Island Exploring in early November (1 Viewer)

[bladedog]

Hi All.
Thought I'd post here to get any and all suggestions on where to explore on Vancouver Island with my wife the first week of November. We have never ventured anywhere other than from Nanaimo to Victoria/Sooke, and out to Tofino many moons ago.
We plan to head up the Sunshine Coast to Powell River, then cross to the Island. From there we're open to heading up to the end at Cape Scott. We will end up in Saanich via Sooke. We'd like to be off the beaten path as much as possible.
We've been to Tofino, so that's not a necessity, other than Virgin Falls looking like a nice place to camp.
We'd like to be able to vehicle camp as close to or on secluded beaches on the west coast as possible (we tread lightly), so wondering if Cape Palmerston, Raft Cove, Grant Bay are accessible.
Thinking of heading from Port Alberni to Bamfield, to Port Renfrew and out to Sooke for our South Island section.
We're travelling in a capable diesel 60, outfitted for truck-camping (no it's not 'Overlanding' ). We're comfortable with challenging driving conditions (i.e. Whipsaw, etc.) and actually prefer that to resource roads, have a GPS communication device, and VHF radios for RR travel. Also, I understand that there are many gated FSR's so it can get confusing out there.
Open to recommendations, and travelling companions if anyone else is available. We really don't travel to tight timelines, preferring to wing it.
There are lots of places to visit and we can eliminate the Sunshine Coast portion if we don't think we'll have time to throw that in there.
So, go ahead, throw it out there!
Thanks in advance!!!

 

[cruiserpilot]

Well, all that GPS and radio stuff is over rated. LOL! I never have anyone to talk to. BRMB. If you see a road that looks like it might go through try it out. I prefer Bing Maps over Google. They seem to encode the higher resolution as you scroll in. It has some cool extra features.
North island has some cool stuff I’d sure like to explore more. Maybe this winter.

 

[bladedog]

I know, but the GPS mapping is fun to play with. We picked up a Zoleo for our back country travels, and have used it frequently to comm with family, especially if we've run late. I've never tried Bing maps, so will check that out, thanks.

 

[bladedog]

Gaia Maps has a public tracks feature that shows how frequently a route gets used (faint green for seldom, to dark green for often, since it overlays). Works well also when you're trying to figure out if "that trail goes over the pass and into the next valley"...

 

[OTBT]

I am kind of old-fashioned so I rely on the BC Backroads map book for Vancouver Island. The main prolem with it is that it gets out of date too fast regarding gates and de-comissioning.

 

[cruiserpilot]

I am kind of old-fashioned so I rely on the BC Backroads map book for Vancouver Island. The main prolem with it is that it gets out of date too fast regarding gates and de-comissioning.

Keep old editions. I'm currently about 4 editions behind, so when I see an old road not on the new mapbook I got backup.
It works quite often

 

[bladedog]

Ok, so, where am I going?

 

[seapotato]

We just did a bit of a roadtrip up to the north end. Didn't do much dirt road stuff because most of the things you really want to see at the end of logging roads involve a hike, and we had a dog with us who's 15th birthday is tomorrow.
Big man don't hike.
Otherwise San Josef bay is one of the places to go up there..

We kinda just wandered around hardy and port Alice, McNeil etc.
Swmbo needed a few days away from work and her friends imploding personal lives.


Alice was surprisingly nice. Good coffee which was something port Hardy couldn't muster.
McNeil has a new brew pub which isn't too bad either. It's most hospitable or upscale of the 3 towns I'd say. Hardy is quite boarded up and run down. When my wife worked up there 10+ years ago it was all stories of fishermen in the bars and now only one pub is left out of 4. Run down buildings everywhere.

In Alice, there's a big sign saying "danger road washes out after heavy rains" at the far end and we'd just come through a whole morning of savage rain squalls so decided to just head back.

But down that way further is side bay which is supposedly pretty cool.

If Bamfield is on your list pacheena bay is nice. From there it's easy to get down to Sooke.

If you need a camp spot in Nanaimo area you're welcome to my back 40.

Wouldn't offer if you'd said overlanding...but truck camping is allowed.

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

Sounds like you're into remote beaches, which I must admit, I don't have much experience with. So can't suggest anything there. Although on of my favorites to camp at in summer is Pachena Bay (it's a campground though) by Bamfield.

If you're into checking out pristine forest etc., you should try to hit Carmanah park to walk some of the valley bottom trails. It is a very special spot.

Walbran is also pretty cool, and used to be accessible only 45min from Port Renfrew, but I've heard they dug out the connector road now (Bugaboo Main). Can probably still be accessed from elsewhere though.

There is a little park along the Nitnat River that is fun to camp at. Not camp sites or anything; just camp on the side of the river (summer anyhow). Probably wouldn't be anyone there this time of year.

Between Port Renfrew and Victoria are a number of old logging roads that run up to the Kludahk trail. There are cool bogs and some unique high elevation old growth forests up there (yellow cedar etc.). Nice spots with great views up there to camp at. With trail access right behind you so you can do some day hiking.

GAIA maps (premium) will have all that stuff on it. It has back roads mapbook on it, as well as their topo and imagery layers. Just download the whole island ahead of time. Maybe imagery only for some areas as it takes a lot of memory.

I can give you coordinates to some of the spots I mention above if you want.

 

[bladedog]

Thanks for the great information! I've been looking/sorta planning with Gaia Premium and the public track overlays. Are the carnivorous plants found at the bogs? Those coordinates would be good to have, and any others too.

 

[Rigpig]

@stevebradford, @GTSSportCoupe would be the ones to talk to about routes to the carnivorous plants.

 

[stevebradford]

You won’t find them this time of year. They are all dormant and soon if not already buried under snow.

Spring to summer is the time to go looking for carnivorous plants.

This time of year is mushroom hunting season!!

 

[stevebradford]

Great to meet you guys tonight, hope to see some pictures of your trip!

 

[bladedog]

Hi Steve. Great to meet you too! We look forward to getting back here to explore with you and others of the VI group, and to also having you visit us on the mainland. Thanks again for the radiator, ours is about to poop the bed big time!

 

[JimJ]

Hi Steve. Great to meet you too! We look forward to getting back here to explore with you and others of the VI group, and to also having you visit us on the mainland. Thanks again for the radiator, ours is about to poop the bed big time!

It was nice meeting you two adventureres thanks for visit and keep in touch!

 

[bladedog]

Hi Jim. Kris and I are glad to have met you too. Look forward as well to getting together for some backroads adventuring with you too!

 

[bladedog]

A few photos (Kris took better ones, I'll post those in a bit!)...

 

[bladedog]

Route from Woss to Goodings Cove, back via Port Alice to Port McNeil and South Nimpkish Lake (the only off pavement portion of our trip).

 

[BC40]

Was going to say hello when I saw you guys in cumberland. i was picking up a camper a couple houses over from where you were staying. was in the middle of negotiating when you two hopped in the 60 and headed out.
Looks like a good trip so far. that camp on the beach looks awesome. too late to give advice here for this trip but i used to find stopping in the WFP office to grab a tourist map gave good road info when i lived in mcneil 20 yrs ago. roads grow in with alders super fast there. Some of the beaches you mentioned are a short walk in but worthwhile. there are some really nice lakes and other places to camp at too. probably head back up north island next summer again. especially to spend some time on the water.

 

[bladedog]

Hi BC40! Wish you would have! Was that you with the camper on the dolly? Was going to come over and help, but it looked like you had it under control.
Do you get to the island often? That was our first time exploring north of Nanaimo... so much more to see and do, but next time when the chance of it being drier is better!