A Chilcotin Hogyssey (film)

What exactly is a Hogyssey? It appears to be an epic expedition that culminates in a sense of relief and hugs all around. A Chilcotin Hogyssey follows riders Kenny Smith, Fraser Newton, Chester Bush, and Margus Riga as they make their way from the North Chilcotins to the South Chilcotins in British Columbia, traversing a lot of “no man’s” terrain along the way.

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“It was day four. We arrived at a massive alpine valley lined with creeks and marshes, certain to be filled with mosquitos and shoe-soaking water crossings. Margus led the way, monster trucking through the creeks. We hoped that after the crossing, a ridge would connect us to the top of another mountain; from there, we would continue and descend to Taseko Lake. We ascended the new terrain under ominous skies. Storms circled above, pounding the neighbouring mountains with wind and rain. It was a sneak peak of what was in store. Our spirits were high because our destination that evening was the halfway point of the journey. We reached the top, and as the rain started, our reality set in. The ridge we were looking for did not exist. We had climbed the wrong mountain.”

Interested in bikepacking in the Chilcotin Mountains? Be sure to check out Skyler’s Best of the Chilcotins, a three-day loop that traverses some of these same mountains and features a lot of singletrack.