Alberta Land Rover Enthusiasts Club Forum
General => Events => Topic started by: B-Red on March 03, 2015, 10:12 AM
I will be updating the information for trip under this forum.
Prospectus was emailed on March 1st to the persons participating in the trip. Let me know if you did not receive yours.
We are not taking any new vehicles or persons at this stage as we have over ten vehicles already.
Thank you
That was a great video Dave showed us last night. Really enjoyed getting a first hand look at some of the trail. Having run it 4 times, he had a lot of good insight into the condition of the trail, areas to be concerned about, etc.
Jason, Dave and I closed the house down and that's where the real short and skinny came out ;)
Post here or drop me an email if there were other key details discussed. I'd definitely like to be up to speed on them.
Just sent you an email Trevor ;)
I am still trying to process the info in the video. It's cold in the morning. Mud every where and have to drive at 30 deg.
Checked the fire report on the BC site, his year was a mild fire spot by Kluskoil lake close to Quesnel. So two chainsaws were ok.
2013/14 report is fire along the whole trail path. My guess is we are going to need a lot of chainsaws for the deadfall. Handy if you are building bridges.
Lot to process. Would love to get his info Bill too.
I liked his video. Hope we can get more of the series they produced on their other trips.
Cheers
Yeah, 3-4 good chainsaws minimum imo.
One thing I quite liked about the video is it did give a decent picture of the amount of work these trips are once on the trail. Hard slogging through some areas. And keep in mind they had pretty good weather and also dropped out at the intersecting road at the 3/4 point. Imagine it with 3-4 days of hard rain, coming in behind a good forest fire in the area, and some hostile indians on the western leg (which he warned about and we need to investigate more).
That'd be a hoot. ;->
I think this version of comic relief would be handy on the trail to keep the peace.
It'll be good fun, whatever we come across! :)
I did notice that they had a bit of rain on their trip in 2011. We got lucky and didn't have any rain that I remember. I didn't see any of the deep water crossing in that video, but I suspect they ended up getting edited out. And there were two crossings they didn't do as they left the trail too early (due to the fire). But the smiles on their faces said it all ;)
I asked Dave about the weather, they had one day of rain for the entrie trip and I think that was fairly early on.
I don't think rain would make a big impact. The bad muddy sections are due to streams. Most of the rest of the trail seem to be good hard pack/
You are right John....there were two sections of semi liquid soil, almost the consistence of wet concrete. Complete with floating rocks ;D
I found a great thread from a Toyota group that ran it back in (I think) 2013. Some awesome pictures and a good write-up on page 12 of the thread.
CHECK OUT THE TROUT!!!!!
So fair warning, I'll probably just stay on the trail and meet you guys back here sometime in the fall :).
http://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/alexander-mackenzie-trail-2013.681268/page-10
Trevor, you could just buy this and stay forever: http://www.landquest.com/detailmain.aspx?propid=13315 This is right on the trail.
Quote from: Trevor on March 06, 2015, 03:08 PM
I found a great thread from a Toyota group that ran it back in (I think) 2013. Some awesome pictures and a good write-up on page 12 of the thread.
CHECK OUT THE TROUT!!!!!
So fair warning, I'll probably just stay on the trail and meet you guys back here sometime in the fall :).
did you forget a link there Trevor? Or did it go fishing..... I'm not sure how you will manage on the trail when you can't get the rod in the water....Horrible DT's ;D
oops, fixed it Bill. Link is there now.
On page 10 the write-up starts. There's a few pics there of a chainsaw scabbard one guy built to carry his saw on the front. Pretty slick idea.
Quote from: Red90 on March 06, 2015, 03:22 PM
Trevor, you could just buy this and stay forever: http://www.landquest.com/detailmain.aspx?propid=13315 This is right on the trail.
ok, that is definitely interesting...and tempting!
Here is their website: http://euchinikolakesranch.com/
Quote from: Trevor on March 06, 2015, 03:48 PM
Quote from: Red90 on March 06, 2015, 03:22 PM
Trevor, you could just buy this and stay forever: http://www.landquest.com/detailmain.aspx?propid=13315 This is right on the trail.
ok, that is definitely interesting...and tempting!
How do you feel about uninvited guess showing up randomly through out the non-snowy seasons LOL
Quote from: binch on March 06, 2015, 06:52 PM
Quote from: Trevor on March 06, 2015, 03:48 PM
Quote from: Red90 on March 06, 2015, 03:22 PM
Trevor, you could just buy this and stay forever: http://www.landquest.com/detailmain.aspx?propid=13315 This is right on the trail.
ok, that is definitely interesting...and tempting!
How do you feel about uninvited guess showing up randomly through out the non-snowy seasons LOL
I'm guessing it wouldn't matter how I feel about it...its gonna happen anyway ;D
ROFL
What do we have for maps, GPS tracks, etc at this stage Emad? I was looking to pickup some more detailed topo maps of the trail area but if we already have a that I won't bother. This, btw, is a pretty good website for topo maps...
http://www.canmaps.com/topo/browse-topo-maps/093.html
Everything there is pretty dated though so offroad trail networks likely won't be accurate, but mountains don't move much so that bit should still be good :).
I also have the Backroads maps for all of Alberta and BC, so it includes this area. As well as their book. Those are 2009 for the last update though I believe.
What else do we have?
I made a Garmin compatible map for the whole area, including all topography. It is routeable on the GPS and includes all waypoints from previous trips.
http://albertatrailmaps.ca/AMHT/
Excellent, thanks John! That's what I'm after
I have the digital SD for Backroad maps on my labtop. I crossed it with John's 2008 map. It worked very well. I am in the process of writing point by point trail using the UTM coordinate system. I got the idea from the book I borrowed from Bill on hiking the trail.
Am trying to figure out the print feature on the software to see if I can print section by section with TOPO and trail details. The Labtop is coming on the trip too.
