Pictures are a great way to trigger memories that were lived. For me, the TransRockies photos help to remind me of the memories I have – like little videos that I’ve saved in my mind for quiet moments that I can think back and enjoy them. Although they’re amazing shots, these pictures still don’t do the experience justice. The mountains were intense, the rivers were fast flowing, and numbingly cold. The feelings we shared throughout the race and the views that we took in have now become little treasures that no one else, other than the riders who were there with us, will ever know. Even as a group of racers riding the same course, we all have a different angle on the beauty and magnitude of TransRockies.

Here’s a little window into our adventure.

Enjoy.

This was a big river crossing that we both had to dismount for. (Yes, Jeff had to get off his bike soon after the photo was taken). But, it makes a great picture!

The photography was amazing!! There were several different companies covering the TransRockies and taking pictures. Each night, after every stage, we had a chance to look at the day through the photographer’s eyes. (A slideshow put to music each night… it gave me chills every time!) Once the photos are released, I’ll share a few. We can’t wait to see them!!! It’s hard to describe the scenery… but it was AMAZING! Keep your eyes peeled for some “wicked good” shots of Jeff and I in the heart of the Rockies.

Jeff and I woke up on Saturday morning thinking that our TransRockies experience was over. Little did we know that Marc and Amy had a great afternoon planned. We had breakfast at a local place called, Summit (a cute little cafe in Canmore), and then drove into Banff. Here are some photos of the day.

(Allie might know this hotel in Banff.)

(Thank goodness this was the only bear we saw all week.)

(Mount Trundle in the background.)

(Up close and a little personal with the big horn sheep.)

(Banff in the distance.)

(The Three Sisters. I prefer the name: Meg, Allie, & Jen.)  😉

Then we took the 4pm shuttle to Calgary. Let the journey continue…

What a GREAT final stage!!

We started out at Rafter 6 Ranch at 8:30 this morning in the rain. It was in the high 40s when we woke up, but Jeff and I decided to dress light and ditch the heavy Camelbacks.

The course was mellow, considering what we’ve done so far. Not as much climbing and only 47 km.

We started out on a dirt road which popped us out onto the highway (for 3 km). TransRockies had the right lane closed off so that as we traveled against the oncomming traffic, we had a safe buffer from cars.
The pace here was fast- too fast to hold for more than 3 km. But, I held on to Jeff’s wheel and kept with the group.

About 45 minutes into the ride we caught the 5th place team. (Boy did we want to beat them!) At the first opportunity Jeff and I jumped in front of them and kept up the pace- knowing all too well that if we let up again, at all, they could catch us.

We did good. We had a decent lead… until check point 2. Jeff’s chain sucked into his rear gearing and we just couldn’t get it out. We tried… hard. He pulled. I pulled. We worked at it together for a little while, and then he took off the rear wheel. (It sounds lIke an easy solutIon that we should have done ImmedIately but It’s not as easy to get Jeff’s wheel off. It requires using a wrench. Regardless, we did It. We had to.)

Just as Jeff was finishing up, they passed us. Ugh!!! No way was I giving up 5th today. We jumped back on our bikes, with competitive juices pumping, and began our accent up the next climb. I took the lead about halfway up, keeping my head down, hoping that Jeff would make the pass and catch me on the decent. I could hear the guy on the other team behind me. Then, nothing.

“Jeff?! You there?” I needed to know if we were together. It’s one thing to push together, but it doesn’t make sense to work against each other. If we’re taking this team, we’re doing it together. “JEFF? Jeffy?!”

“Yup. I’m here.” Came the voice from behInd me. “And go as fast as you want!”

That was it! We put the pedal to the metal and bombed the rest of the way into Canmore. Speeding through the Nordic area and down onto Main Street.

We made it!!! crossing the finish line in 3 hours, 6 minutes.

After a great day of riding (along technical, wet, rooty trails), an awards ceremony, and a celebration at the local watering hole… we’re pooped.

Thank goodness for our new friends and their hospitality in Canmore. Life post race (packing the bike boxes) has been so easy.

(Hey!!! This cross walk is for people only! Find your own elk crossing area!)

The view from Amy & Marc’s garage. Pretty nice, huh?)

TheIr view out the front… baby elk visit often.

Blah. Wet. Cold. Rainy. Mud. Went wrong way. Got too hot. Overdressed. More mud. Bike having shifting problems. Cute little bird in the trail. Long slog on the dirt roads. Heavy mud. Course rerouted due to severe weather. More mud, mixed with horse poo. Lots of horse poo. Rain. Finish. Woops.. missed the finish, but found it again. Too much mud in our eyes.

Arrived at Rafter 6 Ranch. Amy & Marc were already there (our super friendly, amazingly hospitable local Canmore racers). dang they beat us. Changed. Packed up our stuff into Marc & Amy’s car. Drove to cafe. Ate- with mud still on our faces. Went to theIr house in Canmore to shower up.

Life is SO much better now!

Headed back to Rafter 6 Ranch for dinner and awards. Only one more day… after a nice sleep in a real bed (thanks to Amy & Marc)! (Plus we did laundry!)

And WHOA… an elk on the way back to their house. This is what bolted by us on one of the early stages! They’re huge!

Today was certainly a long day- 2100 meters of climbing and 66 km of ruggid single track, dirt roads, paved roads, and hike-a-bike.

Within the first hour Jeff flatted his rear tIre. We tried to fix it with a quick shot from the air cartrIdge, but the tire was ripped a bit too much… he had to put a tube in and pump it up by hand.

