July 1 Long Weekend Run

[Scalp]

OK Coastal Cruiser members, its time to get some serious organizing done for the July 1 long weekend. At the June meeting we decided:
"...that the run will be to the Chataway Lakes area, north of Merritt. Some members may go up there early on Friday, June 30, while others will go Saturday, July 1. One possible rendezvous point will be Steve T’s place. Details will be posted on “Mud.” Members hoping to attend will be: Gary T., Bill W., Marcin C., Phil S., Jan H., Mike N., Mike McT., Mat R., Drew E., Steve T., Martin S., and hopefully a few others. Guests Traci D. & Rojo. Mike McT. knows the area and will give directions. Drew will post maps on “Mud.”

So Steve T wants those who go up with him on Saturday, July 1 to assemble at his place, on Sharpe Ave., at 8:30 am, ready to go. The plan, at this point, subject to revision, is to go up the Coquihalla to Merritt, then up 97C and 8 to Lower Nicola. Then the Chataway Lakes FSR road and Aberdeen Road and explore Gypsum L., Dot L., Antler L., Billy L., Tupper L and others until we find the right base campsite. Possible wheel'n areas are Gypsum Mountain and Gnawed Mountain. If we find those not to our liking, we could go farther west to Spaist Mountain and Skwilkwackwil Mountain. Mike McT should be able to clairify which are the best areas.
Bill W and Gary T are hoping to leave here on Friday, June 30, around 2:00 pm to get an early start from Gary's place in Coquitlam up above Steve T's place. Contact Bill W for details on that possibility.

So, any comments so far from CC members? Who else is in for this?
~Bill

 

[tjflex]

So Friday your leaving from Gary's. Is the 2pm leave time a work issue? Traffic is gonna really suck at that time. Any chance of earlier?

Craig

 

[Blue Bandit]

I took Friday off, so can leave anytime that day...let's say 0830 or later from Coquitlam.

 

[Scalp]

Yes, earlier would be better but I'm waiting for Gary T to get off work on the Friday. He says he can be ready at 1:00 pm so I figured 2:00 to be safe. If Gary decides not to come, then I would leave earlier with you two. I don't know about Mike McT yet.
~Bill

 

[Greg_B]

Sounds like an interesting and new area to visit. Ya'll have fun! If all goes well Clarence and I will be heading to Alaska!

gb

 

[Deny]

If all goes well Clarence and I will be heading to Alaska!
gb

Hey Greg,
If you guys are heading through Fort St. John, make sure you stop by. If you head out early in the morning one day, you can make it to my place in 14-16 hours, so stop, you can shower and sleep and head out again in the morning. I got tonnes of room, so come by for sure. Stop in on the way back down too. Just let me know when, you are more than welcome here.
Cheers,
Deny

 

[Greg_B]

Thank you Deny. We had talked about heading up the Stewart, and coming back the Alaskan. That would put us on your doorstep in the 3rd week of July. Shoot me an e-mail at gbowie@shaw.ca with your details/number please.

gb

 

[Scalp]

Our paparazzi squad snapped this pic of Garr's raised and modified FJ40 out on a test run last week. It gets incredible gas mileage although experts in the field fear that it may have some body roll in off-camber trail situations. Also notice the built in roll-cage for the chauffeur, as well as the narrowed rear axle track. They also estimate that he will have to leave home early Tuesday June 27 in order to reach Merritt by July 1! Also, will the headlights and wipers pass B.C. Vehicle Inspection??

 

[fitchik]

If you guys leave coquitlam on friday at 2:00pm ish, I can catch up with you on the freeway somewhere. Only problem for me is that I am working on Sunday at 12:00noon.
A few questions for the experienced:

Will base camp be in one spot, or do you plan to move around?.

If base camp is in one spot, how far is it off the beaten track?.

Traveling at Turbo speed, one could make it to Merritt in 3 hours (give or take)???.... so my personal plan of action would be to break camp early Sunday morning intime to get home, shower, change and get my butt to work.

Considering I have never wheeled in this area, is this realistic? Input from the more experienced will be greatly appreciated

Thanks,
Petra...

