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Whipsaw And Beyond - Day 1

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Jordy on the way.
The anticipation leading up to this run was amazing. Over 1000 posts were placed on the thread (http://bb.bc4x4.com/showthread.php?t=137204) prior to the actual run itself. The run would take us over 1000 km together through 5 days of exploring some of the most beautiful, tantalizing areas in our province.

Adventures together, friendships, bonds and perhaps a bit of limerence (look it up!) would occur. One never knows quite what to expect when you get over 22 trucks together. My eyes were opened and my own epiphanies would occur about my own views and realizing just how amazing things can be; how your own views can get in the way of an amazing time, if you let them. Being this was a first for me, travelling in a large pack, it was a bit daunting and my mind interwove its own thoughts on what might happen. The Whipsaw area is my backyard and I couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling that a dozen strangers were about to come tromping into my home. Luckily my overactive imagination had led me down the wrong path and my awesome other half kept prodding me to go. I'm grateful that I did and thank both him and the company we were with for helping us have the time of our lives and fulfilling a dream Jordy has had for 40 years.


It begins.
Geoff06 had travelled up Tuesday night to meet us at our home base in Tulameen, watching a movie in his truck instead of sitting by the fire! Time to take the boy out of city to the woods where such luxuries don't exist! Six others had made the journey Tuesday night to the 18 km mark of Whipsaw. This allowed them to take in the first whiff of camp fire smoke, Bruce's delicious mouth watering cooking and an ice cold beer in the best way: au naturel in the great outdoors. Sass (TMAX), Bruce (Jeeper), Razvan (Razon), Terry (Weiser) & Alanna, Kevin (99Silverado), Rob #1(Bushpiggy) and Little Rob (Rob #2).

We left the cabin at about 9:10 am (running the traditional 10 minutes late) and headed towards Princeton, passing two brand new baby fawns and missing the first photo op of the trip. Of course I had been playing with the new inverter that Jordy picked up for me as a toy so I could do what I needed to: write and transfer photos. The inverter also let me run my laptop which, thanks to the magic of NMEA, I turned into a 17" GPS screen. I could now track the trail and navigate in style.


View of mountains.
We made a quick stop in Princeton to pick up garlic and the all important ice to provide that perfect subzero temperature for the beers that would provide the needed thirst quenching that would be created by the dust on the road. We then headed off to the Whipsaw turn-off to meet up with the others that would be waiting. When we got there, seven other trucks were waiting:
  • Luc (Luc)
  • Raymond & his 3 kids (no user name)
  • Kelly (Kranium) & Jessica (Swampbugg)
  • Sam (Sam92toy) & his other half
  • Nick (86extra-cab) & his dad Rob #3
  • Andy (Red Army) & his other half
  • Andy (R031Kona)
With all the Rob's it felt like I was in an old 3 Stooges movie, "Hi my name is Rob and these are my buddies, Rob, Rob & Rob." Everyone that weekend just became Rob which made it much easier. At 10:45 am we gathered up to start the trek to the 18 km mark to meet up with the contingent that had already started their weekend adventures the night before. Like Ducks in a row we all waddled off towards the great unknown with Jordy in the lead. We made a few stops on the way in so that Jordy could leave some well-intentioned, personally made signs for those that would follow.


Our geocache meadow.
Jordy's first sign went on the "SOLD" sign near the Lamont FSR and was pretty clear in the direction he was suggesting. The 2nd sign had an arrow pointing this way but was placed on the right hand side of the Coral Creek FSR with the arrow kind of suggesting that road. But of course being his faithful navigator, that does not make me a sign pointer. So we needed another opinion to determine if the sign was confusing. Luckily one of the other women (takes a good one to lead the men) ran up to Jordy and placed her vote! I say a personal thank you for backing me up on that one. Jordy moved the sign to the tree below and we were on our way again.

While on the way up there, if you're following our tracks, keep in mind that there are many beautiful little spurs that lead down to the streams below and offer up sites that are abandoned mines where you can still see the flicker of gold in the rocks. The same gold that offered up the fever years ago. The shafts quite often are collapsed but the babbling brooks that trickle down the stream offer water that is as cool and delicious to the taste buds and feel just as delicious as wrapping your tongue around an ice cream cone and licking at the drops that melt down the sides. Bring a bottle of wine & lay out a blanket there one day and you won't be disappointed.


Kelly and Jessica at the start.
About 30 minutes later we reached the 18 km mark and pulled in to join the others who were packed up and waiting with bated breath for our arrival. Introductions were made and the sense of easy unknown quickly started passing. As Jordy shook hands and attempted to remember names with his CRAFT disease (Can't Remember A F***ing Thing). Now with a total of 15 trucks ready to rumble and the quick 30 minute driver meeting over with, things got underway.

