Whipsaw/Hedley trip

[lars]

I'll post a more detailed Whipsaw trip report later on, but for now, here are a few pics.

http://bb.bc4x4.com/temp/lbd1.jpg
The Whipsaw portion of our trip was quite uneventful, except for when Yolanta peeled back the inside lip of her aluminum rim about 1km past Falcon Hill.

http://bb.bc4x4.com/temp/lbd2.jpg
Fortunately, she had a full-size (and inflated!) spare so we weren't there for too long. It was the only time we had to pull her Liberty over an obstacle.

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Found this Subaru on trail about 45 min. east of Wells Lake. Since the plates were still on it, I assume it broke down and then some a**holes vandalized the car.

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Early Sunday evening, we reached the 2nd goal of our trip, a mine shaft above Hedley.

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You can see the entrance just above my Jeep.

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It was a very wide, very straight shaft that climbed a constant grade deep into the rock. Angle must've been 20-30 deg all the way and it was a b*tch to climb, like doing an indoor Grouse Grind.

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Unfortunately, it dead-ended at a rock wall. Here's a close up of some weird slime we saw growing near the end.

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Our plan of camping at our "secret campsite" on the south side of Nickel Plate Mtn was foiled when we found this unoccupied teepee sitting in the dark. It was a bit weird so we left.

...lars

[Wes Rempel]

Originally posted by lars
http://bb.bc4x4.com/temp/lbd3.jpg
Found this Subaru on trail about 45 min. east of Wells Lake. Since the plates were still on it, I assume it broke down and then some a**holes vandalized the car.


That plate looks like it expired last year?

Was the Bronco still up there?

[Ian_R]

The Subaru was left up there the weekend before. It was left by a group from Princeton who said they make an annual pilgrimage on the trail. Around 8 trucks and 20+ very drunk people. We ran into them while we were camping at Wells. They assured me that they were coming back to get the car after the weekend :rolleyes: . The car looked like that when they left it. They were quite the spectacle and their convoy included a new off the showroom floor Dodge 3500 which was getting really beat on and a pickup with a couch in the back for passengers.

We went the weekend before the long weekend to avoid the partying groups. I guess that kind of backfired.

[Wes Rempel]

Originally posted by lars

http://bb.bc4x4.com/temp/lbd8.jpg
Our plan of camping at our "secret campsite" on the south side of Nickel Plate Mtn was foiled when we found this unoccupied teepee sitting in the dark. It was a bit weird so we left.

...lars

Its been up there for a couple years now. More bones on it each time we see it...

Wes

[lars]

Originally posted by Wes Rempel
Its been up there for a couple years now. More bones on it each time we see it...
You ever seen anyone there?

As for the Bronco, there were a group of other trucks surrounding one that definitely looked abandoned, but one of the surrounding trucks was a rather beat looking Bronco, too, so I couldn't tell if it was a driver or not.

...lars

[Wes Rempel]

Originally posted by lars

You ever seen anyone there?



Nope. We have been in there 4 or 5 times in the last 2 years and never seen anyone else there.

Wes

[lars]

Originally posted by Ian_R
We went the weekend before the long weekend to avoid the partying groups. I guess that kind of backfired.
There were two big groups there this weekend. Ours and the Zuk/Mog guys, one of whom had brought his GF's Rabbit. They're good guys so I'm sure they'll succeed in getting the car out.

BrentOlsen from this board was also there with another Toyota buddy and they visited with us for a bit at our camp.

...lars

[ChrisL]

Originally posted by lars

There were two big groups there this weekend. Ours and the Zuk/Mog guys, one of whom had brought his GF's Rabbit. They're good guys so I'm sure they'll succeed in getting the car out.

BrentOlsen from this board was also there with another Toyota buddy and they visited with us for a bit at our camp.

...lars

Did you miss your cooking grill at Hedley :-)? It's in my garage now with Yolanta's water bottle.

I believe that they got the Rabbit out as we didn't see it on the trail yesterday. The white bronco was rolled over on it's side, held up by some poles. It's starting to get stripped pretty well now.

Chris.

[lars]

Originally posted by ChrisL
Did you miss your cooking grill at Hedley :-)? It's in my garage now with Yolanta's water bottle.
You mean you didn't hear my blood-curdling scream of anguish when I discovered it was missing about 1 hr after we left camp?



I believe that they got the Rabbit out as we didn't see it on the trail yesterday. The white bronco was rolled over on it's side, held up by some poles. It's starting to get stripped pretty well now.

