Scouting trip for Cruiser Days.

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Fantom

Fantom

10 Year 15 Year
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Jun 1, 2006
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Port Coquitlam
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Seeing as you dogs elected me to be trail leader (what were you thinking?) and want to do a run up to Clear Creek / Big Silver area, I will have to do a scouting trip on Sunday (after a couple of hours of work). Does anyone want to save me the hassle of going down dead end trails all day long, all I see for a junction with the Fraser is Kookipi Creek FSR. I figured it would be a nice run to head up there and come back through Boston Bar. Has anyone done that trail recently? what condition was it in? I am hoping it has not become a large highway, but if it is does anyone know if any of the trails to the East off Harrison East actually meet up with either Hwy 1 or 7 and have not been gated?
If you've been there recently and know or at least have an idea that is based upon fact (not I've heard once that there might be something.....), call me, I will aim at heading out of PoCo around 10 - 11am (have to work in the morning).
604.803.3506
 
I went up East Harrison FSR about 3 years ago and took the Kookipi FSR north to the chain of lakes and returned home from Boston Bar via the Fraser canyon Highway 1. The Kookipi trip was uneventful gravel travel for the most part. There are some interesting river rock formations by the intersection of the E.Harrison Rd and the Kookipi FSR. There is also a picturesque canyon further up. You do pass an old mining area where the road is filled with rip rap from the mine tailings. I recall there was a burned out forest fire area at the north end and it stunk of burned pine trees. However, overall, the trip is only average. Up at the chain of lakes, that area is accessable by Pontiac Sunbirds, Hyundi Elantras, and SmartCars from the Boston Bar end. Also lots of Campers and cabins along the lakes and the camping costs $$. :bang:
 
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Crap! for an old guy you sure do remember pretty good, Bill.
 
Drew, the trip is on Sunday, today was Saturday. I know you have the same problem as me, when you work too much all the days just seem to blend. If you are interested we will be heading out of Port Coquitlam around 10am, stop in Mission for some food for the trip (and beer) and head out via Hwy 7. I talked to Pawel, who's friend has scouted many trails on his ATV in those areas and that trail might not work out for us. 4 weeks ago there was a small avalanche in that area that buried the trail (snow), but apparently there are a couple of washouts that might be in the way as well. So far Robert, Pawel and myself are heading out and we'll decide in the morning which trail we'll take for sure. Does anyone have any idea how many truck there will be? My concern with that region is that Kookipi is the only trail that is a loop, all of the other ones are dead end trails, how are we going to turn 15 - 20 trucks around on a small dead-end trail? That's why I was looking at something that would loop around. There is on the maps an old "hiking" or ATV trail that joins Clear Creek FSR with Spuzzum FSR, we might be looking at that option as well but Pawel was there 2 years ago on the Hot Springs side and could not find it. Either way, I don't want to do more then 5 trucks, since it might take too long and if anyone is interested or has any other credible ideas - call me 604.803.3506. I will not have time to check here for other updates.
 
It is possible to hike from Clear Creek to Spuzzum but you have to cross at least 2 creeks without bridges. I guess you could go up there and might try to beat a vehicle trail somehow down below and through shallow parts of the creeks, but it wouldn't be the type of trail to take inexperienced drivers. If this is a family affair with drivers of unknown skill levels, I would say don't go there. I would suggest we make that a club project at the end of the summer, maybe Labour Day weekend, and be prepared for tough going. We could always send in Mike McT to blaze the way through, eh? :idea:
 
Deny said:
Crap! for an old guy you sure do remember pretty good, Bill.
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You baiting me sonny? :p
Actually I guess that could be taken as a compliment! Anyway, that Nahatlach Lake system might be worth exploring farther upstream sometime, past Frances Lake, past Hannah L., and right up as far as we can go past Nahatlach Lake.
 
So I just came back from the trip and need to unwind so I might as well do the report and have a beer.
Members present: Rod M., Robert C., and myself, Pawel could not make it. The trail we chose was off Harrison East, just past the Logging camp, called Cogburn Creek FSR. It came as a recommendation from a friend of Roberts who scouted it 4 weeks ago on an ATV and was stopped by snow. Harrison East was it's usual dusty (very) and bumpy self filled with little cars, mini-vans and trucks heading back from camping. We got onto Cogburn on the West side of the bridge and headed North, a very nice, less dusty and easy trail. We continued following the trail that snakes up through the mountain following the North side of the river and for the most part it is a laid back 2WD trail, there were a couple of dried up river crossings and wash out to deal with that required 4WD and me realigning my back bumper. The views were spectacular, we came to the end of the trail on the West side of Mount Baird. A U-turn and we headed back towards Harrison, but first took a detour off to Cogburn South trail which weaves up The Old Settler Mountain. This trail was more interesting and we agreed that it will be the Cruiser Days day trip. Narrow long forgotten paths that are over grown, cross ditches and tight crossings with dizzying drop off into the ravine. We cleared up a fair amount of rocks that were blocking some passages and finally came to the end of the drivable trail at over 1400 meters, and were rewarded with an amazing view. This too is a dead end but we have adequate turn around space. After some relaxing we headed back and regretted that decision as soon as we hit pavement.
Although the trails were not difficult some damages were incurred, I managed to realign my back bumper some more and added a rear quarter to my dent list, as well as I need a new tool box as my suffered unrepairable damage when my truck caught air on one of the bumps. Rod suffered some issues with his ARB air compressor (it's leaking something), a quite possibly fried battery and on the way home in Mission the rear driveshaft CV joint decided to give up. Luckily he ran into me on the highway and we took out the rear shaft before it could do more damage.
 
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Due to the fact that I am a dumb ass, it was 12:30am, had a couple of beers and was at the end of a very long day, I made a screw up (that's my story and I am sticking to it). In the report I wrote that Robert D. was on the trip, which was utterly wrong and I am sorry Robert. It has now been corrected to the rightful initial, Robert C.
 
Flycruiser said:
Cogburn Creek


Cogburn Creek July 2008 - a set on Flickr
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Man. I thought I was trigger happy. Lots of pics for one day but well worth it.

Okay. I wanta go! Anybody want to do another run out that way in Aug.:rolleyes: I bet that creek under the bridge damn near having you guys singing soprano but would be perfect spot in a few more weeks. BTW, looks like Mat has given up on his love of clear clean water and is happy to linger in the mud.:D
 
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1400 meters.Some of B.C.'s best scenery!One valley we got into was untouched by logging,fire,or pine beattle.Prestine is the best word to discribe it.
 
Fantom said:
Thanks for the lecture Bill, I wouldn't have guessed that inexperienced drivers might have issues on a non-existing trail (insert sarcasm here).
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You're welcome, Mat! ;) They paid me quite a bit of money for lectures.

Great pictures, as usual.
 
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