Stage Four - Happy Canada Day!

Happy Birthday Canada! Happy Canada Day Everyone!

Distance: approx 60km
Ferry Transfers: Little River-Powell River & Saltery Bay-Earls Cove
Start Time: 11am
Start Line: Earl's Cove Ferry Terminal
Aid Station 1 Distance: approx 23km
Aid Station 2 Distance: approx 44km
Finish Line: Village of Sechelt
Base Camp: Kinnikinnik Elementary School 6030 Lighthouse Avenue, Sechelt

Route: Cumberland - Sechelt

Start your day with two early morning ferry rides: one from Little River to Powell River (1hr 20min crossing time) and another 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 Earls Cove Ferry 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.

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'.

New for '08: Watch for some seriously sweet singletrack added mid-course and prep those legs for a hardcore granny climb in search of more sweet singletrack!

Have we made it this far yet? (clicky, clicky)