I suppose that's a good thing (if it's the owner who stripped it). In any case, it's going to be harder to pull that Bronco out of there, now. This is a job for a 'Mog...with a crane in the bed.

...lars

[xjtank]

You guys talking about a big white bronco north of Falcon Hill???
It was attatched to a tree via winch cable.

That thing was sitting there July 1st when we went by.

[Lone Ranger]

Yeah, you see quite a few vehicles enter that trail only to not make it out. Almost as funny as the drunk bastard last year who destroyed his Ranger in the mudholes at Wells Lake. Completely stock 4 cyl '83 Ranger that they'd sawzalled enough metal out of the fenders to fit 35's and 4" straight pipe exhaust... Blew a rear driveshaft then a front axle shaft all within about 3 min. He sure didn't look too impressed when he sobered up in the morning :soso

All they'd need to do up there is that it'd be required that vehicles entering must register (with RCMP, or whoever) so that they can keep track of who's on the trail and you'd be required to phone when you exit... Just a bit of a suggestion but it is a long and nasty enough trail that it wouldn't be a bad idea (regarding missing persons or vehicles). Just my .02 LR

[ChrisL]

Originally posted by xjtank
You guys talking about a big white bronco north of Falcon Hill???
It was attatched to a tree via winch cable.

That thing was sitting there July 1st when we went by.

That's the one. I missed the winch cable (didn't look too closely) but there were 2 tree poles holding it up on it's side too.

Chris.

[ChrisL]

Originally posted by lars

You mean you didn't hear my blood-curdling scream of anguish when I discovered it was missing about 1 hr after we left camp?

...lars

Don't worry, I put it to good use. We cooked 18 steaks on it that day
:clown

Let me know when you want it back. :D

[Flex]

So that's what "Yo" (Yolanta) is driving these days huh? A bit of a departure from her one ton chevy:p

[Brentolsten]

yeah thats a fun trail first time really wheeling the sas and it walked over everything like it was nothing

lars we got confused on ur guys direction with the roads and just took the same way out as we took in. all and all fun trail.

[lars]

Originally posted by Brentolsten
yeah thats a fun trail first time really wheeling the sas and it walked over everything like it was nothing

lars we got confused on ur guys direction with the roads and just took the same way out as we took in. all and all fun trail.
Brent, it was nice meeting you. Your Toyota was definitely overbuilt for the Whipsaw. ;-) Glad you had a fun time.

...lars

[Brentolsten]

i think 90% of the trucks we saw ip there were over built for the whipsaw as ive heard u say. ur jeeps on 35s got this and that transfer case locked loaded and u still enjoy running the whipsaw. good trail to learn how to drive a built truck on.

[lars]

Originally posted by Brentolsten
i think 90% of the trucks we saw ip there were over built for the whipsaw as ive heard u say. ur jeeps on 35s got this and that transfer case locked loaded and u still enjoy running the whipsaw.
Yep, you're definitely right, there. The Liberty that was with us had a 2" lift and rear LSD and it only had problems on one spot, and even then, I'm sure it could've made it if it took a different line and/or the ground was the dry.

But the Whipsaw has some great scenery. My passenger never 'wheeled in BC before (he grew up in Oz) and he really enjoyed himself.

...lars

[Broncomania]

That car was still there, Chris you must have looked right instead of left, we took the plate number down when we drove past it (about 50' in front of you :).

The trip was fun for us except when an ATV whipped past me in my Bronco, he clipped my quater panel and took off. Now I am left with an unsightly dent. It would have been OK I guess if the guy at least apologized.

[Wes Rempel]

Originally posted by Broncomania
The trip was fun for us except when an ATV whipped past me in my Bronco, he clipped my quater panel and took off. Now I am left with an unsightly dent.

Don't you just hate it when you are rolling along at a slow speed and one of these fast little machines decides they want to "get to know you better?"
I had a dirt bike inspecting the underside of my rad last year and a few years back a quad drove into the back of a friend's Ranger that was parked (and only a week old BTW)

But other times these guys are great. Passed a rather large group of them near Wells in July. They all slowed down and we each pulled over. The lead bike even said "hi Wes" as he went by. Not that I could recognize him under all that gear, but I have an idea...

Wes

[ChrisL]

Originally posted by Broncomania
That car was still there, Chris you must have looked right instead of left, we took the plate number down when we drove past it (about 50' in front of you :).

The trip was fun for us except when an ATV whipped past me in my Bronco, he clipped my quater panel and took off. Now I am left with an unsightly dent. It would have been OK I guess if the guy at least apologized.

