Some biking and camping photos and videos from Sept 2023
Full size
Here's a fun shot of Walter eating cookies at his friend Niko's house.
Full size
A totally full Velocirax bike rack heading to go ride at Buffalo Bean.
Full size
Henry riding his new bike at Buffalo Bean. At this point, we hadn't decided if we were going to
pull the trigger or not. We had two bikes for trial but once Henry tried this bike he totally
stopped riding his old one and the other one too.
Henry rolling the features at the Bean
Full size
Henry's friend Jackson riding Ryan's Dream at the Bean.
Full size
Jackson's dad Blaine giving it a rip too.
Walter riding jumps at the Bean
Walter riding rollers at the Bean
Full size
The next day we tried to push Henry's bike skills a bit to see how he'd do on the new bike.
This is Henry on EKG at the Canmore Nordic Centre and the short answer is that a good bike makes
a big difference.
Full size
Henry, Lyndon, and Fisher at CNC trying out the bike jump park.
Full size
Graham hucking his meat on one of the CNC bike jumps.
This is Henry after we decided to buy his bike
Full size
Since the boys' space camp was a total bust, I decided to do '3D printing with Dad' and teach
the boys how to make things that they can then print. Walter thought it was pretty neat and
both boys decided to build an axolotl (or more accurately import one and modify it).
The Bees Knees Enduro
Full size
My buddy Ryan convinced us to sign up for a kids' enduro race at Crowsnest Pass. We drove down with
them and camped in their trailer, which Henry thought was pretty awesome. This is the view from the
parking lot at Pass Powderkeg, their ski hill where the trails are.
Full size
Henry and his buddy Lyndon with their new sunglasses they got from the race organizers.
.
Full size
I totally spaced on bringing a full face helmet, so Henry had to make do with a rental, but it
worked out fine. This is an adult S for the record.
Full size
We did a warm-up lap of the lower part of the ski hill on a neat trail called Nothing to Luge .
We then rode the road to get back to the staging point.
Full size
One total win of having a kids' enduro race is that the kids all want to hang out and play meaning that
the parents don't have to entertain the kids. This is the kids hanging out playing with RC cars.
Full size
Henry climbing up Chainsaw Massacre to get up to his first stage.
Full size
The Electric Monkey statue at the top of the ski hill marks the first downhill stage. Yes, it's
a bit aggressive.
Full size
Henry at the top of Pass Powderkeg getting ready for his first downhill lap.
Full size
Henry and I chilling out. What is nice about an enduro race is there's really no rush or
stress about time since the racers are all chipped out and they simply have to race the
stage when they get to it. Very little in the way of line-ups and the kids just ride.
Full size
Riding over to Buck 50, or at least the lower half.
Full size
What's great here is the number of kids' bikes. They simply wandered around and rode trails
and entertained themselves riding bike. One of the funny moments was a group of kids walking bikes
back with Henry walking another kid's bike and that kid (Hunter) carrying Henry's bike like an animal carcass.
Apparently, Henry's derailleur hit a rock and went crazy and stopped rotating so Hunter carried his
bike back to the trailer for repairs. What an awesome kid.
Full size
Henry gives Pass Powderkeg the Henry stamp of approval.
Full size
The kids doing a lap of Nothing to Luge . This is part of the 10,000 hour theory of
getting better at something - simply getting mileage with friends and pushing each other.
Full size
This trip was Henry's first introduction to 'shuttling', where they got to ride down a trail, and
then have Coach Ryan drive them all back to the start.
Full size
Henry and Lyndon at the top of yet another lap of Nothing to Luge . Henry said this was
his favorite trail ever.
Full size
Meanwhile, in Cochrane, Walter is loving BMX, and most notably since his buddy Niko is now
regularly attending races. This dramatically changed Walter's interest level in going to BMX,
and here they are crushing lemonades.
Full size
The boys on their bikes. After crashing a week previous, Walter finally figured out why it's
important to wear kneepads.
Full size
Walter wanted to try Niko's bike to see whether it's better than his. I had been trying to get
Walter to move up to the next bike size for months, but nothing like hearing it from a little buddy.
Walter riding Niko's bike
Full size
Walter chasing Niko while riding Niko's bike.
My buddy Graham doing a fun jump on Race of Spades
Full size
A frame-worthy shot of my buddy Graham hucking his meat.
Full size
This is what happens when I come off my pedal having dropped a root and then fly full speed into a tree.
Very few bike light mounts would have survived that.
Full size
My knees didn't really wind up very pretty afterwards either.
Full size
Our friend Graham and Kayla had invited us to crash their camping party and we were super excited to
get to spend time with them exploring hoodoos and dinosaur hunting. Here, Fisher, Henry, and Walter are
running to be the first to the top of the hoodoos.
Full size
One of the great parts of the hoodoos is there are so many places to be on the top of. These boys
felt like they were conquering mountains left, right, and centre.
Full size
This hoodoo gets the boys' stamp of approval.
Full size
The boys found a lot of cactus which they thought was cool.
Full size
Walter loved the rocks everywhere and the caves to explore.
Full size
Henry and Fisher with the 'creeper' pinnacle.
Full size
Walter and I in the back of the bus for our guided dinosaur tour.
Full size
This tour through AB Parks was THE BEST dinosaur exhibit our kids have had. They drove us into the
preserve (normally closed to the public) and we got to explore and learn about how to find dinosaur fossils.
Full size
Here's Lillian falling asleep on her dad's chest.
Full size
Some cool natural features in the hoodoos. Because it's completely closed to the public, there are rock
features in here that would usually be destroyed by humans.
Full size
Graham instructing Lillian on how to be a professional fossil hunter.
Full size
The boys found a big hadrosaur vertebra that was just chilling out waiting for them to be found.
Full size
Our guide instructing the boys in fossil hunting.
Full size
Teaching the boys about the three B's of fossil hunting - is it bony, is it brown, is it bubbly?
Full size
Walter and I went for a sunset hike with the kids.
Full size
Walter eating candy on the top of a hoodoo as the sun goes down.
