Reviewed by: hotkarl ,  Racer , from the mountains

Summary:
ahh... the claimer...
we can't forget the classics... I really think that the new cool is "angioplasty" up above the old pirate trails... (just go a little bit past the start of the pirate trail and then follow the old cut road up for about a couple hundred feet... it starts with a short singletrack climb up and to the right at the top of the hill and then it drops into a chute and goes back down to meet up with the pirate... its' a good pirate extension y'all...

Recommended Route:
just giver

Reviewed by: Draino , from Canmore

Summary:
-- don't know what you guys are writing about -- Across the berm/dam and over the fence at the top of whiteman's pass is another trail -- called "riders -- or riders of the rouen" -- it's not bad -- nothing epic -- but a fun loose rocky descent close to Canmore

Recommended Route:
THE CLAIMER WAS CLOSED by Ab environment in 2000 .

Other recommended trails in the same area:
"RIDERS" is the only nearby trail that hasn't been ruined by Ab Environment

Reviewed by: Da Creature , from New Brunswick

Summary:
The Claimer is a proving grounds for new riders... and a wake up call for crusty veterans who havent been on the bike in a while. I started my career in Canmore with a Stumpjumper hardtail, and this was the trail to beat. I remember going up there with my cohorts that summer. One by one you could watch your buddies get "claimed" by the drop in, which is close to the toughest part of the trail. I have seen guys who biked their whole lives get mangled at the start, cause they went too fast and tried to launch a big rock right at the corner... Anyway, it isnt that hard once you get it, and after a while you crave it to be dry and super fast. It does take some gettin used to though.

Recommended Route:
Down, fast

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Go up the spray lakes road to the crest, cross dam and climb fence, there is a trail there too.

Reviewed by: Johnny , from Calgary

Summary:
Before I rode this trail I had heard many crazy and zany things about it. "It's gnarly." "It's the toughest trail around." "It's where the underground freeriders ride." Now whether the people I heard this from had their heads up their (well you know), or whether they truly thought this was a "HARDCORE" chute is anyone's guess. The trail starts with a little drop down to some loose stuff, (yes the speed aspect is there, but it has little effect on the toughness of the trail) and doesn't get much harder from that point on. It ended up that the toughest part of the trail was the climb up to it on the gravel road. I think if it hadn't been so over publicized I might have appreciated the trail a little more, but when you're expecting Everest and you get Mt. Robson, it doesn't matter how tough Robson is, it still won't live up to your expectations. On the other hand, this is a decent trail for intermediate riders to get some skill handling speed on.

Recommended Route:
You can only go one way, DOWN.