Went to the Elaho Valley today

[lars]

Went for a drive today to explore some of the roads around the Elaho
Valley north of Squamish. Wil and I had a couple of loaner Jeep Rubicons and Chris Bradley came along with his infamous Bronco. It was gorgeous weather, which was great, but the roads were quite dusty.

The views of the surrounding mountains were astounding, as were the views of the Elaho River.


Turbid River


Chris' Ford Bronco (Big Blue)


High above the Elaho


Standing by this waterfall was a fantastic way to cool off. It was like stepping under a cold shower.


Testing the off-road abilities of the Rubicon.

Although I've known Chris for years, through this board, this was the first time we've actually gone 'wheeling together. Maybe the next time we 'wheel together I'll actually bring my own Jeep.

This was a bit of a throw back to when I first starting 'wheeling since moving to Vancouver. More of an exploration and scenery trip. Even without the hardcore 'wheeling obstacles, we had a great time. I wouldn't mind doing more of these kinds of trips but I think I'd need to find the parts for my roof because I would HATE driving in that much dust without a full soft top on.


...lars

[Bronco Boy]

Awesome pictures Larry.

I had a great time. I always enjoy these more mellower runs; just kick back and enjoy the scenery, especially the scantilly cladded female campers.

[Bronco Boy]

Was a little hot 'n dusty, but the scenery and the company more than made up for it. All my pics are here.


Turning around on a dead end trail:





Heading back down the mountain:





Another dead end trail, but man what a view:





Blue posing:









We stopped for lunch at this creek:







Then we climbed into the hills:





Where's Waldo:





And surprise surprise, another great view:





On the way back, we stopped at this creek to cool down:







Wil had to head for home, but me and Larry went up Paradise Valley to check out the lower Starvation trail.



I just squeaked between the rocks:





The crossing of the tracks:





The Rubicon made it no problem:





More posing by the Chekamus River:







On the way out of the Elaho, we came upon a stranded group of motorists'; the ML320 on bald street tires and 48psi had a flat. I put three plugs in the hole and filled it with air, and it actually held. I was surprised. Got me a warm Corona out of the deal though.

[waltman]

Another nice day and cool pics for the record books, Chris.

[waltman]

Woohoo! Nice vistas!

[Bronco Boy]

Got the GPS track, sort of:





The thing was working fine and I was watching the map on the way back towards Paradise Valley, but the track seems to have disappeared somewhere's around where we stopped to help Mr. ML320 and his airless tire. Which is wierd cuz the trace should just continue. Oh well, I winged it with the magic blue pen, and we covered so much area and Google Earth is so blurry up there that you probably couldn't tell the difference anyways

[waltman]

The thing was working fine and I was watching the map on the way back towards Paradise Valley, but the track seems to have disappeared somewhere's around where we stopped to help Mr. ML320 and his airless tire. Which is wierd cuz the trace should just continue. Oh well, I winged it with the magic blue pen, and we covered so much area and Google Earth is so blurry up there that you probably couldn't tell the difference anyways

Do you have a wire connected to constant power to remember where you've been when the ignition is turned off?


You really like the GPS don't you?

[Bronco Boy]

Do you have a wire connected to constant power to remember where you've been when the ignition is turned off?

Well, I did, until I did my 3G swap and re-wired my auxillary fuse block. But even before that, the tracks would just stop and start. I leave the ignition on just enough to keep power to the GPS, so the only off time it see's is when I start the truck, which usually doesn't kill the trace. The wired thing is that the trace was there until we stopped to plug ML320's tire, and I did leave the GPS hot. Who know's.

I did notice yesterday that the program changed between "GPS GPS" mode and.......damn it, I can't remember the other mode. The manual says nothing about these different modes.

You really like the GPS don't you?

Yup. It is nice to see exactly where you were, not just guessing.

I've had it for a long time, but the original software and antenna really sucked. Now I'm running SirfstarIII antenna's now, and man, what a difference. I'm still looking for some good software though.



PS

This fee Corona sure tastes good now that it's icy cold.

[shorepig]

Broncoboy,

I'm guessing there was no water to cross on your way to Starvation? That's incredible, because I was up there last weekend and I couldn't get up to Starvation because the Cheakamus river was so swollen and was flooding the road to the tracks from the snow melt! It was up to my headlights! That riverbank that you guys took the picture on was under three feet of water. It's incredible how much the landscape can change...and so quickly. Did you guys make it to the lake...and up the other side to the HWY?

On another note...that raging waterfall on the N side of the Elaho valley road is insane early in the spring. It was flowing so strong, and created so much mist/water.....that I was actualy able to take a shower while standing on the bridge....crazy!