This is also on my GPS unit.
I have backroad map books, third revision for BC.
AS for Topo maps, Backroads publishes detailed maps at 1:60000 scale, instead of the 1:250000 scale in the books. I was planning on ordering those in as well.
All of this plus some tracing paper should help chart the trail using traditional compass method and GPS as well. I would have used the Star Gazing method...but it may get us lost on a cloudy day.
Don't use the old map that I sent early on. That one was what I use in the 2008 trip.
The one I've linked to is very up to date with the latest road and trail information and should be quite accurate. I've used a variety of source to obtain the best information. You can print at high resolution from with Basecamp if you would like paper copies.
Thank you John. I will check it on my Labtop later tonight. I am on my phone now.
I tried printing from base camp but it kept printing the whole province. Is there a trick to just printing the trail area? I have access to wide format laser printer and wanted to print the trail at 1:50000 scale
When you get to the print dialog first choose the printer and the paper size. Next zoom and pan to the section that you want to print with the zoom buttons on the top of the dialog. You can also spilt across multiple pages with the dialog of you want more manageable sizes of paper.
Note this is a very large area and 1:50000 will be multiple full sized map sheets.
Nice work John...well done. U sure you don't want to join us hahahahhahhaha
In preperation for the deadfall on the trail...testing a nano technology electric chainsaw at the trade show. If you look hard enough you will notice the invisible laser beam that slices the wood.
We are getting together at Dave's home on March 28 at 1 pm to go over the spare parts list, logistics and collect the forms. If you missed my email and you are with the group, let me know.
At this point we are not taking new entries as we are at 13 trucks.
Email Dave for his home address if you don't have it.
Cheers
For the Calgary group, I will be in Calgary this coming Wednesday overnight. If you want, we can meet to discuss the trip as well and I can pass the info to the rest of the group on Saturday.
Let me know.
Update: Meeting in Calgary cancelled.
When are you heading down to Cowtown Emad?
update: No meeting on Wednesday.
Nope....I was hoping there might be a shuttle for a seal due in on Wednesday afternoon. Will look for another option, thanks.
cheers, Bill
Quote from: B-Red on March 19, 2015, 06:22 AM
At this point we are not taking new entries as we are at 13 trucks.
Cheers
:'( rub it in why don't you. Wish I could swing the time off work for this one. Maybe next time.
I have several plans for field communications on this trip. Equipment has been ordered already, and I'm patiently checking my mailbox..
In short, the communications will be supplied from my 90, with voice capability, and a telegram-style form for my transform into remote email. The emails are exchanged unencrypted over radio, and there are no expectations of privacy from that, although it is digital.
All radio operations will be completed after dinner, and perhaps at dawn, without any access while we are underway on the trail. In an emergency, both sat-phone and radio can be activated on the trail.
This is done to limit my work on the trip, and also to preserve the camping experience and keep it separate from everyday life.
Adam.
Good info but maybe have it added to the final draft of the prospectus, so we get one complete info package ;-)
At least Emad won't have to go through the DT's on the trail ahhahahhahahhhaah
Quote from: binch on March 31, 2015, 11:08 AM
At least Emad won't have to go through the DT's on the trail ahhahahhahahhhaah
I was going to mention, as a matter of forewarning, that if I see any Facebooking, texting, emailing, or other non-emergency related radio activities on the trip, I will be "modifying" the aforementioned radio transmission equipment with my 45/70 ;D
I can't add any more to the prospectus, as final planning and testing of the communications equipment will not be complete until a month before the trip. I will need several proving runs of the equipment into BC beforehand. Thankfully I am nearer now. Really just hoping to provide just a simple basic link for members at the end of the day. Many radio amateurs at the far end would be excited to provide this free service to a remote group such as ours.
Quote from: Trevor on March 31, 2015, 11:36 AM
Quote from: binch on March 31, 2015, 11:08 AM
At least Emad won't have to go through the DT's on the trail ahhahahhahahhhaah
I was going to mention, as a matter of forewarning, that if I see any Facebooking, texting, emailing, or other non-emergency related radio activities on the trip, I will be "modifying" the aforementioned radio transmission equipment with my 45/70 ;D
Craig has the first three rounds as slugs ;D
You know, growing up watching the western movies with JoHn Wayne and the like, I picked up some good ideas. I do have my Cowboy hats and boots. Got me a nice lever action Marlon. Now, if I can just get on the trails and send out smoke puff signals. It will be seen for miles. The Diesel engine will sure help here.
Lloyd is challenging the Ham Radio license this month. Am sure he will be interested in helping Adam on the radios.
Did I mention am planning on bringing some Cuban Cigars;-)
My 45/70 is a Marlin lever action. All we'll need is to find you a horse and we'll send you galloping off accross the fields doing your best Rooster Cogburn impersonation :)
Hey...if you can't play baseball you may as well carry a rifle, right Chuck?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IVCwYPjFXc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IVCwYPjFXc)
As for the cigars....fine, great, wonderful...but sit down wind of me!!! My lungs are screwed up enough as it is!!!! >:(
Have a GPS-MacBook Pro question:
What type of GPS receiver can you hook to your labtop and have it work with Garmin Basecamp software and Backroad Maps. I got the trail map from John crossed on top of the BC Backroad digital map and there is tons of great details and information. Combined with a 17" screen, the charts will be great on the trail. Only thing is how to be able to show actual location on the screen.
Any help here would be greatly appreciated.
Basecamp does not support real time routing. I'm not sure if there are any options for using the Garmin maps on a Mac with real time routing. There are options on a PC or an IOS device.
As we plan to leave a mark on the trail for AMT 2015, I thought this would be a good team building project with the chain saws.
I like the Pearl logo, tis a nice touch.
