Canol Rd

[13B-T BJ60]

Because lot of people try from the Mac pass end, and end up causing significant environmental damage for the first 60 or so km.

 

[lowenbrau]

Not to rain on the parade, but traveling the Canol Heritage Trail from Mac Pass to Norman Wells by motorized vehicle is absolutely impossible. There are major river crossings, landslides, talus slopes and boulder fields, many sections completely overgrown by forest, endless boggy muskeg, crossing the Mackenzie river at the far end, and the list goes on - for 370 km. In essence, for all practical purposes, there is no road.

I was there just recently - not to try the CHT, but up the North Canol Road for other reasons. Many people follow a romantic notion (usually motorcycles), all with the same result - after a few tens of km of thrashing around, they return whipped and wet. Mention the idea of driving the Canol trail to anyone local and you'll get some chuckles. After the Roverlanders went through Ross River, the ferry operator just smiled and predicted they would be back in a few days, and sure enough, they were. No motorized vehicle has gone through since WWII.

Besides, there is a move afoot to designate the trail as a park reserve, prohibiting motorized vehicles, which would render the discussion moot.

Peter, Marc, Brad and I tried it last month. I piled up my transmission on day one and came home on a hook but the others gave it an effort. After a day and a half of running up rivers and many hours of knocking down endless alders on a two foot wide trail, they decided that they couldn't, in good conscience continue. It is, after all, a part of the trans Canada trail. When planning for it I met geologist who claimed to drive across with two trucks all the way to Norman Wells and back in 1969. The Rover guys were a week behind our crew and went much further but had some long days with very few KMs. You'd need a bout a month to do it, I figure.

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

Next project?

 

[Fantom]

I'll get in touch with Ryan from Alpine Grizzly, he had a trail suggestion but I don't remember the details of it. I'll figure something out

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

Matt - remember Ryan is in Norway for the winter- chasing romance

 

[Fantom]

I know, hopefully it works out for him, and if it doesn't I hope he survives it.