Ghost of The Gravel

Your journey will be 118Km with 110Km of gravel. 6800 feet of climbing makes for some spectacular views!

Our two-wheeled celebration of Alberta’s Foothills begins with the rollout from historic Water Valley when the clock chimes 9:00am. The gentlemanly warm up pace takes riders down Hwy 579 before crossing the Little Red Deer river and hitting Gravel for the first time after 4km. Pleasantries will be quickly dispensed, as the course becomes a mix of meandering hills that follow the contours of the foothills though ranch land valleys across roads of packed clay gravel with a few sections of looser gravel. Enjoy the scenery with your group, remembering to refuel and rehydrate on the packed portions with “both hands on the reins”.

The course climbs to the top of Harold Creek Road/#579 where you are rewarded with a 5200’ vantage point at kilometer 34, and the Friendly Ghost (66km) Turnaround/Feed station. Contest your friends on the climb if you know your tank is full, but don’t contest the wild horses whom have the true Strava KoM on this 4km climb. Descend the twisting decent to Forestry Trunk Road 40 -This section is scenic, incredibly fun, and should be approached with care around blind corners – it has also been used as a timed section in Western Canada’s Rally West circuit.

Riders turn north on Trunk Road 40 and slowly climb again over 5300’ before descending to the Hunter Valley Campground. The road meanders up and down in the seclusion of the surrounding forest, reaching 5400 ft and the highest point of the day at kilometer 60; before descending to Feed #2 (62km). You will enter feed 2 with lots of descending speed, so please keep your speeds in check and space yourselves according to speed and riding skill – there are still plenty of hills ahead to contest your friends on.

The back section is mostly rolling with less sustained climbing, but for one or two leg crushers. The road here is less loose, more packed clay. By this time your legs may be weary. It is the perfect time to get your wings back at Feed #3 – (~87Km). Grab some bacon or a coke from the Timmy the Mad Trapper while your’e at it.

 Sweet, brand new asphalt with a false-flat downhill greet you for a blissful single km at the 100km mark, then you turn sharply onto the final stretch back home towards Hwy 579. One sharp hill awaits – but it’s paved – to welcome you back to the finish line at the Water Valley Hall. Grab an ice-cold beverage and get ready for some sweet Buschel BBQ action. You’ve Earned it!