Now this would be a nice gadget to attach to the lightweight or forward 101 PTO. We won't need the chainsaws. Brilliant
http://youtu.be/A-PS4HtU5zo
Don't know if you've been following it but looks like they have a bit of fire activity near the AMT this spring. I haven't seen the fire maps yet so I don't know their exact locations, but should be able to find out soon enough. Small one west of Anahim (just west of where we finish), Bobtail biggest in the area right now is around the area of the road that cuts throught the trail, and there's another one SW of Quesnell (which is where we start). Still way too early in the season be of any consequence to us. But depending on where they go before that and how big they get it could mean we add a set of orange coveralls to the personal equipment list ;D
http://www.castanet.net/news/BC/140073/New-wildfires-ignite (http://www.castanet.net/news/BC/140073/New-wildfires-ignite)
Here's an interactive map that shows the active fires in the province...good for checking out as we get closer
http://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/dmf-viewer/?siteid=5131184402955244847 (http://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/dmf-viewer/?siteid=5131184402955244847)
You are right on Bill. I heard it this morning on CBC Internet news. Five fires. If it starts now, hopefully it will be down by July. Either way, we will need the chainsaws for sure.
By the look of the current forest fire conditions the area we are travelling must have had some precipitation. No active fires in the area now either. This is good news.....things are playing out as they should. Now...how to get charcoal black out of your clothing.... ahhahahahhha
http://bcwildfire.com/Weather/Maps/danger_rating.htm (http://bcwildfire.com/Weather/Maps/danger_rating.htm)
It's between low and moderate zones so far Bill.
Worst case we fill the tires with water. Run a sprinkler on the roof and open the fridge for cooling. That should get us through the hot fire. And Sunglasses for the yellow glow. Heard of the paint peeling stories on vehicles driving hwy 63 during a forest fire years ago. Can be excuse for a new paint job too.
shouldn't even be much of a fire ban now... Just remember if you see someone burning.... Stop Him, Drop Him and Roll 'Em!!!!
I found this web site with hwy video cams along hwy 20. Interestingly enough, it's not paved all the way from what I can see.
http://images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/469.html
Not enough people up there to warrant the ashphault. Lots of gravel road in that neck of the woods toto!
Alright. Today is July 1st...Happy Canada Day everybody.
Officially, we have now 25 sleeps till departure day.
So, car checks are in order. Camping gear check in order. Food Supply's check in order.
And yes...tools and Spares
Quote from: B-Red on July 01, 2015, 07:56 AM
Alright. Today is July 1st...Happy Canada Day everybody.
Officially, we have now 25 sleeps till departure day.
So, car checks are in order. Camping gear check in order. Food Supply's check in order.
And yes...tools and Spares
If we were wanting to have a gathering for this, a week night would be better for me. My weekends are pretty booked up from now until the AMT, and I still have to work in a exhaust manifold gasket change/intercooler cleaning on the Defender, which will be on one of those weekends as well. Hehe, so unless we wanted to make it a "work-on-Trev's-rig" and do all the other trip related stuff day, weekend attendance will be tricky for me.
This is an interactive Map for Active Fires in BC. It has our trip route area.
http://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/dmf-viewer/?siteid=5131184402955244847
This shows fire danger rating
http://bcwildfire.com/Weather/Maps/danger_rating.htm
Moderate and high....that's not too bad at all really. Things are looking good!
Here's a little light reading of what our adventure will be like.....
[url][/http://bc4x4.com/tr/2006/mackenzie-trail/url]
This was the trip that Dave Blair of the BC roverlanders did in 2006
good reading... ;)
There was going to be a group running the AMT the week before we did. But they bailed out as they didn't feel a year was enough time to prepar. Too bad as it would have been really nice to have someone clearing the trail before got there :-)
Quote from: binch on July 12, 2015, 09:06 AM
There was going to be a group running the AMT the week before we did. But they bailed out as they didn't feel a year was enough time to prepar. Too bad as it would have been really nice to have someone clearing the trail before got there :-)
DOH! That would have been sooo nice to follow another group through.
Quote from: binch on July 12, 2015, 09:06 AMBut they bailed out as they didn't feel a year was enough time to prepare.
If you can't get ready for a little off road trip in a year, perhaps it is best they don't go. :o
Talking about getting ready. Tigger in the shop getting fitted with the gas tank gaurd. Dave did a run through on it to make sure all set. ....... OMG OMG OMG. That was his expression on the phone. Found few things that have worn out and could have become problematic on the trail. Needless to say, I wouldn't catch those items even if they looked me in the face. Crises are under control
So how many trucks and people are going?
Edit: had the first post wrong I think.
We've got:
Bill and Craig:D110
Dave: D110
Emad, Lloyd and Abdu: D110
Jeffrey and his wife: D110
Me:D110
So 5 vehicles and 9 people
I watched the Franklin Expedition on the Discovery of Things.
It's safe to say we are five month away from the freezing snow,
have radios and GPS
and not eating from Lead sealed food cans.
The Mosquito repellent may become a suspect
And for sure we are not about to go missing to become famous ;-)
Quote from: Trevor on July 13, 2015, 09:29 PM
Edit: had the first post wrong I think.
We've got:
Bill and Craig:D110
Dave: D110
Emad, Lloyd and Abdu: D110
Jeffrey and his wife: D110
Me:D110
Did Mark bail on you Trevor...? Sorry to hear that....I was looking forward to his enthusiasm with a chain saw hahahhaha. Looking forward to a good trip all the same :D
So 5 vehicles and 9 people
Yes, unfortunately Mark had to back out. He injured his knee a while back and WCB scheduled his operation a week before we leave on our trip. Its not a major operation at all, mostly just cleaning up some crap in the knee itself, but still not something you want to have only a week behind you when you're heading into the bush for a while.
I was upset to hear that too, I was really hoping to have him running a saw for us as well!