Up to Starvation before the hillclimb to the tracks:
[url]www.evolvelandscape.com/images/IMGP2767.JPG[url]

the waterfall on the Elaho valley Road:
www.evolvelandscape.com/images/IMGP2729.JPG

[shorepig]

Ok, I just thought I'd add in my "posing" shot too...also on the banks of the Cheakamus river.....in March. This is an awesome place to camp...as long as you have a nice flat truck to sleep in!

Elaho valley
www.evolvelandscape.com/images/IMGP2629.JPG

Cheakamus River (where Broncoboy posed)
www.evolvelandscape.com/images/IMGP2635.JPG

Cheakamus River
www.evolvelandscape.com/images/IMGP2637.JPG

[Bronco Boy]

Broncoboy,

I'm guessing there was no water to cross on your way to Starvation?

Nope, none at all.

That's incredible, because I was up there last weekend and I couldn't get up to Starvation because the Cheakamus river was so swollen and was flooding the road to the tracks from the snow melt! It was up to my headlights! That riverbank that you guys took the picture on was under three feet of water. It's incredible how much the landscape can change...and so quickly.

As we came through that last strecth along the river (before the trail starts to clinb up) it did look like there had been a lot of water there recently.

Did you guys make it to the lake...and up the other side to the HWY?

No. Our plans were to get to the tracks and turn around.

On another note...that raging waterfall on the N side of the Elaho valley road is insane early in the spring. It was flowing so strong, and created so much mist/water.....that I was actualy able to take a shower while standing on the bridge....crazy!

It was spraying pretty good yesterday. I stood in the centre of the bridge for about a minute, and I was nice and wet for the rest of the drive.

Up to Starvation before the hillclimb to the tracks:

Wow!

[lars]

I'm guessing there was no water to cross on your way to Starvation? That's incredible, because I was up there last weekend and I couldn't get up to Starvation because the Cheakamus river was so swollen and was flooding the road to the tracks from the snow melt!

My buddy, Clay, who came with us yesterday, was talking about flooding when we were driving through that area. The last time him and I were there, the road was flooded but not as bad as what you encountered.

change...and so quickly. Did you guys make it to the lake...and up the other side to the HWY?

We were low on time so didn't even bother to try cross the tracks. I was also skeptical that the 4-door JK would have sufficient ground clearance to drive over the rail bed. Besides, that would be wrong.

---

Bronco Boy, hope you don't mind but I merged your thread into mine because, well, I can. ;-) Nice pics and thanks again for babysitting us.

...lars

[Bronco Boy]

Bronco Boy, hope you don't mind but I merged your thread into mine because, well, I can. ;-)

I guess it is ok. Do I have choice?

Nice pics.....

Thanks.

.....and thanks again for babysitting us.

No problem. It was a fun day.

[Goof]

I'm still looking for some good software though.

I'm using the "Backroad's Mapbook" digital files overlayed over Google Earth. Seems to work really well for me. You can't really do any editing, and I haven't figured out how to take a route created in Google Earth onto my Garmin...but it's nicer than just Google Earth's satalite images.

http://www.backroadmapbooks.com/inde...roducts_id=228
Just make sure you get a Version 2, it's a lot nicer to work with.

Let me know if you find something better

[lars]

FYI on that trip, I was using OziExplorer which was loading digitized provincial topo maps, and digitized BC Backroads Maps. My Garmin GPS was also loaded with Garmin's Topo Canada vector maps. This was my first time using a laptop for navigating and I gotta say, having the larger screen was nice. On the other hand, this was the first time in a LOT of years where I was in a vehicle that was fairly well sealed against dust.

I usually just use my Garmin since it does everything I need. But if I have the room and the conditions are suitable, I will probably start bringing along a laptop for exploration-type trips. For a laptop, I'm using an ASUS EEEPC. It has no hard drive. Just 4GB on solid-state storage, 2GB of RAM, and I put in an 8GB SD card. It also fits inside a glove box or center console, no problem. Screen is only 7" but it's LARGE compared to anything you'd find on a GPS unit. The 8GB SD card has plenty of room for all of the BC Backroads maps for BC, Garmin's Topo Canada, Garmin's CitySelect, and the digitized provincial topo maps.



Since it's got no hard drive, there's no worries about a disk crash while the unit is read/writing data while you're bouncing along a washboarded dirt road. Most of the time I had the laptop sitting on the floor of the Jeep while it was monitoring our position (it was plugged into my Garmin via a USB cable).

On yeah, it's only $400 at Staples. For around $300-350, you could guy the model with 2GB of solid state memory. 2GB is easily enough to install XP if you do a LITE install and turn of page swapping.

...lars