May 15-18 Churn Creek Run
The winner of the Trail Vehicle Damage Award goes to Bruce from Calgary for blowing out his front diff , with runner up prize going to Glenn from Victoria for damaging a fender that wasn’t his. The Incompetence Award goes to the unidentified owner of the Toyota Pickup who, after losing a front CV axle, managed to topple his truck off an unstable jack and pin his companion’s hands between the tire and the fender.
Members and guests present:
Ryan S and sister Ashley, Chris H with sons Laughlin & Conner, Barry P, Glenn B, Martin & Jenny, Mike McT, Ron VanDerL, Mike N, Marcin & Ania, Rob Cz, Pawel Z, Bill W & grandson Shikai, Deny C, Bruce & Brian from Alberta, and one fellow in an 80 from Kamloops whose name escapes me. A total of 15 vehicles.
We set out from Vancouver on Friday morning in the sunshine and topped tanks at Lickman Rd. in Chilliwack. Then on up the Canyon to Cache Creek, Clinton for final fuel, and on to the Meadow Lake Rd and the windy, dry & dusty base camp at Churn Creek. Due to the large number of vehicles, we eventually split into 3 groups.
On Saturday most went up top to check out the snow conditions toward Windy Ridge. Unfortunately it was impassable because the snow line was at 1760 meters near where Bruce experienced a broken front pinion. There is a wash-out on Porcupine creek, a tributary of Higgenbottom Creek, where we have had problems in the past runs. The road through the wash-out is the Yodel Cabin Rd, which goes to Roaster Lake. Last year at this time, Roaster Lake was still frozen. So, we would not be able to return home over the top this trip.
On Sunday, the Polish Team went their own way, so some of us went North, through the Gang Ranch to Farwell Canyon, on the Chilcotin River. So we headed out after breakfast, with Mike McT in a cloud of dust in the usual distant lead. Close to camp we went past a new shiny Tacoma pick-up, which had a damaged front drive CV problem. Brian from Kamloops in his Toyota truck-buggy-(truggy) and Glenn stopped to see if he could lend a hand, but it appeared they had what they needed so they continued on to catch the lead group. Bill and Mike N came upon them later and Mike N offered some of his tools to get the hub loose and CB removed. While the tire was being put on at the front, the P.U. owner meanwhile slammed the tailgate and the vehicle slipped off the teetering jack. The owner’s buddy’s hands got pinched between the tire and fender as the vehicle came down. This led to a delay while he iced his hands and Bill produced some bandages and first aid antibiotic cream. He could have sustained fractured knuckles and will have plenty of time to ponder safety and pain issues while recovering in the next few weeks.
From that point our progress quickened and we continued northwest along the Word Creek Rd (2700 Rd). We then met the forward group at the Gaspard Creek Rd (2200 Rd) intersection and then continued north to connect onto the Chilcotin South Rd (2000 Rd). At the top of Farwell Canyon, we stopped briefly while Mike McT pointed out a trail, we latter took to the Gang Ranch Road which headed southeast on a high bench following southeast along Chilcotin River. We then descended into Farwell Canyon and had lunch by the Chilcotin River, amongst abandoned ranch buildings and song birds, while some of the group investigated an underground horse stall built into the side of the slope. I would guess it would be intolerably hot there mid-summer as it was very warm on the overcast day we were there in May. Farwell Canyon was carved by the Chilcotin River ("people of young man's river") through limestone and sandstone layers of the Fraser Plateau and we were directly across some interesting hoodoo formations. There are also some native pictographs off the cliff south of the bridge, but we did not see them.
After lunch we backtracked out of the canyon and at the top, we took a left trail to the Gang Ranch road. After Mike McT got a tug to start his engine we followed this trail for a while, and then took a Y to the left, which followed the Chilcotin River at a lower level. This eventually dead ended on a bluff past the Chilcotin confluence with the Fraser, with incredible post card views in all direction. The intention was to find a camp near the river, but we could not find away down. We then had to head back and as it was getting on to 4:00 pm those that needed to go back to Churn (Barry, Chris, Mike McT) headed out leaving Mike, Aaron, Glenn, Bill and Martin to camp in a cow pasture near a magnificent bench above the confluence of the Fraser and Chilcotin Rivers at 670 meters.
We spent a dust free and comfortable night with a great fire with loads of firewood supplied by the busy beavers Aaron and Mike N. The following morning we had an early breakfast and then packed up our rigs and climbed back up to the Gang Ranch Road and headed southeast to intersect the Word Creek Rd, back to Gang Ranch. Although there was some trepidation whether it was to going to connect - it did, which saved us considerable time. Once on the Gang Ranch Road, we headed back to Churn or directly back to Hwy 97 and eventually home. The Farwell Canyon is also near the Junction Sheep Range; a great area deserving of a repeat visit.
On the way home down the Fraser Canyon, it rained hard, saving us the trouble of a vehicle wash later. The Freeway Hwy 1, apart from the usual slowdowns near Chilliwack and Abbotsford, was fast and not too congested. Looking back on the weekend, it was again a success and worthwhile first trip, however, its probably time to search for other areas that we have not visited yet.
Glenn, Barry, & Bill
I thought you were pulling our leg when you said H1N1. Take care yourself.