Different car my bro :) . The car on the trail was the Subaru. The one Larry and I were talking about was that little Rabbit that came in with the 'Mogs. It was amazing that they managed to get that one out of there.

Chris.

[its_a_zuk_thing]

Originally posted by xjtank
You guys talking about a big white bronco north of Falcon Hill???
It was attatched to a tree via winch cable.

That thing was sitting there July 1st when we went by.

i saw that there tooo

[fronco]

the subaru belongs to a local fellow, who hitched a ride on the aforementioned couch on the back of the big ford for the rest of the trip.Ya , I was part of that one, in my rather beat bronco.the dodge got a flat on the way out, so he got new tires and we did it again last weekend, then I blew a sidewall in one of my new bfg's.:laugh

[lars]

Originally posted by fronco
the subaru belongs to a local fellow, who hitched a ride on the aforementioned couch on the back of the big ford for the rest of the trip.Ya , I was part of that one, in my rather beat bronco.the dodge got a flat on the way out, so he got new tires and we did it again last weekend, then I blew a sidewall in one of my new bfg's.:laugh
Is he planning on getting the car out of there? I didn't have a close look but as I drove away, it looked like the rear control arms were torn away from the differential.

I'd just hate to see two (the Bronco and the Subie) more car-casses littering the Whipsaw. It's bad enough that the upturned Scout II is still there.


...lars

[johnny hendrix]

Is there a good map of this trail? id love to run it! i am close by too :|

[fronco]

yes , I do believe he is going to get the car out of there

[Big Dawg]

is it possible to get the scout out of there? I have never been to whipsaw but i mean i would go if you think we could pull the junk off the trail hate to see good places get closed from stuff like that ....... is it possible maybe in the spring i got some work to do on my rig before i take her off road again:canadian

[Wes Rempel]

Originally posted by Big Dawg
ithe junk off the trail hate to see good places get closed from stuff like that .......

Its not the abandoned vehicles that will close Whipsaw, but rather all the meadow running. Some people think the mud holes in the meadows are part of the trail when infact they are obviously not. They are watering holes and grass lands for cattle and wildlife. Habitat destruction from vandalism will close that area.

[Big Dawg]

I understand what you are saying but by leaving vehicles on trail not saying you (i know better then that) but people in general wouldn't that help the cities and forestry close trail i know destroy'n meadows and river beds is not good but keeping a trail clean leaves it nice for all to enjoy and well I don;t want to ramble is it possible to pull that scout out? I like to do my part when I go wheeling to keep it nice and clean if it involves picking up a abandond vehicle every now and then I don;t mind.:canadian

[Wes Rempel]

The garbage and abandoned vehicles are the easy part to deal with. The wheels are already in motion to remove the vehicles that are there, but due to timing, they may not come out till spring.

[Big Dawg]

thanx

[Big Country Customs]

when you were in hedley did you see the house that had the weird built solarium? ( if i spelled it right?) its all made from windshields..thats a weird town...

[lars]

Originally posted by 1/2toy1/2chevy
when you were in hedley did you see the house that had the weird built solarium? ( if i spelled it right?) its all made from windshields..thats a weird town...
Yeah, my wife and I actually saw it about 3 weekends ago when we scouted the route out in our camper van. Pretty cool.

Not many people actually drive INTO Hedley.

...lars

[Big Country Customs]

Originally posted by lars

Yeah, my wife and I actually saw it about 3 weekends ago when we scouted the route out in our camper van. Pretty cool.

Not many people actually drive INTO Hedley.

...lars

yea we went camping there a few weeks ago steamwinder?? 1st time there..was one of the best camping trips ever.went to princeton and bought some big inner tubes and drove up river about 15 min, had about a 1.5hr inner tube ride down..went dirtbikeing across from the campground dont know the mt? and have never seen so much wild life!!!!! dirt bikeing...but dusty!!!..but yea we went into the town a couple times getting ice and what not...checked that house out every time:)...wierd....

[chotaon33's]

where abouts is that mine shaft ?? it wasnt on whipsaw was it? and does anybody know of a good couple day trail with good fly fishing?

[lars]

where abouts is that mine shaft ?? it wasnt on whipsaw was it? and does anybody know of a good couple day trail with good fly fishing?
It's somewhere above Hedley.

...lars

[brianjwiebe]

I've always wanted to do this trip, but I don't know where to start from. If I could get a map....that'd be perfect. Does anyone have some info on it for me? it would be much appreciated. Brian.