The Mount Fromme Mountain Biking Trails provide a spectrum of world-class routes on Vancouver's North Shore. This challenging loop is on the very advanced end of that spectrum, and these trails can be brutal if your reach exceeds your ability. Before undertaking this loop, be sure you are riding within your limits.
The loop starts with a 4-kilometer climb up a properly built climbing trail that zigzags it's way up the mountain through the forest. Steep sections that seem to go on and on are mixed in with tight switchbacks and some technical rock and root sections. The climb tops out at the fire road, and a short .5-kilometer pedal up takes you to the Upper Oilcan Trailhead.
Dropping into Upper Oilcan leads you down a rough and bumpy trail with many man-made features, most of which don't have detours. The skinnies are high, and the rock rolls are unforgiving. It almost seems like a circus in there. This trail will test your balance and skill before tossing you out on the gravel road, where you'll have a chance to collect your thoughts and calm your nerves before the next section. Oilcan has more rough trail with excellent flow. This trail still has some very difficult and committing features, but it is generally less extreme than above. The bottom of Oilcan opens and allows allows you to catch speed and whip through the trees before ending at the Baden Powell. The Digger Trailhead is another chance to collect your wits because the most intense segment is yet to come.
Digger is truly extreme riding. The current trail is missing a few of the old-school log rides, but it is still very steep and very technical with off camber mossy rocks, wet roots, and rutted out rock rolls that go on and on. This trail should not be taken lightly; avoid riding this trail alone for safety concerns, but also because you'll want someone to share the heart-pounding action with. The trail ends abruptly at Breamare Road, and a short 100 meter pedal gets you back to the trailhead.
A true battle from bottom to top to bottom, this mountain biking loop on Mount Fromme is a must for any North Shore advanced mountain biking list.
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