Bummer! Oh well, we'll just have to crack the whip a little harder on Craig!!!!! Going to have to give Emad, Abdu and Lloyd an education on the chainsaw too ;) Mind you....sometimes it's easier to cut the stuff them move it hahahahah
I bought my orange gloves already and hunting around for the orange chaps. I am ready for hauling timber. Chainsaws,,,will see.
Unfortunate for those who had to drop out. They are missing on a great timber hauling event.
The 4 Wheel Auto Team is hosting a Customer Appreciation Breakfast on July 25th at their store located at
8807-63 Ave.
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
Dan and his team have supported the ALRE with sponsorships in the past for some of our events and has carried a nice supply of off road equipment for the land Rover SUVs over the years.
This is also is our breakfast gathering point before we start our trip. We are planning to be there for 9 am and departing at 10 am. Came and join us, even if you are not coming on the trip, and check out the cool vehicles that will be present.
Their web site is www.4wheelauto.com.
You can fire them an email if you are coming. They just want to make sure that they have things well organized. Their email is julianne@4wheelauto.com
I was reviewing the fire situation in the area of travel. There is currently a forest fire at Puntzi lake. It is 67% contained as of today. its closer to HWY 20 east of Anahime. Smoke however is spreading around.
Fire ban is in effect through out the region. Forest use is unrestricted.
Will keep monitoring as we get closer.
cheers,
Foods all ready to go. Picking up the 110 tonite and we start sorting gear tomorrow for load on Friday. GAME ON!!!!
Tonight I added the most important feature for the trip: a GoPro LCD screen. It mounts on the back of the Camera and I can check what am taping. Plus I bought a long pole for it.
Ready to capture some magic moments
I had a bit of a panic moment with one of the new oil cooler lines not sealing, and leaving oil everywhere. Reinstalled original line and it's sealing just fine. Many thanks to Bert for getting that sorted on such short notice. Got the tires switched across and tomorrow we start loading up the beast of burden. On the menu will be French toast, eggs, pancakes, steaks, pork chops, wild meat stroganoff, fish chowder, eton mess, chocolate zucchini loaf, banana break, etc. Going to be a good trip provided the chuck wagon makes it! ;)
Damned the torpedos!!! We're off..... ;)
Good luck and have fun! Take lots of pics!!!!!
An update on progress from their daily location pings...
They left Quesnel Monday morning hitting the start of the off road portion of the trail and the first river crossing at 2:30. Camp for the first night at the West Road River campsite at the eastern end of Kluskoil lakes.
Tuesday ended at the lower Kluskus Lakes.
At lunch today (Wednesday) they have made it past the Kluskus Reserve at the east end of the western most Kluskus lake.
I would really like to do this one day.
Looks like Wednesday and Thursday nights were spent at the abandoned fishing camp on Tsacha Lakes.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/53%C2%B001'42.9%22N+124%C2%B050'23.3%22W/@53.0286973,-124.8385692,1194m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0?hl=en
Looks like they have made it to the end of the trail at Gatcho Lake today. Three long days of slogging through the tough western half of the trail.
Can't wait to see the photos and the videos. And hear the stories.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well folks. The trip is going fantastic. Leaving Bella Coola today for the trip home. Will put more info when when back home.
AMT ... Reliving some of the Camel Trophy Experience..
If there was a "waiting on the edge of my seat" emoticon, I would insert it here!
Made it back home this afternoon. The trip was a combination of a lot of things...extremely fun, great comradre with our small group, some pretty epic country to drive through, and a ton more work than any of us expected.
We had only one minor repair over the first day. Dave spun a half shaft and had a well worn axle shaft to go along with it, so those were swapped out.
Following that we started to run into issues with tires. Emad, Jeffrey and Criag (driving Bill's truck) each took out the sidewalls on a tire. Emad also had a tube failure in another tires which forced us to use Dave's spare on his vehicle. At the same time Emad developed a slow leak in a third tire. That left me as the only one with spares (two 33" BFG KM2's). We spent a lot of time clearing puch thus far and the obstacles were taking their toll on the tires.
On route to the Home Ranch we stopped at Pan Phillip's son's ranch and found out that the Home ranch was now off limits due to the owner of the land no longer allowing people to camp there. This was a bit upsetting as we had really hoped to spend a night there. We continued on the northinerly route instead and made it to Lamberts farm, and camped just past there on the Blackwater River. Pretty epic trout stream that one.
This was also decision time as we had no spares left other than mine, which could not be used individually on any of the vehicles but mine. If we couldn't fix the tires we would be calling the trip as we couldn't continue safely with so few spares. Dave and I tackled the tire repairs and were able to plug the side wall tears in both Jeffrey's and Bill's tires to the point they would hold air. Dave and Emad were also able to re-tube one of his tires (the other was complete destroyed and not repairable). This put us back to 3 "ok" spares, and then my two which could be swapped out with the rear set of any of the other vehicles to bring another 2 tires into the rotation, if needed.
So we were back in action andready for the last portion of the trail...
...which was complete hell.
As we left Lambert's things started well as the trail was cleared to the fork to basalt indian reserve. Past that though, the trail likely had not seen any traffic since Dave Blair was on it in 2013. It was heavily overgrown and the deadfall was insane. Our pace ground to a crawl as we would send a team ahead to clear bush as 3-4 people stayed back to leapfrog the vehicles forward. We slogged on like this for most of the day. It got really interesting once night fell as we still have a long way to go to our campsite. ?We slogged on with flashlights and headlights providing the lighting for the saw operators.
We hit camp that night around 11 PM, and it was a truly beautiful sight to see (although its actually a pretty borderling camp) as it was the first clearing we had seen since lunch earlier that day. We were all surprisingly upbeat, eventhough we were completely spent. We worked well as a team and pushed through, and that kept the spiritis up. But that was just a glimpse of what lay ahead...
