Bike

British Columbia recently experienced its coldest February on record. During the record-breaking cold snap, we made our way to Quadra Island, part of the Discovery Island group. Located about halfway up the eastern coast of Vancouver Island and only a short ferry ride from Campbell River, Quadra Island is a small, tight-knit community of about 2,500. The laissez-faire style of island living means mountain biking can thrive — and it does. The trails that have been built on Quadra contain everything from steep descents on rocky bluffs to tight single track through the island’s mature second-growth forest. The paths are built with topography in mind and blend seamlessly into a huge network of all-purpose trails. During our time on Quadra, we fought frozen pipes in -13°C degree (8.5°F) temperatures along with wind, snow, and draining camera batteries — but the results were worth it. In other words: if you haven’t been to Quadra Island, you need to go. Our advice: plan your adventure in some milder temperatures.