However, I did already book off for Whipsaw August Longweekend... ;p

 

[Scalp]

Well, if you live in Abbotsford, it may only take you 3 hours to get to Merritt. Then its another hour and a half, or less, to get up to the lakes. The only member that seems to know this area is Mike McT. We don't know where the base camp will be at this time. We might have to just go up there and find a good spot when we see one. I guess we could have a lake picked out as a rendezvous point for others to find us Saturday. I would suggest Gypsum Lake because it is the first campsite on the way up. Or we could at least leave a sign or something indicating where we found the best place. I expect we will spend time at at least 2 campsites over the weekend. AS for you coming home Sunday, then I guess if you got up decently early and threw everything into your rig, then you could conceivably be home in time, considering there would be no traffic on the roads. Either that, or consider coming home Saturday night.
~Bill

 

[BC_FJC]

OK, Here is a map of the area...
http://members.shaw.ca/delvins/Maps/MAMIT%20LAKE%2092I7.PNG

Ministry of Forests Map
http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/apps/recst/html/recsites_base_map.htm

 

[fitchik]

Ok - sounds good.... As long as I can get back out to the main road with out any major difficulties, I would leave Sunday Morning and enjoy the saturday exploring.... If someone is going "early" on Friday, could you post a sign of where you might be, or make a plan and post it here before you leave.... I think having a rallying point would be a good idea

 

[Scalp]

Fit Chick:
I think the road back down to Merritt is pretty straight forward. Just go south to Lower Nicola and over to Merritt and on to the Coquihalla. I was at Londsdale Quay today and I noticed the MapArt B.C. Road Atlas was on sale for half price (reg, $20.) at the newstand near the StarBucks.
If you like, we can stop Near Cottonwood corner in Abbotsford, on the way up on Friday, say at the Huskey truck gas station, to get you.
~Bill

 

[fitchik]

Fit Chick:
I think the road back down to Merritt is pretty straight forward. Just go south to Lower Nicola and over to Merritt and on to the Coquihalla. I was at Londsdale Quay today and I noticed the MapArt B.C. Road Atlas was on sale for half price (reg, $20.) at the newstand near the StarBucks.
If you like, we can stop Near Cottonwood corner in Abbotsford, on the way up on Friday, say at the Huskey truck gas station, to get you.
~Bill

Hi Bill:

Sure, sounds good.. Get back to me when you know your ETA and I "should" be out of my 1:00pm appointment, on the road and ready to roll....

Are you referring to the Husky Station across from the Cottonwood Mall in CHILLIWACK.???

I do have an extra seat if anyone wants to hop in. It will be just me and my dog Scout.

Cheers, and looking forward to the trip.

Petra

 

[Scalp]

Yes, I guess it is Chilliwack, where I exit the freeway at the Cottonwood Mall and head South for a block or two and there is that big truck stop gas station with the greasy restaurant; I think its Husky. We've eaten there before and the food is lousy, but its a good rendevous point.
~Bill

 

[Scalp]

For VHF radio frequencies in Merritt:
Ambulance repeater 142.6050 MHz
Ambulance simplex 149.6800
Emergency 149.4950
RCMP Highway Patrol 139.5600

For Logan Lake:
Ambulance 149.2600
Ambulance 149.6800
Repeater output 147.1000 , +600 repeater input

Coastal Cruiser simplex 147.5500
Coastal Cruiser backup simplex 146.4000

~Bill

 

[Fantom]

Hi everyone,
I managed to book off some time from work so I am good to head up on Friday - besides I need as much time off to get back to a happier mental state.
Let me know the final time for departure, I'm in Poco and not far away from Steve's.
Mat

 

[fitchik]

Hey Bill, Could I get your cel number in case something happens that I don't meet you intime. what time did we confirm for meeting up??

You can PM me.. thanks
Petra

 

[Scalp]

It looks like Gary T and I are leaving Coquitlam around 2:00 pm on Friday, June 30. If you want to join us Mat, we could stop at Steve T's place on Sharpe St. or somewhere else if you prefer.
Petra, we should be in Chilliwack by 3:00 for sure, unless traffic slows us up. I don't have a cell but Gary does, I will have to check to see if its operating. I'll email you the number.
~Bill

 

[fitchik]

Perfecto.... thanks guys.

Petra