We new for the last leg of the trail the bush was going to be extreme. The trail was known to get increasingly overgrown, and also contain much more mud. So we would have more sawing than the prior day and we also expected a lot of winching. We started on the trail started around 9:30 and immediatley the saw was running. It was a crawl out of the gate, and didn't get any better. As the day progressed we fell farther and farther behind, it was just one pile of deadfall after another.
The overgrown portion began about 5 miles earlier than was noted on the last expedition, and we hit that area just as the sun was getting low in the western sky. And since we were heading west, we were driving right into it. I can't explain the afffect that the sun has when it is sitting directly in your view like that, and you are also looking through a wall fo alder. TYou simply cannot see anything in front of you. It is completely blinding. Bill was leading and literally inching his bvehicle ahead. Even with 3 people out front of him a large logsticking out from the left was not seen due to this poor lighting, and he ran his left headlight assembly right into it.
From that point froward the lead vehicle had to be walked ahead with a guide, and the rest of the vehicle driven bumper to bumper behind in order to maintain the track. You could rarely see the vehicle ahead of you, msotly you were driving on faith and a guesstimate of where his line was. Once the sun set it didn't get any better. Since we needed 5 people driving this left only 4 to clear trail ahead, further slowing the pace. We moved in lurches, and rotated out saw duties as people became too fatigued.
It was a back breaking amount of work and sapped the life from everyone. By midnight we still had a long way to go. But worse, we knew we had the massive slew ahead and expected several hours there along just to get the vehicles through. That was kicking morale pretty hard. But we did get a break, as that big slew was gone. I guess things have been dry enough for long enough that what was left was just a small boggu area that Bill's vehicle got stuck in simply due to sorting out what line we needed. Once we got him winched out, and saw the proper line, we all drove through without issue. That gave us the energy to make the final push.
A couple hours more of clearing bush, and we ended up at our final lake camp around 2:00 AM. Completely knackered.
That last coupl,e days worth of trail was tricky largely due to the fact that there just isn't anywhere to camp along the way. If the trail hadn't been so overgrown we would have had no issues. But with all the clearing requried, it meant that we simply couldn't make ant time getting from one camp to the next.
Overall it was a very enjoyable experience. We cleared a ton of bush through the trip, but the last 3 days of trail just increased in intensity, ending in some real ass-kickers to be sure. But at the end of days like that you do feel a sense of accomplishment. Cap that off with having a small, very enjoyable, and very committed group around you and one ends up with a great experience.
I wouldn't do it again tomorrow (because I'm too sore), but I would definitely do it again.
I took a few pics that I will try to get posted tonight or tomorrow. Lloyd was a main photographer though, and he has a ton of them. He's going to post them to flicker and we can link from there.
I hear a group just went through and did a bunch of clearing..... Oh, wait. Never mind.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Good write up Trevor! I'll add my two cents worth......There was some burned sections of the trail (day two and three I believe) and they were not bad at all. But the Pine Beetle kill in that area was horrendous and the deadfull and blowdown was a nightmare come true. They've begun logging out some of the dead or affected timber in the area near the gravel road that comes up from Highway 20, about 1/3 of the way in from the east. There were so many places we were at I didn't recognise at all!!! The fish champ we stayed at....Forestry burnt all the building to the ground as the leasie hadn't paid his rent. Very strange looking there now...but a very nice camp site. The alder has spread to the east of where it was on the west end of the trail and that was where the thickest of the deadfall was. John will appreciate this....we did more cutting in one day on the 2015 trip then what we did on the entire 2008 trip (x2). Using 3 saws (two light weights and my binford special) we spent an enormous amount of time cutting good size logs off the trail. It was truly a daunting task but the group persevered. The last two day were absolute killers!!! But waking up to the still waters on Gotcha Lake and going for a refreshing swim was truly heaven on earth!!!! The big mud holes we had in 2008....the hill was still there but the 200' pull was bypassed to the north (thank Christ for that). We started off with a relatively modest pace but it was soon evident that we were in for a heck of a lot of work and folks were going to learn a life lesson out of it.
All 5 defenders finished under their own power. Damages were:
- Dave spun a drive member so replaced that and put in a better axles shaft (1.5 hours)
- Emad had tube issues (sounds very familiar to my 2008 experiences) and that totaled some 3 hours or so. Something also happened to his rear door which had to be pried open (dave will explain later). But nothing a piece of rope couldn't cure. 1 torn out side wall and a couple of extra dents on the one side.
- Craig and I lost a tire when the side wall was torn on a piece of burnt tree root, that kicked up after the truck went over it. Lost my front left headlight and panel driving into a 4" diameter log buried in the alder and for the life of us we still can find the chocolate bar!!!!!! 1/2 hour to change tire. I lost my drivers mirror within the first few miles when a small branch got kicked up and hit the mirrow so hard it broke the lense. I kept two of the big pieces to tape in place for the ride home. My viscous coupling failed sometime over the trip and where I noticed it was when we began to climb the 4000' out of Bella Coola. Only solution was to go fast, with the heater on full, and try to get air blowing through the rad ;-) Emad had a spare with him so we swapped it out at the top of the hill.
- Trevor added a couple of new dings to the body but nothing major.
- Jeffrey has two new offroading doors, lost one side wall of a tire and had a few issues with his Salisbury Diff guard that ended up with a dent in the diff cover and wore a hole through it. A bit of JB weld and that was good to go but the diff guard was mangled. He also ran out of fuel on the way to the trail ;D
No obvious damage to any steering, no failed half shafts, etc. Very successful in that regard ;-)
But it was a lot of fun sitting around the fire in the evenings together, licking our wounds and laughing about the silly parts of the day. It wasn't a thousand miles across Borneo but the work was there to make it one heck of a tough run!!!! Not for the faint of heart or weak of spirit!
Well written Trevor and Bill.
