Thanks for posting this. My riding buddies and I are planning on doing the Pick-Axe later this summer. And this is a good way to see what to expect on the Paugh Lake loop. While I find that this doesn't look too hard and look forward to trying it, I can see why it might be intimidating for others, especially on larger, heavier ADVenture bikes.
Nice job highlighting the tough part in white at the video start. I missed that detail, went up from the east and thought they must have really developed these roads! Hit the start of the trail portion and turned back. I was on my own and it had rained all day, I've gotten stuck in lesser conditions. I turned back then cut west on Paugh lake road which is a nice little loop of its own
Your welcome. We did the same thing, got surprised by the tough section but we were in it so we ended up finishing it. Definitely not a section to try alone. You made the right call.
We did it clockwise last summer. That hill you dropped your bike on - I dropped mine going uphill (more than once 😪). Very challenging! And we had more water, so those mud bits were "interesting".
Alex, another great video. My brother and I switched over to adventure bikes last season. We are thinking of doing the Pick-Axe Loop. This section looks a bit challenging for a pair of newbies. I am curious: would it have been less challenging if ridden in the opposite direction?
The east entrance is less rocky than the west. I think going up is easier than going down a rocky section like that…if you make it. If you don’t, you are in a pickle trying to get going again. After the crash I did notice a line on one side of the trail that is less rocky. If I were to do it again I would do it clockwise.
Chiming in as the plebe and least experienced of the trio on this trip with Alex and Ed: I’d recommend having at least one person with more experience than you to go with you if you’re new to adv riding. It made all the difference in the world. I learned a lot from both of these guys on this ride. Taking an off-road course was super helpful, too. The cameras don’t show you the grades and changes in elevation in that section. There are steep parts to it that I could have whipped through on a smaller enduro with less thought and more confidence. The bigger the bike the more challenging that section will be, for sure. As Alex showed, we had a lot of mud to contend with in addition to the sand (enough to bury my rear tire practically down to the chain in one spot) and babyhead rocks on that part of the route. Learning from more experienced riders as you go is a fantastic confidence booster. Great vid, dude! Brought me right back!
@@haminlee, You make an excellent point. I moved to an adventure bike because I got tired of turning around when the pavement changed to gravel. The plan is to stick to gravel roads for now. We have discussed doing the Pick-Axe Loop, and it is great to have a video like the one you guys made to identify the areas we should avoid. From what I can see, most of the Loop will be doable for us. BTW, we are both in our 60s. Thanks again for a great video!
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
I love that section. I’m gonna do it again this season.😀✌🏻
Thanks for posting this. My riding buddies and I are planning on doing the Pick-Axe later this summer. And this is a good way to see what to expect on the Paugh Lake loop. While I find that this doesn't look too hard and look forward to trying it, I can see why it might be intimidating for others, especially on larger, heavier ADVenture bikes.
Have fun, it’s a blast.
Nice job highlighting the tough part in white at the video start. I missed that detail, went up from the east and thought they must have really developed these roads! Hit the start of the trail portion and turned back. I was on my own and it had rained all day, I've gotten stuck in lesser conditions. I turned back then cut west on Paugh lake road which is a nice little loop of its own
Your welcome. We did the same thing, got surprised by the tough section but we were in it so we ended up finishing it. Definitely not a section to try alone. You made the right call.
Thanks for sharing. I was wondering about that section. On the list for next season for sure.
Cool, that’s why I shared it, so people can scout before the ride. You’re going to love the Loop.
We did it clockwise last summer. That hill you dropped your bike on - I dropped mine going uphill (more than once 😪). Very challenging! And we had more water, so those mud bits were "interesting".
Cool. That hill is the toughest spot on the whole trip for sure. Going to beat it one day. 0-1 so far 😜
@@AlexUlleri I now have a slightly dented Tiger, and a bigger dented ego!
@@RobinBanerjee Haha I have a few scratches myself. Makes it look cooler I think. 😎
@@AlexUlleri I bought a bandaid sticker to put on the dent in my gas tank! 😅
@@RobinBanerjee perfect
Alex, another great video. My brother and I switched over to adventure bikes last season. We are thinking of doing the Pick-Axe Loop. This section looks a bit challenging for a pair of newbies. I am curious: would it have been less challenging if ridden in the opposite direction?
The east entrance is less rocky than the west. I think going up is easier than going down a rocky section like that…if you make it. If you don’t, you are in a pickle trying to get going again. After the crash I did notice a line on one side of the trail that is less rocky. If I were to do it again I would do it clockwise.
Chiming in as the plebe and least experienced of the trio on this trip with Alex and Ed: I’d recommend having at least one person with more experience than you to go with you if you’re new to adv riding. It made all the difference in the world. I learned a lot from both of these guys on this ride. Taking an off-road course was super helpful, too.
The cameras don’t show you the grades and changes in elevation in that section. There are steep parts to it that I could have whipped through on a smaller enduro with less thought and more confidence.
The bigger the bike the more challenging that section will be, for sure. As Alex showed, we had a lot of mud to contend with in addition to the sand (enough to bury my rear tire practically down to the chain in one spot) and babyhead rocks on that part of the route.
Learning from more experienced riders as you go is a fantastic confidence booster.
Great vid, dude! Brought me right back!
@@haminlee hell yeah buddy.
@@haminlee, You make an excellent point. I moved to an adventure bike because I got tired of turning around when the pavement changed to gravel. The plan is to stick to gravel roads for now. We have discussed doing the Pick-Axe Loop, and it is great to have a video like the one you guys made to identify the areas we should avoid. From what I can see, most of the Loop will be doable for us. BTW, we are both in our 60s.
Thanks again for a great video!
This gives us 'wannabee' adventure rider a good point of view of how the PanAm roles 👍
Do it, you won’t regret it.
Get out there and make it happen.
Is this open to public or do you have to get a pass or something?
The Pick Axe loop does not require a pass.
@@AlexUlleri Awesome! Not a lot of public trails here in southern Ontario