Ghost Town trip!!

We did Whipsaw last year and had a blast......the trail was getting a little soupy in some areas though. The locals in Princeton were also mentioning that the trail may be closing this year due to all the yahoo's muddin it up and the forest companies plan to do some logging....they could have been blowin smoke though just to keep the traffic down But we will definately be doing it again this year if it is open.

i've been going up to that area for as long as i can remember. we've had a cabin in tulameen for over 23 years and my aunt has lived up there for 18 yrs and had been going up there since the 50's. we do whipsaw every aug. long weekend and i have seen how it has been destroyed over the years. it is a shame. my aunt told me over xmas that they might be leveling the trail out in the next couple years because they want to do heavy logging in that area. look what happened the entrance at badger creek. that would mean that the trail would become a road that could be 2wd driven. i hope not but it doesn't look good. as for wells lake, it definely needs a clean up. this year had to be about one of the worst that i have ever seen for garbage. it was everywhere, there was even some in the lake. i have always taken more garbage out than i came with when i've done the trail, and i strongly suggest to everyone that they do the same if they want to see it stay open. i will keep everyone informed as to what is happening up there since i have a relative that is a local, and i hear things first hand that haven't been pasted though the grapevine. if anyone is interested, myself and some club members usually go up to run some of the secret rockcrawling trails that are up around my cabin in early april. if you wish to join and stay on our lot in the town of tulameen give me a line. we only have limited room. lars do you still want to go?

steve



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westcoast rockhuggers offroad club

OK, due to a scheduling mix up at my work, I can no longer come down in the middle of June. I have, therefore, booked off the first two weeks of July.
I will be heading to the Goldbridge-Braelorne area to start. From there I intend to make my way across the province to the East Kootenays. Some sites include the Princeton area, Grand Forks, and eventually into the "Valley of the Ghosts" near Nelson. Camp outs all the way and hopefully GREAT weather.

My truck is completely stock, so any 4by potential is fairly limited. The budget is also tight so I dont want to be stranded with a broken truck 800 kms from my home.

I dont know much about these areas and will be relying heavily on the "Backroads Mapbooks" that I pick up. I will also be relying on information that I can garner from Lars web site and Greg's web site. Thanks for the great write ups guys!!

Again, my truck is stock so those guys with modified rigs might find the pace a little dull if you wish to join me.

WTF are you talking about?? Place the blame with the people responsible. It's not Mark's fault that losers who happen to own 4x4's are driving off the trail and littering.

How about this: Mark also says to stay on the trail, pack out more than what you packed in, drive responsibly, and don't wheel alone. Wise words for new 'wheelers, who are definitely part of the book's target market. Education is key. Mark's book is a welcome asset to our hobby, and the actions of the few will not change that.

Besides, if they truly followed Mark's mileages, they'd never find it.


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Greg Sue
85 Toyota X-cab
http://media-north.com/4wd/

Jarett: My truck is an 88 Long box, complete with kik-ass aluminum mud flaps that hang way down low to be torn off at the smallest obstical

Originally posted by Greg:
WTF are you talking about?? Place the blame with the people responsible. It's not Mark's fault that losers who happen to own 4x4's are driving off the trail and littering.

Click to expand...

I've given this matter some thought in the past and have decided that publicizing sensitive trails is a bad thing. I don't mind showing people the trail but I don't like the idea of making the information widely available to everyone. Yes, there are pros and cons to my stance and everyone will have to make their own decision. I believe that Mark's book has caused some problems with certain trails but I would not say he's the sole reason or even a huge reason for the problems we have on those trails.

The trails Mark writes about are fairly mainstream and many people knew about those trails long before Mark ever drove on them. I grew up in Princeton and was well aware of the existence of the Whipsaw. Unfortunately, there are idiot fourwheelers in all towns and cities, including Princeton. It is not just out-of-towners who have treaded heavily on the Whipsaw. The local idiots do the same thing and they certainly didn't need Mark's help in finding their way to the Whipsaw. This situation happens all over the place.

Greg's right, in the end, the onus is on the individual fourwheeler to act responsibly.


...lars

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[This message has been edited by lars (edited January 15, 2002).]

Jarett: I dont intend for this vacation to be a hard core 4wd trip, alls I am looking to do is explore some ghosttowns and minesites

As for the type of wheeling that I do, I mainly stick to forestry roads with a couple of minor excursions down easy trails and such. Got all of the hardcore bashing out a long time ago and it just doesnt interest me anymore. The chances of me seeing a trail like the Whipsaw on this trip is extremely low as I fully intend to stick to the backroads and easy trails.