We lost few lenses on the signals. Bill had to replace his Viscouse fan coupler.
What I came out of this trip is conquering fear and team work. Yes, it's spooky when you have to walk in the forest with darkness all around you. You only see three feet out. The wind crackles the trees and branches sound like animal steps. Would be nerve wrecking if you are alone.
We got to see Mother Nature at its best. Something a camera could never show. There are frogs running around. Black beetles husling for food and ants all over you when you rest on the ground.
Yep. It was a great experience. Now, how can we top that!!!lol
Amazing! I can't wait to see pictures!
Here's a few pics, I only have a dozen or so decent one. Lloyd and Jeffery have the bulk of the pics.
Start of the trail
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1170.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1170.jpg.html)
Day 1 Camp, and a look at the lake we were on
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1171.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1171.jpg.html)
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1172.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1172.jpg.html)
Day 2 Camp
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1173.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1173.jpg.html)
Indian burial near the indian village
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1174.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1174.jpg.html)
Indian village on day 3
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1176.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1176.jpg.html)
Day 3 lunch spot
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1178.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1178.jpg.html)
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1179.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1179.jpg.html)
Camp for Day 3 and Day 4, Tshaka Lake
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1182.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1182.jpg.html)
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1181.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1181.jpg.html)
Jeffery out fishing on Day 4
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1183.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1183.jpg.html)
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1187.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1187.jpg.html)
On the trail
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1190.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1190.jpg.html)
You can just make out Bills rig ahead of me
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1194.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1194.jpg.html)
Starting to get a bit overgrown, these were by no means "bad" though relative to what we saw. They were just ones I managed tog et pictures of
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1196.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1196.jpg.html)
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1197.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1197.jpg.html)
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1199.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1199.jpg.html)
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1200.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1200.jpg.html)
(http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt161/Soph_/IMG_1205.jpg) (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/Soph_/media/IMG_1205.jpg.html)
GREAT pics Trevor!!!!! I can't make out any deadfall at all..... I want to go back and do it all again, now that the trail is clear ahahahhahaha
Great pics!!!
I heard from Lloyd and he took some 1800 photos! Once he whittles it down we should have some pretty amazing photos of the trip ;D
https://www.facebook.com/legendaryfinds/videos/931660526894386/
This will show you what it felt like on the trails lol.
That is Bills Binford
I know everyone is eager to see the pictures. So, here are some to whet your appetite.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5756/20170280163_5c317db088_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wJnXz6)2015-07-27_12-07-05 (https://flic.kr/p/wJnXz6) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
The not yet motley crew.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5736/20603138320_19b48d34d9_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xoCtdL)2015-07-27_12-26-58 (https://flic.kr/p/xoCtdL) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
Preparing for the water.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/729/20170108183_4ec7575d57_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wJn5rV)2015-07-27_12-40-12 (https://flic.kr/p/wJn5rV) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/665/20602982818_d34115fd1a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xoBEZG)2015-07-27_13-00-02 (https://flic.kr/p/xoBEZG) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5667/20790882315_b21d0b684d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xFdGYc)2015-07-27_13-01-23 (https://flic.kr/p/xFdGYc) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5766/20781330262_baeb090224_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xEnKtC)2015-07-27_13-03-45 (https://flic.kr/p/xEnKtC) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/596/20764405106_4dab3e9f36_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xCT1dA)2015-07-27_13-05-52 (https://flic.kr/p/xCT1dA) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5659/20781194262_cdda668136_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xEn43N)2015-07-27_13-05-58 (https://flic.kr/p/xEn43N) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
A sign of things to come.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5676/20602536958_3115706fc6_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xozoss)2015-07-27_13-22-14 (https://flic.kr/p/xozoss) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5665/20797335241_f491b2f178_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xFMMcx)2015-07-27_14-28-37 (https://flic.kr/p/xFMMcx) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/682/20764066456_1fd24c74b4_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xCRgxN)2015-07-27_14-29-40 (https://flic.kr/p/xCRgxN) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/722/20790226715_dcb98d916c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xFam5K)2015-07-27_14-47-50 (https://flic.kr/p/xFam5K) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5825/20763899336_fc4bf842f0_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xCQpSq)2015-07-27_14-51-39 (https://flic.kr/p/xCQpSq) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/646/20797126871_dde39d3fba_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xFLHfX)2015-07-27_15-24-30 (https://flic.kr/p/xFLHfX) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/687/20789880995_b954633a4c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xF8zj4)2015-07-27_15-39-48 (https://flic.kr/p/xF8zj4) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
They'll be ready when I say their ready.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5749/20601525580_e98f68d4b9_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xoucNU)2015-07-27_18-16-12 (https://flic.kr/p/xoucNU) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
The master of the menu.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/685/20780001292_1efc29d50c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xEfWqm)2015-07-27_19-31-10 (https://flic.kr/p/xEfWqm) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5747/20763181396_85bf7320c0_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xCLJs9)2015-07-27_19-31-25 (https://flic.kr/p/xCLJs9) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5701/20168033983_a12a5da29a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wJbrRR)2015-07-28_11-13-02 (https://flic.kr/p/wJbrRR) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/782/20779414332_4019f679dd_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xEcVWm)2015-07-28_11-53-46 (https://flic.kr/p/xEcVWm) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
Another sign of things to come.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/651/20167787673_6f73086a57_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wJabD8)2015-07-28_11-58-24 (https://flic.kr/p/wJabD8) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