Huff's Mine is only a few steps away from the 18 km mark and is a place of beauty. Beauty in the abandoned nature of what used to be here, shrapnel in the trees from the exploded power lines, tray upon tray of core samples, lines from the old generators. If you wander around you can find old bottles and cans, and get a good sense of what lies here. And if you listen very carefully, perhaps you'll hear the whispers of the ghosts as the wind blows gently. We took a few pictures here with Spooky (a geocaching thing) and checked on our geocache that is hidden in the area.

Jordy was allowed me my free time to re-feel the beauty of it without feeling rushed and for this I am eternally grateful. I love this area, it feels like home, like when I lived out here and we spent time gold mining at Copper Creek and backpacking in to the river's edge, where my parents would tie me to their backs and rappel down the cliffs. Rob #4 & Bob (Daddy Style) met up with us here after the huge rush of travelling over from the Sunshine Coast. We talked for a bit but again it was time to catch up with the group. We didn't want to fall too far behind.


Huff's mine.
We headed on up the road to Dicks Cabin, about 20 minutes beyond Huff's mine. Dick's Cabin is an amazing tribute to those that were here before us. There are two memorial markers outside, and the original cabin is still there. Unfortunately time is taking its toll, and so are people.

Jordy and I had a personal plan at Dick's Cabin, one that we had salivated over for almost a year: a hike to a geocache that no one had found yet. We know that it may have been in bad form to leave the group to go on their way for a short while, but it also was the perfect opportunity for us to have alone time for the first time in weeks (no not that way silly). Time for me to feel like I was at home, with the vista's and views, the flowers & marmots. For me to be cooped up in the city with no camping, adventures or stories to write about starts turning me into a hollow shell. It makes me miserable to be stuck in a daily life surrounded by society's expectations of how you should live your life.


Huff's shrapnel.
This was grizzly country so we followed our safety rules: took bear spray and a radio, and left another radio with someone who was staying at Dick's Cabin.

Life is meant to be lived with passion and excitement, like the feeling of sleeping in a tent where the thunder is so close you can feel it through your entire body when it hits the ground. I needed to make the hike and feel the sense of oneness with all that was around me. We got the cache and found an amazing meadow of serenity that sees so little human interaction, a complete difference from the site at Dick's Cabin. We arrived back at Dicks Cabin to find Danny (Gavman) & family, followed by Raymond and his kids. We chatted for a bit and then set off to find the remainder of the crew.

We caught up about 30 minutes later as the remainder of the crew had found a fun little puddle to play in. We also found another amazing cabin that neither of us remembered. The puddle offered up some good old mud wrestling play for the trucks, the type of play where you can wrestle your vehicle through and not have to feel guilty. Some opted to go around but the best part was driving through where the water would come up to the floor boards and you'd wonder if you were going to end up squishing your toes in it.

It was time to kick back and enjoy the surroundings. I popped the top off a beer and I could feel the cold liquid travel down my throat just as surely as I could feel the condensation from the bottle dripping on my arm. At that point, I realized that this trip wouldn't be so bad; I was home and the group was good. They, like us, weren't going to muck up the meadows, or show any disregard for the area.


Dick's cabin.
About an hour later (now about 3:30 pm) we came across the meadow where we had seen a beautiful white wolf the year before. When we had passed last time she just lay there looking up at us, not moving, just watching. We parked our truck and got out to enjoy the views, walking to the little peak where we could see both sides of the valley. The feeling of standing there is absolutely mesmerizing and can hold you in its grip. Have you ever just stopped and stood at a peak with drops on both sides as the wind slowly sways your body?

Thirty minutes later we happened to finally make Janzen Rock. We were running a bit slower than we had hoped and Jordy wasn't able to get video of the trucks going up. We then continued on to Wells Lake. Wells Lake is a place of great beauty and blood donations. Jordy was ready to indulge in what he calls his "Silly Bugger Juice" which is a great way to take one's mind off of mosquitoes and just about anything else, for that matter.

We followed BushPiggy (Rob #1) into the campground, passing Hunter & Vic who were already there. Jordy followed right behind Rob and we got to camp about 4:40 pm. Jordy spent a bit more time with his new friends and we found a quiet place to set up our own camp. I do regret not joining in on the pot luck - next year it will be a must do. Jordy & BushPiggy opted to take off and try to do a bit of exploration. That's when Jordy realized that no, the Suburban cannot go everywhere. Sometimes the short wheel base has its benefits. Perhaps next year we'll have the Jeep and he'll let me drive!


Janzen Rock.
Danny & Raymond finally made it with the grill and Tim & Chris had joined them along the way. After that we settled in to enjoy the company of those around us, roast some marshmallows and get a bit of rest so we'd be ready for the adventures of Day 2.


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