Day 6 - Trail to Creston 128 km

Day six of this remarkable journey is now done!! I'm happily sitting in my motel room at the Skimmerhorn Inn in Creston BC, after successfully completing one of the toughest climbs of the tour.


<--Our route today, from Trail, through Kootenay Pass, and across the flat estuary on the south side of Kootenay Lake, into Creston.







<-- Our elevation profile, created by my Garmin GPS as we made our way over Kootenay Pass Summit, elevation 1774 meters (5820 feet). For details about the route, including a larger map, click here.

However, it was also one of the most beautiful to date. After crossing the bridge over the wide Columbia River leading out of Trail, we passed lush green valleys filled with flowers, still lakes, farmland and forested areas.

Erie Lake, between Trail and Creston-->

About 50 kilometers later, we began climbing into a spectacular mountain pass. Along the way, I saw an antlered deer leaping into the forest. Others, like yesterday, saw deer and a bear.

<--wild flowers by the side of the road

This is certainly horse country. I can only imagine the great horseback riding trails that must exist, hidden in the mountains near the farms we passed-->

That settlers have lived in the region for many years was evidenced by a restored log school house that we passed, built in 1912-->

Thankfully, we had been forewarned about the route. Joyce, our wonderful GearUp4CF organizer, was waiting for us at the base of the mountain with energy food and drinks.

<--James, Susan and myself at the start of the climb. Note the sign at the back. How many signs to you see on the highway these days that warn of a steep incline? And we're going to climb THAT?


I decided to keep my knees and ankles intact and chose a nice steady pace that, once you settle into it, could be maintained for hours.





I'm not sure what happened, however, despite my various devices to keep track of the ascent, I didn't know exactly where I was with respect to the summit. I was expecting at least another five to ten kilometers to go, when suddenly, around a bend, the summit came into view. After several hours of cycling uphill, it was a welcome sight!

<--Log cabin set beside a lake at the summit of Kootenay Pass.

I loved the 30 km descent from the top of the mountain pass into Creston. We easily reached 70kph coming down the eight percent incline. Descending on a road bike is all about aerodynamics. The smaller, tighter form you can make, the faster you go. To do this well means folding yourself into the bike, back nearly horizontal, arms tucked in and head down, but eyes level with the road, keeping watch for any possible abberation in the road as it comes flying by. It's not a terribly comfortable position, so when you are riding down a massive hill like this, you do what you can, for as long as you can.

Later on, as the road stretched out, still going down hill, I was able to use my aerobars which are basically forked handles with arm rests that allow you to assume an aerodynamic position with a bit more comfort. Using this, I was able to maintain a fairly steady 40-50 kph for most of the way to Creston.

Mountain forests gave way to a huge estuary on the south end of Kootenay Lake where the Kootenay River flows, and then to the rich farmland of Creston Valley.
















Before we knew it, we were over the bridge, then passed through Creston, nearly to the turnoff to Cranbrook, where, at last, we rolled into our motel.

The evening was warm and sunny, perfect for an outdoor improvised pizza dinner. While we were there, two cousins of Sherri's arrived - who she had never met before - bringing fresh baked cookies.

<-- Tom Evans, who volunteered to support us on the trip

John, a friendly and very experienced cyclist, who has been tremendously helpful to some of us who have not been on the team before--->

<--Joyce, our GearUp4CF organizer, in a relaxed mood after our big day on Kootenay Pass. Although she is on staff with the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Joyce chose to use her holiday time in order to be with us to support the ride. Her rationale? "Everyone is donating their time to be on this ride".

Brian, an avid and experienced cyclist who has been a great team member-->

<--James (left) with Trevor, research microbiologists specializing in Cystic Fibrosis at Children's Hospital in David Speert's lab.











It was so nice for all of us to be able to relax this evening, knowing that our ride tomorrow to Cranbrook will be shorter and much easier than today. The day ended with a beautiful sunset, as clouds were set on fire just over the mountains surrounding Creston.

For James and Chris' account of the day, check out their blog, located here .