The rock sliders primary use. Good work Bruce.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5646/20167583583_7b30af5fd6_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wJ98Yk)2015-07-28_12-53-17 (https://flic.kr/p/wJ98Yk) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5790/20167492323_edf4b8f76d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wJ8EQT)2015-07-28_13-23-31 (https://flic.kr/p/wJ8EQT) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
I know there's a trail around here somewhere.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5662/20788349025_4cef3c3927_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xEZHUM)2015-07-28_13-42-43 (https://flic.kr/p/xEZHUM) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/756/20777862602_d3442fdbf5_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xE4YEo)2015-07-28_18-58-13 (https://flic.kr/p/xE4YEo) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5655/20598663378_3ddba86950_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xoewYA)2015-07-29_09-28-11 (https://flic.kr/p/xoewYA) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5677/20786565795_5aa7fb4e35_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xEQzPr)2015-07-29_09-29-03 (https://flic.kr/p/xEQzPr) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5649/20598273218_cab9200141_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xocwZG)2015-07-29_09-48-32 (https://flic.kr/p/xocwZG) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/674/20793209261_d16f5236ba_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xFqCFX)2015-07-29_10-12-19 (https://flic.kr/p/xFqCFX) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5766/20793152841_78661b31cd_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xFqkVc)2015-07-29_10-19-07 (https://flic.kr/p/xFqkVc) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5790/20162516694_5f213b665b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wHGaLb)2015-07-29_12-57-18 (https://flic.kr/p/wHGaLb) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5747/20162479804_9270d82a6e_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wHFYN9)2015-07-29_13-04-33 (https://flic.kr/p/wHFYN9) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5755/20163389553_f3f96cde5a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wHLDet)2015-07-29_13-31-52 (https://flic.kr/p/wHLDet) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
The trail taketh and the trail giveth.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5680/20161690644_c85bd1f08a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wHBWcW)2015-07-29_13-58-44 (https://flic.kr/p/wHBWcW) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
Not exactly the right positioning of the rear diff guard.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5618/20774338972_1cd88f3a2b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xDKVd9)2015-07-29_16-38-50 (https://flic.kr/p/xDKVd9) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
Fortress of El-Zein
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5694/20595443578_68f71c7ba6_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xnX2QN)2015-07-29_19-44-12 (https://flic.kr/p/xnX2QN) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
Still smiling.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/674/20160415054_c81e497c6c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wHvp21)2015-07-30_10-40-53 (https://flic.kr/p/wHvp21) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
Did you hear the joke about the two fishermen ...
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5804/20756699836_0a5a283106_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xCcvH7)2015-07-30_12-22-19 (https://flic.kr/p/xCcvH7) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
The handyman's secret weapon and your Land Rover.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/773/20161717343_4343a8f9f7_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wHC59g)2015-07-30_16-45-10 (https://flic.kr/p/wHC59g) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5649/20756217896_8de9035329_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xCa3rN)2015-07-31_09-15-50 (https://flic.kr/p/xCa3rN) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5668/20779200875_6937f44bb0_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xEbQu4)2015-08-01_17-22-57 (https://flic.kr/p/xEbQu4) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5638/20158216753_2d259b9979_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wHj8xg)2015-08-01_17-30-49 (https://flic.kr/p/wHj8xg) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5687/20590309810_2a3fb9cebd_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xnuHKy)2015-08-01_23-32-21 (https://flic.kr/p/xnuHKy) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
The much more motley crew.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5685/20784593821_8cd6d6f1c2_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xEEtBT)2015-08-03_11-42-31 (https://flic.kr/p/xEEtBT) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
A little gratuitous mud.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5800/20156499393_a4b11cb252_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wHak2B)2015-08-03_12-26-28 (https://flic.kr/p/wHak2B) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
Still dealing with tires.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5831/20156074213_830691e8ac_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wH89CV)2015-08-03_17-40-45 (https://flic.kr/p/wH89CV) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
I guess that wasn't enough gas.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5706/20750742696_be611f5c5d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xBEYRN)2015-08-03_19-03-02 (https://flic.kr/p/xBEYRN) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
[Almost] Clean again.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5719/20750680616_701df3aa2c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xBEEps)2015-08-03_21-20-18 (https://flic.kr/p/xBEEps) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
Concentration
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5719/20750531566_ef1d081c55_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xBDU6C)2015-08-04_10-54-54 (https://flic.kr/p/xBDU6C) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
Bill with his biggest fan. :)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5767/20155792753_cdac1082f0_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wH6GYa)2015-08-04_10-59-25 (https://flic.kr/p/wH6GYa) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
Great shots Lloyd!
Yeah.....Great Job Lloyd!!!! Some wonderful shots there.....Looking forward to seeing some more ;-)
Epic. Truly Epic.
Wish I could have joined you guys.
Thanks for the pic's.
Hey Matt, Get a couple of guys together and go now.....very little if any trail clearing required for the next month or so ahhahahahahhahah
The full collection of images (all 1812 of them) is posted to Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/albums/72157657097176396 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/albums/72157657097176396)
Just came back from viewing the lot! WOW!!!! Great job Lloyd!!! ;)
Yes. excellent collection of pictures. want to relive the adventure again.
Fantastic coillection of photos Lloyd, very nicely done!
And, one I forgot about (it was on my phone).
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5648/20638694300_8118e97f09_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xrLGLU)2015-07-27_10-08-31 (https://flic.kr/p/xrLGLU) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
bene, bene!!!!
One more image for you.
I took the GPS tracks from Trevor and Emad and edited them into 5 separate files: Quesnel to trailhead, the trail, Gatcho Lake to Anhim Lake, Anahim Lake to Bella Coola and major waypoints. The end result is this map.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/682/21443472986_d9cf691af3_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/yETpru)2015-08-04_Trail-Map (https://flic.kr/p/yETpru) by lropchan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lropchan/), on Flickr
FYI, here are some of the tools I used:
http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/map_input?form=google (http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/map_input?form=google) - Overlay GPX files on Google Map
http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/convert_input (http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/convert_input) - Convert Google Maps route to GPX file
ADLE Lite from http://kobotsw.com/ (http://kobotsw.com/) - OS X Application to manipulate GPX files
Text Editor - Old school editing of raw GPX data
So.....is this now a pic (which is great!!!!) or do we have a gpx file of this product too....so I can add it to my library of AMT memorabilia? ;-)
Really nice job on that Lloyd, well done!
