Sunday, Jan 5 - Skirt Mountain

[schouten]

Hi All,

As alluded to earlier here, is the ride to Skirt Mountain that I have been slowly developing. Believe it or not it took me three attempts to finally make the summit due to time constraints and getting lost too often. Haha, but a solo ride finally made it happen.

Here is the route (I've been experimenting with Ride With GPS): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31681903 ... k4uhmVCLxz

TL;DR

60km, 6/10 on the Gnarly Scale (needs calibrating), ~4hrs
6:30am departure from Fairbucks
6:50am pick-up from SB if desired
Colquitz to Camosun
Logan to Hector
Panhandle to Trilium (Alan getting spooked in Centennial has been removed)
Phelps and out through Millhouse (removed Speedway, never travelled West on Millhouse before)
Millstream Rd to Florence Lake
Climb Skirt Mountain (This is actually fun, has gravel and a great view)
Goldstream Avenue to E&N
Breakfast (this is sacred)

[Rolf]

This sounds fun, Ron! I don’t think I’ve ever been up to the top of Skirt. Climbing the South Parkway makes me feel pukey, and I’m usually just looking to get down by the time I crest on the road.

The Skirt summit was the scene of some controversy when Len Barrie’s revolting dreams first started to become a reality, and several shell middens and a sacred cave were identified by local First Nations and archaeologists. From a UVic journal:

Bear Mountain CEO Len Barrie's reaction to First Nations' cultural concerns, admittedly, may have helped provoke such confrontation: "You know, if we want to blow up a cave and put up a hotel we will. I bought the property, I own it, we have the mining rights, so what?" (Victoria Times Colonist, May 25, 2006).

Family duties may interfere with my showing up, or completing the whole ride—but right now I’m a “very likely” to be there at 6:30 on Sunday. Thanks, man!

[Claire]

Sounds good! I am likely but will have to confirm a bit later.

Rob and Mark too?

[JTyre]

I'm likely in, Ron.

Would it be possible to find the middens and cave? Not to blow them up, but to stand respectively in front of them and wish Len Barrie, and other scoundrels like him, ill health.

[schouten]

Absolutely JT. That can be your contribution to ride planning. Just not at the expense of breakfast.

[mandreassen]

I'm in, made it home from the center of the storm bomb in Port Hardy!

[JTyre]

Absolutely JT. That can be your contribution to ride planning. Just not at the expense of breakfast.

My research tells me that the cave is near the summit near a fir tree with two branches at the top that look like "horns" (seriously). I wonder if the tree in question is the one that is in the center of your photo at the top of this thread.

John

[schouten]

This is awesome JT and should be part of every ride. Maybe we should rename this forum "Cyclocross & Gravel & Archaeology"?

[rduncan]

See you all there.

[wonger]

Does it really have to be 6:30?

[schouten]

Does it really have to be 6:30?

I was toying with 6:00am originally...

[Rolf]

I’m out.

Post-holidaze virus...

[mashby]

Sweet. SB@0650

[myboys]

I may be there...feeling back to normal-ish finally!

Mary

[Claire]

I'll meet you gang at Starbucks. Sys!

[Alan]

I'm in -see you at Starbucks--though almost too tired to post a gif, but let me think what I can dig up....

[schouten]

Thanks to everyone for coming out today. Weather started out pretty good and we were able to move 12 bodies through the trails at a good pace - even with my navigational cockup (thanks for bailing me out Geoff!). It ended with an epic battle of wills to get up Skirt Mountain with all the wind and rain and some soggy hilarity at Plutos with a "Caution Slippery Floor" sign placed by Alan.

[JTyre]

You can sugar coat this all you want, Ron, but we're still coming to get you,

[Alan]

You should know that the chances of death by hypothermia are small but still considerable....