Mount Swansea


			Canadian Rockies Scrambles and Panoramas by T. L. Helmer

Mount Swansea - Canadian Rockies


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	Mount Swansea

This peak is included in my list as one of my only cycling summits. You can't ride all the way to the summit, you have to hike up the last 100m or so.

I normally go out to Invermere every May and start my mountain biking season with a ride up this 700 meter vertical road that is stretched out over 5k. It seems to get more traffic now than in previous years and is dusty at times, but I'll go back when the new bike is ready and look up a few friends while I'm there.

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This is the giant switchback on the way up to paradise mine. Next time I go up there I'll visit a summit or two that are easy to bag. I've MT biked up to this mine about eight times.		Here I am standing on the Paradise Mine road with the Columbia Valley in the distance. Mount Swansea's south ridge is marked with 2 small arrows.

Although it's not as long as the 16km Paradise Mine road across from the Panorama Ski Hill, the grade makes it fairly grueling. I've only cycled up it nonstop once. Other times have seen me put a foot down for a break or simply because I lost balance.

I must mention my trusty MTB's, so here are some photo's of those.

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Brand new Specialized 1993 S Works M2 FSX		Here it is Sept 29, 2001 12,351km ± 20km later; frame, told ya, busted !

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Here is the new bike. Year 2001 Getting it together was difficult and time consuming but worth it. Please note the chain stays are not straight gauge tubing. They're "Manipulated Metal Matrix". The specific manipulation alloy (Mg, Al, Si, Cu, V) metal matrix frame is noticeably better. Finite elements were designed on SUN Microsystems. It has a smoother ride with a stiffer rear triangle for climbing. It's a roomier fit for me too. I can really charge on this one. Specialized is a snooty organization, but they make incredible metal matrix frames

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This is where my head is when I'm on my MTB.

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Here's my old Rock Hopper at Cartwright Lake, on the way to the Bugaboos, 1992.		This is my new frame, all I have to do is wait for parts, then zoom off into the sunset. It's going to be sweet, I've really missed the release.

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My old GMC and the camper, also at Cartwright Lake. This is before the S Works, so would be 1992.

Below are some picture of my old mountain biking buddy Earl Woodward and just some of the people he lived with while he was in Invermere B.C.

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Here's Earl Woodward at the Paradise Mine building. This structure has been torn down now.

It's too bad he doesn't live out there anymore, those were the best days of my life, so far. He had some great friends, and great parties. I also love mountain biking; I liken it to terrestrial flying!

The photo below is of Earl and I in the middle of one of our many MTB trips around the Invermere area. Between us are Jim and Yves.

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The gang at the REDDI MART in Invermere B.C. where Yves worked.
This would be the summer of 1993 or 1994
L-R is Earl, Jim, Yves, and Me (my nickname was Mr. Swansea)

PS Jim Kebe !!
I'll call soon.
Take care brother.

Tragically Yves took his own life a short time after this photo was taken. None of us could tell that he was in pain and was hurting. He always had a gentle laugh, seemed to be busy getting a tan, and had visits from friends. I've heard it said that men don't have nearly the capacity for love that a woman has. All I can say about that notion is, people don't kill themselves because they have no feelings or are made of stone.

Famous Quotes <-- click

en's men: gentle or simple, they're much of a muchness.

George Eliot
1819-1880, British Novelist
our lost friends are not dead, but gone before, advanced a stage or two upon that road which you must travel in the steps they trod.

Aristophanes
BC 448-380, Greek Comic Poet, Satirist