That would make a great inside cover page or center page in a book ;-)
I saw the draft for the poster. Lloyd has a big surprise for us up his sleeve. Wait till you see it.
Looks like that Yeep crew from BC (that was suppose to go before we did, and clear the trail) is going to try the AMT next August long. Anyone want to do it again? ::)
I'll go again :)
Quote from: binch on September 23, 2015, 11:53 PM
Looks like that Yeep crew from BC (that was suppose to go before we did, and clear the trail) is going to try the AMT next August long. Anyone want to do it again? ::)
Do you need to dress your "Wolf" in sheep's clothing to fit in? ;D ;D
I would go again. I will bring Spare tires and Chainsaw too.
I am working out the order for the poster that we have prepared with Lloyd for this trip. Two samples were shown during the club meeting last week. The hard mounted poster with photographic high resolution print and coating was around $85 dollars per unit. Paper print on quality paper and high resolution imaging is around $45 dollars.
These are produced locally in town with Glen Millar's help.
Please let me know by this Friday October 16 so I can place the orders. Delivery for out of town will be extra. I will finalize the final costs once I have the quantity.
Look forward to your response.
Kindly,
--
Emad El-Zein
Jeffery took some of the video clips that he and Lori took and made a great little video out of it. John, you may recognise some of the trail still.....
https://www.dropbox.com/s/t6g6evlllzgqgsl/AM%20Trail%202015%202.mp4?oref=e (https://www.dropbox.com/s/t6g6evlllzgqgsl/AM%20Trail%202015%202.mp4?oref=e)
Nice video. It gives a good feeling for the terrain. It also shows nicely how to off road and be friendly to the environment. I won't report Craig to OHSA. :)
Quote from: Red90 on November 10, 2015, 11:39 AM
Nice video. It gives a good feeling for the terrain. It also shows nicely how to off road and be friendly to the environment. I won't report Craig to OHSA. :)
Forget OHSA.....Give him a goalie mask and call him Jason 28 LOL
Great video!
I would like to finalize the order for the Alexander MacKenzie trail Poster. The Price is at $90 dollars for the hard backboard copy and $50 dollars for the paper copy. This will cover the GST. They are produced locally. Shipping costs would be extra.
I would like to place the order by Monday, December 7th. Please let me know if you are interested in a copy.
cheers,
Emad El-Zein
Count me in for one please Emad.
Man that was a great trip.
Bill, do you happen to have the link to that Jeep groups thread on their 2016 trip. I've got an itch to run this again, but I'd really like to go on the heals of another group, and spend some more time fishing/relaxing rather than sawing...had enough sawing :).
I like your way of thinking big guy! Do the trail after someone else has cleared it for us ;) And the other option....do it backwards ;-)
pm sent
Quote from: binch on December 06, 2015, 11:29 AM
I like your way of thinking big guy! Do the trail after someone else has cleared it for us ;) And the other option....do it backwards ;-)
pm sent
Yes, I think the Bella Coola ==> Quesnel route would be the way to go next time. Get the tough stuff out of the way first
Quote from: Trevor on December 06, 2015, 12:48 PM
Quote from: binch on December 06, 2015, 11:29 AM
I like your way of thinking big guy! Do the trail after someone else has cleared it for us ;) And the other option....do it backwards ;-)
pm sent
Yes, I think the Bella Coola ==> Quesnel route would be the way to go next time. Get the tough stuff out of the way first
There is that rocky approach down to the lake on the first day that might be a bit of a tough slog going back up though...... ???
I don't recall that part Bill. The lake you refer to, was that the one we camped at the first night?
Once we turned south off the main trail and started heading down to the campsite at that lake, about 600m or so.... There was a short steep rocky sown hill section in there, with a fork in the trail that offered two routes down (bad and worse). In dry conditions the west side of the fork would be doable but I have a sneaky suspicion it would require winching to get up safely. It would slow us down but I don't thing it would stop us ;-)
Quote from: binch on December 07, 2015, 06:59 AM
Once we turned south off the main trail and started heading down to the campsite at that lake, about 600m or so.... There was a short steep rocky sown hill section in there, with a fork in the trail that offered two routes down (bad and worse). In dry conditions the west side of the fork would be doable but I have a sneaky suspicion it would require winching to get up safely. It would slow us down but I don't thing it would stop us ;-)
But that detour to the lake, is just that, a detour.... You can stay on the main trail or go in and out the other way.
Quote from: binch on December 07, 2015, 06:59 AM
Once we turned south off the main trail and started heading down to the campsite at that lake, about 600m or so.... There was a short steep rocky sown hill section in there, with a fork in the trail that offered two routes down (bad and worse). In dry conditions the west side of the fork would be doable but I have a sneaky suspicion it would require winching to get up safely. It would slow us down but I don't thing it would stop us ;-)
Ok, I remember the spot. Yes, I don't think it would stop us, might slow us down a tad depending upon the weather. Mind you, that trail would take on an entirely different look if it was raining hard for a few days, or if there was an exceptionally wet spring/summer.
I am reading a book called "Alone Against the North" by Adam Shoalts. It's a modern explorer canoeing his way through uncharted rivers and creeks. In his book there is a chapter about Bella Coola. Apparently, it has 600 members of the Nuxalk tribe.
The forest is a rain forest. And within it are sacered sites were 3000 year old petroglyphs sites exist. A guide would be needed to reach these sacred sites.
Needless to say, we were lucky not to encounter the Sasquash...the Windigos ....Mr Big Foot. And we did not turn into cannibals.
I think a second trip starting in Bella Coola and going North would be a good adventure.
They winds of adventure are already blowing ;)