Stage 4 - June 30, 2010

Route: Earls Cove - Sechelt*

Start your day with a BC Ferries ride from Saltery Bay to Earls Cove (50min crossing time). The fjords that you’ll sail through this morning have some of the deepest waters anywhere; in fact, deep-water subs are sometimes tested here, to depths of approximately 2000ft.

Today’s ride will start on arrival at the BC Ferries' Earls Cove Terminal and end in the beautiful seaside Village of Sechelt.

After a gentle start from the Earls Cove Ferry Terminal, the route will swing left of the highway for 1Km as you pass by North Lake.  This is the start of great climb through the rainforest to Klein Lake Park. Next, you'll roll into a singletrack trail that leads to some fantastic views of Ruby Lake and Sakinaw Lake below. Make your descent into Ruby Lake Resort and though the Iris Griffith Informative Center.

After a short 1.5km, you will enter the Suncoast Trail, a singletrack route that was designed to allow people to get from ferry to ferry exclusively on trails and back roads. This rolling and non-technical portion of the trail jumps in and out of the forest, onto small logging roads, and under the power lines.

The race route then comes back onto the road for a short distance before it dives off road again and starts to gain some altitude on logging roads. This undulating section of logging and power line roads – some old and some new – will prepare your legs for the short challenging climbs that will gain the next height of land. If you need to cool off, there will be a few opportunities in the 3 or 4 creek crossings along the way.

With the climb behind you and elevation gained, you’ll enjoy a very fast, tight, doubletrack descent to the next logging road. Ride a little more logging road, and keep your eyes peeled for some incredible views of the surrounding mountains. Watch for some seriously sweet singletrack added mid-course and prep those legs for a hardcore granny climb in search of more sweet singletrack!

Before ending the day you’ll enter some very nice, tight, singletrack that crosses through lush west coast rainforest. Save some energy for the trail ahead!

Wrap up the day in Sechelt and enjoy this beautiful seaside village, the name of which translates to 'land between two waters'.

*Stage & Route details subject to change.

Base Camp Directors' Insights

At the end of today's ride you will be staying in the seaside village of Sechelt with Base Camp set up just metres from the beach at Sechelt Elementary Schoo and Rockwood Pavilion. The outdoor pavilion will host this night's dinner and award show. The Base Camp will be just a few blocks away from the heart of Sechelt, where you will find many shops, restaurants and the beachfront walkway.

Moral Support Crew Teasers

Check out these tempting options to keep your moral supporters busy from point-to-point today!

• Stop at the sandy swimming beach at Dan Bosch Regional Park on the eastern shore of Ruby Lake
• Marvel at the Skookumchuk Rapids in Skookumchuk Narrows Provincial Park - one of the greatest natural displays in BC. Twice daily one of the largest saltwater rapids on Canada's West Coast boils as huge volumes of water force their way through Skookumchuk Narrows. Not to be missed!
• Dive In! Explore the artificial reef created by then sunken HMCS Chaudiere, a retired Canadian Forces destroyer escort, off Kunechin Point in Sechelt Inlet.
• Canoe or kayak Sakinaw Lake. There's also lovely freshwater paddling on Ruby Lake.
• Get your climb on in the Eldred River Valley. Cliffs rising 600m  from the valley floor provide world-class climbing in a pristine setting.
• Explore the short trails in Connor Park that connect to extensive hiking and mountain biking trails that wind through the Halfmoon Bay area.
• Swim and picnic on the sandy beach in Sargeant Bay Provincial Park, 4.5 miles (7 km) east of Halfmoon Bay
• Stop at the Halfmoon Bay Lookout for a splendid panoramic view of Welcome Pass, the Thormanby Islands, and Malaspina Strait
• Get your biking fix - the area around Trout Lake has a plethora of trails for all skill levels to choose from.