Okanagan to Alberta! Pt. 1(4) - Anarchist

This delayed second instalment could mostly just be about hills.

As it turns out, Canada is a particularly hilly place. After some many hours researching on the subject we’ve come to the unanimous conclusion that when it comes to hills, we greatly prefer the down ones.

We had four absolutely MASSIVE climbs on this leg, each separating a section of BC with an entirely different personality. 

We’ll do this in 4 parts:  

1. Anarchist
2. Paulson 
3. Gray Creek
4. Crow’s Nest 

Climb #1 is the 8 to 12 to 14% grades up from Osoyoos to the Anarchist Summit.  We stopped here for a panoramic view and a mid morning coffee on the way up. It’s very steep, and at the limit of what we can pedal.

A nice buffed couple from Victoria with iron man t-shirts we met on the way up suggested that “hey at least you’ll be in better shape when you get to the top!” 

We’ve noticed that pretty much all cyclists we have met so far seem to be much better at this than us noobs.  

The sense of accomplishment, and relief, when reaching the summit sign is some kind of real for sure, no matter what shape you’re in.  

Hauling loaded touring bikes up a mountain in 38-40 degree sun sets up the perfect conditions for a “greatest cinnamon bun of all time” experience. 

We had exactly that experience at Su Casa, a Mexican restaurant near the summit. They were the greatest cinnamon buns we had ever had, and we have been chasing that high ever since.

The high altitude gives way at Rock Creek to long  loping descents into a string of really beautiful little towns in the Kettle Valley. 

Here we started trying out some of the trails along side of and as an alternative to riding on the highways. 

The former rail trails are not in great condition for cyclists on slim (by modern standards) 32c road tires and the going got slow for us, but well worth the change of pace to get away from the road noise a bit.

Just before Midway we met ‘High Vis Paul’ who gave us a very generous nearly an hour of his time as we peppered him with questions about life on a bicycle on Canadian roads.

Paul has been bike touring Canada since 1976, logging over 100,000 kms and has only a few short sections of  highway left to collect. His knowledge and willingness to share all his tips and experiences was a ton of fun and we’ve been referring back to his advice since we met him. 

We arrived in Boundary Creek Provincial Park for the night and set up camp after a refreshing swim in the ice cold creek.

READ NEXT: Oakanagan to Alberta! Pt. 2(4) - Paulson