Kris and I did a bunch of laps on the House Trail, which is directly above the lodge. In fact, the last feature, a huge double roller coaster, spits you into a high–speed berm directly into the parking lot. The House trail starts at 4,000 vertical feet above in the sub alpine. It begins with high–speed flowing berms through thick Rhododendron bushes before eventually working its way down into the thick huge timbers. The views of the adjacent Selkirk are truly in your face, the jagged 7,000 foot peaks feel so close you could reach out and touch them.

My favourite experience at Retallack was the lower section of the House Trail. It follows a series of ridges through the forest that lead like spines through the trees, and in some places there are no other ways a trail could go through the area, it is so steep to one side. In some places the trails passes evidence of the mining days, including a 100 year old pickaxe nailed to a tree, which Kris found partially buried while digging out a side hill section.

In the forest in front of the parking lot is a pump track, fire pit, and tons of cedar bridges for practicing skills on. There are series of drops, wooden tabletops, and even a dual slalom track.

After a few days of shredding Kris took me out on another of Retallack’s signature trails, called Powerslave. After taking a helicopter to the top, we were dropped on a 7,000 peak with 360º views of mountain ranges spreading in every direction. The trail downwards took us three hours to complete, with the most variety I have ever experienced in one trail. We rolled in the small arty mountain town of Nelson totally bagged from the ride and were treated to beer and burgers on a downtown patio, with Powerslave Peak clearly visible above. We were joined by Garret Buehler, who has ridden all over the world, and insists that there is no better trail out there than Powerslave.

After our last gourmet meal at Retallack, I said goodbye to my friends and hit the road north. A quick one–hour drive brought me to Revelstoke, where I rode three unbelievable alpine epics over the weekend. Another couple hours of driving brought me to Silverstar Resort in Vernon, where I enjoyed the freshest berms and flowiest bike park trails I’d ever ridden.

Now, back at home on Vancouver Island, after having worked all day, I sit here at my computer and look at photos from the trip. I can’t believe what an inspiring place Retallack is, an operation designed to give its guests the best trails and guided riding out there. At Retallack the trails are exactly what you dream of when you think of BC riding.

This really is a special trip and in the summer of 2013 Retallack will be offering people the chance to experience the goods in a three day package that includes guided riding, a helicopter drop on ‘Powerslave,’ all gourmet meals, and accommodation in the luxury lodge which has games rooms, a hot tub, and everything you could expect from a high end hotel. Guests will be led on the trails by professional guides with a focus on safety and skills development, including some time on the pumptrack and skills park honing skills, and getting more dialled in with drops and cornering. And for the guests that want to ride some of the most unique trails in BC as much as possible, let me tell you, the staff at Retallack Lodge are almost more excited to ride than their guests!

Nearest airport: Kelowna (4 hours) Spokane (5 hours)

Drive time from Vancouver: 7 hours

Trip Cost: $1500 (3 days)