesting too, but doesn't quite blend with the fact I want to go distances, camp and...ahem, I like speed too. Nevertheless, some of the most satisfying rides are the ones where you tackle difficult terrain and technical trails, where slow is actually challenging and perhaps the order of the day. I find the CROSS TRAINING, ENDUROCROSS & ENDURO TECHNIQUES by the Western Australian Trials Riders to be an amazing resource. I subscribed to their monthly videos (free) and really enjoy the techniques and demos they share. They started as enduro bike riders, with Husabergs, but have since got into trials, but they still focus on enduro riding techniques which I have found that very useful lately. Riding to Moriarty lake the other day, I found myself using many of the techniques they demonstrate...whether it be riding in creek beds (watch it...excellent advice), or balancing a dirt bike.
They have a sense of humour too, which they show in this month's video installment: The David Attenboroughesque "Evolution of the trials rider".
Subscribe to them, explore their previous vids (40 or so), and you will likely start to learn some new techniques for beating those trails that, right now, look intimidating and keep you from exploring new areas.
Our recent rides have been centered around using the excellent new roads created off 155 main by our friendly outdoors-sharing logging company. Paul and I took a round-about trip out that way today to see if we could navigate our newly-discovered trail that leads to Moriarty Lake, aptly named Baker Street, without running into TimberPest's gargantuan road blockage. We walked it during our previous ride in that area and decided that it was quite do-able if the weather remained dry. So we picked a nice soggy Sunday with lots of running water to attempt riding it. :) It was a terrific ride and a great success!
Here's the shape o' the day:
1. Entered the logging roads at Weigles Road/Doumont 2. Turned back at the "alternative tank traps" due to wind fall tree across the trail. We need a quader in here with a chainsaw! 3. Through the old tank traps, which is nicely cleared, and left turn on branch 142 towards Boomerang Lake. 4. Turned right and joined the power line trail. 5. Intended route towards the "hellevator" trail has turned into a pretty rapidly running river. We decided to head towards 155 main and blast up our recently more regular route. 6. Rode up Okay Mountain Valley, past the Rhododendron turning and turned left onto 155 main. 7. Uphill left turn onto signposted 155-160 8. Left onto connector trail to "Baker Street" (wikilocs track) 9. Through the connector and right down Baker Street to the logging roads surrounding Moriarty Lake. Took a quick visit to the Moriarty cabin where Paul was kind enough to share his British Rail type sandwich. Actually it was very good! (Yes it was - judging by the way you inhaled it! - P) Thanks mate. 10. Retraced route towards home. Dumped the bike up Baker Street. Darn you Moriarty! Followed 155 main up to a right turn onto branch 142 11. Back through the old tank traps. 12. Black Bear Pub for a pint o' IPA and ESB! Cheers!
Wind Fall timber across the trail through the alternative tank traps (2 on map above)
Colour Coded Altitude Track
New burned out (stolen?) truck appears on route to the Tank Traps on the Doumont side (shortly before 2 on map)
Washed out! River running down the route towards the HeLLeVaToR (5 on map)
Approaching Moriarty Lake Cabin on foot
Moriarty Lake Cabin at 9
Moriarty Lake Cabin at 9
Moriarty Lake Cabin at 9
Moriarty Lake Cabin at 9 Pack your garbage out...please
Above: Real Time Vid of the "Highlights" of the route to Moriarty Lake.
Time Lapse: Turning off 155-160 onto connector leading to Moriarty Lake ("Baker Street")
Time Lapse: Back up Baker Street connector trail towards 155-160
"Baker Street" is a way into Moriarty Lake from 155
Andy and I found a trail into Moriarty Lake from 155. "Baker Street" is perfectly doable for a bike in drier weather, and much more palatable, IMHO, than the old key trail. The blocked access to 155-160 is for reference. To get to Nanaimo Lakes Main, turn left (east) at "Moriarty's Key". ATVers that we met later told us the access route to it (green trail below) is easy. More maps and a video below.
While it looks overgrown on GE, it is not. The single track quad trail is clearly defined and obviously well used.
The unexplored green trail is accessed easily from 155-160.
The video is not very exciting, but does let you take a gander at the trail surface and terrain. It goes from "Sherlock's Trick" to "Moriarty's Key" From there, 4th Lake, "The Great Divide", Nitinat Main etc. are all accessible. Vancouver Island's backroads are your oyster...Again, apologies for the music...but it fits...;) [Apology NOT accepted ~Andy]
Google Earth flyover from 155 to the lake shore. (This is the track of the connector trail that can be downloaded right below this movie. Use it with the track "Doumont to Moriarty Lake" to find 155).
Here's a track of the connector trail which is a left turn off of 155N when heading SW, (the "unexplored green trail" shown in the photo above). The track shows the route to the lake shore, bypassing the nasty road block encountered when approaching the lake using just the major logging route.
Couldn't resist a shot of the beast. Handsome Devil, aint she!
