Are you ready for an unforgettable adventure through the remote, rugged wilderness of North Vancouver Island? The Caves & Coves Tough Tour is guaranteed to leave your legs burning, but rewarded with breathtaking beaches, wild waterfalls, and concealed caves.
Vancouver Island is an amazing place to ride. Whether it's the amazing vistas, the abundant wildlife, or the quiet roads, there are few places like this worthy of getting lost for a while on a bicycle. The rugged, remote portions of the north Island contain the best of the best for the rugged bikepacker to experience these natural wonders found within the KWAKWAKA 'WAKW First Nations region. The Caves & Coves Tough Tour has been developed to provide bikepackers with a large route that visits a number of these great places, to explore.
For full details regarding the Caves & Coves TT, be sure to go to the Salty Beard Adventures website.
ROAD CONDITIONS / WEATHER:
The weather on the north island can be fickle and ever-changing from week to week, and year to year. From rain and high winds to heat and dust. You are the best judge of what you need but be prepared for just about anything. Vancouver Island logging roads tend to be very rocky, or “boney” as we call it, with many sharp rocks that help the large logging trucks with traction in the winter. This wreaks havoc on cars and even more so on bicycle tires. You have been warned. Many of our roads have short, sharp climbs, but this also translates into unsuspecting steep descents around any corner. Combine this with the rough roads and tire-swallowing potholes can lead to disaster. Check For Updated Logging Road Conditions/Closures here: https://www.wfproadinfo.com/
**HAVE A SOLID NAVIGATION PLAN ** HAVE FOUL WEATHER PLAN ** RIDE WITHIN YOU ABILITIES **
This route has its challenges, from steep hills to rough, rocky descents (and a few sections of mild singletrack). While it can be done on any modern gravel bike, the ideal bike would be a hardtail MTB with front suspension. While you will give up some speed on the gravel roads, it would be more comfortable in the rough sections. TIRES? Gravel tires 42mm or larger is recommended. MTB tires over 2" would be more comfortable.
Refer to the route guide which can be found in Caves & Coves page of the Salty Beard Adventures website. It provides tons of very important information regarding the route, photo points and resupply.
The larger towns along the east side of the island have full services, however, once past Campbell River, small towns and villages DO NOT have anything 24hr. Some do not have full grocery stores at all. Your planning will be key. The largest distance between “any” resupply is upwards of 200km and occurs in the latter part of the route. Read the route guide carefully, and plan accordingly. POI icons on the RWGPS route contain hours for services (to the best of my ability). Fees have also been mentioned for camping in some areas. Remember to bring cash, as some of these remote locations may not have debit or internet.
BE PREPARED: Do you research and planning accordingly.
Refer to the route guide which can be found in Caves & Coves page of the Salty Beard Adventures website. It provides tons of very important information regarding the route, photo points and resupply.
THE REMOTENESS (a cautionary word):
As we venture out to seek out spectacular places in the middle of the wilderness, we do so knowing the risks. We can be rewarded by watching eagles soaring but can also startle predatory wildlife such as bears, cougars, deer, and elk with our silently moving bicycles. Or we can be caught off guard by a loaded logging truck coming around a corner. Let's not fool ourselves, wilderness bikepacking adventures come with their dangers. Never let your guard down. By embarking on this route, in whole or in part, you assume all the risks associated with this.
Lennard Pretorius