Jeff’s next event today was just after the first aid station. We headed up our first long climb, zIg zaggIng along the narrow swItchbacks that would lead us to the summIt. With Jeff just ahead, I watched as he came to a stop and, without unclipping, tipped towards the downhill slope. It all happened so fast; he tumbled and launched head first into the dense shrubbery and grasses. It looked bad, real bad. The bike flew in one direction, landing about 15 feet below the trail (halfway to the switchback below).

I jumped off my bike and climbed my way down to Jeff. “Don’t move, I’m coming… I’m coming. Are you ok?” I asked nervously, knowing that this could be serious.

“I’m fine,” Jeff replied.

… But it just looked so bad. His feet were uphill, he was lying on his stomach, and hIs head was about 2 inches from a cooler sized rock. He had catapoulted the same distance as the bike, but landed about 10 feet from where it was.

I helped him to his feet. Everything looked good- becides the blood running down his elbow and finger (his “good” hand). It wasn’t until we arrived in camp that we noticed the new scratches on his legs and back.

The bike was fine once we pulled the chain out of his gears.

The ride was long. The rolling terrain seems to take more effort than the long climbs. The open fields… those are the worst! It seems that a fairly flat field would be a resting area- an easy pedal and a place to recover- but they continue to suck my energy. It’s slow going through the thick, soft grasses. We also had unridable sections of hike-a-bike. The constant pushIng and walkIng Is taxIng on our calves and arms.

The rocky summit of our second long climb, and some of its jagged decent were too rocky to rIde- although Jeff braved much more of the downhIll than I dId. We were faced wIth big sharp overlappIng spInes and bowling ball sized rocks.

We finished in 6th place after a 6 hour and 12 minute ride. Two teams have since dropped out. (Our patient from yesterday returned to camp this afternon with a crutch and some severe bruising… but she’s gonna make it!)

The afternoon was complete with another fantastic hour-long massage, good food, and some prepping for tomorrow’s chilly ride. (They’re calling for a high of 14 degrees Celcius, whIch we’ve been told Is In the high 50s. Plus… there wIll be raIn as we traverse the rIdgelIne. Burr.)

Time for some shut eye before our longest day, day 6. (Well… maybe beddies after a game of su do ku on the iPad.)

And one more peek at the last bit of light on the mountains. (Keep in mind it’s 10:15 pm. It stays light for awhile!)

“It’s gonna get a little hot and a little dusty in here.” That was the warning from our bus driver as we pulled down the dirt road that led to our start.

Dusty it certainly was. Within minutes we were sitting in a fog as we waited to exit and prepare for day 4.

A photo of the finish

It was a good day. The gun went off at noon. Jeff and I started at the back of the pack (thanks to someone’s last minute bathroom run… ahem… not mine) making our way towards the mIddle. I rode strong up the fIrst long clImb, along side of the second place sponsored ladies team and past the teams that were walking. The first climb was the most significant double track hIll of the day, taking almost an hour.

We had several stream crossings today. Wet feet were unavoidable- an unfortunate combination of wet shoes and camping (where things are harder to dry).

We also had several injuries today. Riders were sliding out along the loose gravel and endoing over the large rocks that were spread over much of the single track.

Jeff and I stopped to aid the 6th place co-ed team. (The second time in a month where I’ve been thankful of my WFR knowledge!) The woman had clipped her pedal on a stump hidden along the trail side. She flIpped over the handlebars and landed about 12 feet from where her bike hit. It was a fast downhill section about 8 km from the finish.

When we arrived, she was still lying in the trail. Two men had stopped to slow down traffic and her partner was by her side. No one seemed to know what to do.
Jeff arrived first; when I rolled up he look at me and (with a serious/ concerned tone) said something to the effects of, “you should do your thing.”

I dropped my bike, took off my pack, and proceded with a frIendly assessment  (askIng her not to move her head). FallIng at such a hIgh speed Is certaInly a mechanIsm for a broken back. She was cold (although covered with a space blanket) and had two serious problems. One, she was complaining of intense lower back pain (In her SwedIsh accent)… so much so, that she couldn’t lift up the 1/2 inch needed to get my space blanket under her. Secondly, her lower left leg was in so much pain that she wouldn’t let me remover her tall knee sock to look at the injury. (We left it on knowing that help would soon arrive.)

We kept her warm, povided reassurance, kept away the bugs, and had a constant hand on her sholder until first aid arrived… 45 minutes later! The paramedic (or whatever he was), couldn’t roll her to look at the back Injury. Her pain was too severe (… It was really bad). He started an IV drip with Morphine and trIed to reach continued care on the SAT phone. The helicopter or ambulance was standing by. He opted for the ambulance. A quad made it’s way to us (through a thigh high river crossing) and evacuated to the road. It was to be an extremely uncomfortable ride out for her. ( WIth a possible broken leg and potential kidney damage. I’m sure the MorphIne helped.)

An hour and twenty minutes later, Jeff and I made our way to the finish line ( and across that sketchy river crossing.) Keep your eyes peeled though… our river crossing photo may make the TransRockies Facebook page. (We saw ourselves on the slideshow tonight. Me carrying my own bike, but Jeff lending a hand. Aw.)

Now here we are in tent city at Little Elbow in Alberta. Day 4. what a day.

This little video (above) may or may not work; I’ve never posted a vIdeo. This was what we knew of Fernie. Several quaint hotels and houses along maIn street, a huge ice rink (we heard that many of the NHL players played here when they were young), and mountains. There was also a nice bike path that followed the river and and crossed the railroad tracks.