Morzine Biking

Been out in Morzine the lost week biking with my friend Andy. Staying at the Riders Retreat in the center of Morzine. On the first night meet Fione by random, who I know form the UK Gravity Enduro. On the first day out there we where doing to Passport du Soleil. Which was going to be a nice 70km for a warn up for the start of the trip. It was a great was to work out the way around all the different lift and how to get over to Switzerland. On the way got to meet Mandil how was over from Napal and ran mountain biking holidays out there for Himalayan Rides. 

Looking like a good day

A happy andy on the first lift

Great views off the lifts

Over the top

Time to stop for the view

Something not sound right

Bike still working

So we made it through the first day without any mangersly going wrong. Just the odd noise coming  from bits. Head out with Steve, Adi, Adele and Mandil how oral staying in Riders Retreat with us too. We head over to Morgins in Switzerland. Getting over there was great adventure having to ride through snow and some great views off the tops. Getting to Morgins had a head down the blue and like more of ride on a Hardteil was a bit of work but great fun had. Sadly Andy managed to brake his forks on his last run before heading back. Which meant he was riding with a pogo stick. That afternoon spent finding someone to fix them.

A bit on snow

Onwards 

Adi enjoying the snow

Great views

Fixing flat 3 of the trip © Adele Woodbridge

In the end we got up early the next day and drop them off with someone to work some magic. So with Andy without a bike I did the best this and I head out to Les Gets by myself. To get a play before everyone else come over in the afternoon. Some how the forks where fixed with a bike puncture repair kit ( so for of magic I think) and where working ok.

Mandil leading the way

Into the woods we go

 After three days of sunshine the weather was on the change. But out we went anyway heading over to Châtel Bike Park hoping it would hold off for the day. Getting to there it was a bit wet but ok. We had a bit of a mud fast to get down to the bike park. When there I had a big crash for the trip. Which end up upside down in a hole fun time. After some more runs the the rain ended come so we called it a day and head back. For the joys of a hot tubs.

Muddy times

Crash time

Into the cloud

Sadly it did not stop raining till the morning so a muddy riding day it was going to be like. So to save going far we head up Super Morzine lift into the mud fast that it was. Even with all the mud it was a great day sliding and falling everywhere. I doing thing there was one bit of me that did not have mud on by the end of the day.

Mud slid

Andy show how its done

The deeps pond

Trying to ride the pond

Looking Clean

The trip had to come to an end but at less the sun had come out for it. We planned to head over to Champéry on the way there one of the life where not running so we changed plans to head back Les Gets to meet up with everyone else for a fun ride there. Heading had a blast on the runs that we enjoy for week. Getting to Les Gets meet up with everyone and had a great time blasting down the main run there.

Andy favorite moment 

Having a play on a 5

© Adele Woodbridge 

Happy team © Adele Woodbridge

So in the end had a great week of biking with so cool people. Now back to the smaller hills of Scotland for biking for a bit.  Thow I think I might have to move into the big boy world of a full sus but we will work on that.

Ferry Camusnagaul

Last night Rory and I feet like going to a bit of a random day over on the ferry form Fort William to Camusnagaul. To go practice some nav skill and log a ML day. Getting the ferry over was easy and a fast crossing. Once off the at Camusnagaul we head up Meall an t-Slamain to get up high. On the way up had great views of the Ben and down Loch Linnhe.

Heading up Meall an t-Slamain

View form the top

Getting to the top we started setting tasks to find feachers and work out times. We made are way around to Ceann Caol and on to Stob Corie a'Chearcaill. Being lucky to have a bit of sunshine to come out for a bit of the walk. At the top of Stob Corie a'Chearcaill we had to start to prass on to make the return ferry back to the Fort. So on to Lochan na Cruaich then drop down to the track that lead to Stroncherggan.

View down Loch Linnhe

On the way to the Lochan

Down to the track

On the road it was going to be cutting it a bit fine to make the ferry so out with the thumb and get a lift. Got a lift from so nice German touriste heading up to Fort Augustus. It bit seem a bit of a odd way to go there but they where enjoying the views over the Loch. So a great day had making it back to the ferry with plenty of time in the end. Needing to go back again to explorer more.

Fort William to Camusnagaul ferry 

Rory killing time

Summer Solstice Adventure

So its just been the summer solstice last night and an adventure had to be had. With it being light for so long. Started of the fun with an afternoon ride about Nevis Range with Rach. She showed me down some new bits of trail that she been show by Mack Clark. Great little bits hidden trail. Need to get back and have a play on again. Pretty stoked for Rach riding her first black feature and looking smooth bring on the jumps next.

The long ride up

Rach ride her first black feature

Hidden trails

After a great ride on to meet up with Ewan, Matt and Fiona. Too head up Tower Ridge for a late evening assent. We had the bikes with us to make the way back down a lot faster. Thow this did mean ridding/pushing up the distally track. So getting a bit a sweat of made sort work of it.

Given and just pushing now.

Just the walk to the Ridge 

After the walk in time to get on the route. We where making go time along the ridge and was looking like we might to missing out to the rain forecasted. But that was sort life with the rain started as we got to Little Tower and had drizzling for more of the rast of the night.

Starting the climb

Fiona going light and fast

Ewam leading the way

Ewan going over the gap

Fiona doing the gap

What they think of the weather

Rach going over the gap

Matt just about making it over

At made it to the top

Getting to the top had a great view of the low cloud. The time for the long walk back of the tourist path then on to the path rond the halfway lochan. On the way down we could see a snake of lights making its way up the path for the Youth Hostel to find a mass sponsored walk was heading. After a wet walk back to the bike. More so for Fiona as she was in approach shoes. Had the fun of biking back down the track. A great summer solstice adventure now what to do for the next one

Sponsored walker heading up the Ben

Ewan happy to be alive

Almost lost Fiona on the way down