MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Winter 2020

25 words :: Colin Field photos :: Eric Batty Rolling Chunder A winter fat-bike descent from James Bay to Smooth Rock Falls If you ask yourself, who are the most hardcore fat bikers in Ontario, there is little doubt that Buck Miller, Eric Batty and Ryan Atkins win the prize. And Ted King, even though he’s an American, gets an honourable mention. These guys are as hardcore as they come. After a successful Algonquin Park ski crossing in February 2018 (see ML Winter 2019 issue) Miller, Batty and Atkins hatched a plan to ride from Attawapiskat, Ontario, to Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario, stopping by Akimiski Island on the way. The trip would round out at about 700 kilometres. And the winter would be punishing. They convinced King to come along and they set off on February 4, 2019. Packing 14 days worth of food on board, their fat bikes were fully loaded with about 90 pounds of gear each. With plans to head nearly due east of Attawapiskat they headed out onto the frozen James Bay, heading for Akimiski Island. But the weather gods had other plans. “Open water prevented us from making it across,” says Buck Miller. “We crossed the border into Nunavut but we didn’t touch land. Then we headed back to the mainland and headed down the James Bay winter road to Moosonee.” Their route would take them 640km south along the coast of James Bay, then onto the Wetum winter road to Smooth Rock Falls. While riding on a road may seem easy, Miller dispels that myth quickly. “The roads are super rough. It’s carved out of ice, but it’s made L-R: Ryan Atkins,Ted King, Buck Miller and Eric Batty. FEATURE