Some aerial reconaissance photos of the area are here; all photos were pulled from Randall and Kat's Flying pages.

INCLUDED

• Arrive on Sept 3rd Wednesday evening at Gun Creek Ranch. 2 hours north of Whistler. Accomodations included
• Leave early morning on Sept 4th; Sunday. Arrive back at Gun Creek Ranch on Sunday Sept 7th.
• 4 days of fully supported riding. Each day has options of between 40 to 80km loops; pick your own distance. Easy is about 3 hours of riding. Hard can be between 6 to 10 hours with a lot of hike-a-bike.
• All spike camping (in dome tents and therma rest provided) from days 1 to days 2. Day 3 to 4you are in the Spruce Lake tour camps.
• This tour is with a wrangler, cook.
• Full home cooked meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - catering to vegetarian or vegan diets.
• Cost is $ 770 per person.
• It's the Chilcotin and we'll be riding high. Bring gear and dress as if it might snow. If you think I am joking, I AM NOT JOKING. This is from early Sept 2006
  
  
  
  
  
  IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT.
  
  GET YOUR OWN MAPS AT TrailVentures http://www.trailventuresbc.com/ (also available at MEC) - I won't be the guide. Either Warren (the head wrangler) or I will give you vague directions. I am planning on doing the long trips each day. You are on your own. It's pretty easy to find your way around, if you have a map.
  
  I will almost certainly bring flat pedals and a couple of pairs of hiking boots and flat pedal bike shoes to wear. On every ride I do up here I pack a headlamp, long tights, spare gloves etc. Feel free to go as light as you want but this is what I do for myself just fyi. If you're unprepared and have to bail, feel free to split off from the group and use the easier trails in the valleys to get to the campsites.

DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS

From Vancouver via Hurley Forestry Road (4.5hrs) (This route is closed in Winter)

The Hurley River Forestry Road is gravel and summer access only. From Vancouver take Highway 1 to Horseshoe Bay then Highway 99 to Whistler. 35kms after Whistler the road forms a “Y” you turn left into the village of Pemberton (gas up here it is the last stop)

After crossing the railroad tracks the road forms a “T” again. You will come to a stop sign where you will turn right onto Birch Avenue. Follow this road which will turn into Pemberton Meadow Road.

After 23kms (14.4 miles) you will see signs for “Coast Mountain Outdoor School” and Gold Bridge, Meager Creek, turn right here. After 9km, you will cross over a bridge and will see a sign “Hurley River & Gold Bridge”, take this road uphill.

This logging road starts out to be steep but flattens out on top. It then goes downhill into the Bridge River Valley. You will see a sign to the right which says Bralorne, but follow the road towards Gold Bridge. After 60kms (35miles) on this gravel road you enter a road which is seal coated. Turn right. You are now on Highway 40.

After 200 yards (1/4km) you see Gold Bridge on the right but stay on Hwy.40 and after 8 kms (5miles) you see the Tyax sign. Turn left and after another 4kms you will see Gun Creek Road on your left. Turn here. Spruce Lake Wilderness Adventures is the first ranch on the left (you will see the sign)

WARNING: The Hurley River Road is not a highway but a Forest Service Road. It can be rough and have unexpected pot holes as well as some narrow spots. Take your time and drive with caution.

From Vancouver Via Duffey Lake Road and Road 40 5 hours (Winter driving time at least 6 hours)

Drive from Pemberton to Lillooet over the Duffey Lake Road (Highway 99). In Lillooet get on to the Carpenter Lake Road (Hwy.40) towards Gold Bridge. When you get gas in Lillooet ask them to direct you. Follow Carpenter Lake Road for 92km until you see the Tyax Resort sign. Take a right and follow that road for 4km until you see Gun Creek Road on your left. Spruce Lake Wilderness Adventures is the first ranch on your left and you will see our sign.

WARNING: The Carpenter Lake Road is a maintained Highway and School bus route but you must be cautious of sharp corners, rocks and wildlife on the road. Drive with caution and care.

• Breakfast and start at Relay Creek -> Graveyard Camp.
• During day horses move from Relay Cowboy Camp to Graveyard Camp
• Groups have option to just do short ride (Relay - > Graveyard) or longer ride (Relay -> Little Paradise-> Little Graveyard - > Graveyard ie we go S around Red Hill) . Red is short day. Blue is long day

Sept 5th

• Ride to Iron Pass via Grant Crk then traverse to Powell Pass (hike-a-bike) and out via Tosh Creek then ride to Grant Camp at Grant Creek.During day, horses move from Graveyard - > Grant Camp (Red lines)
• Group has option to do shorter ride (Grant Creek out and back) - Blue lines or (Little Graveyard -> Up to Elbow Pass -> Down Elbow Pass -> Graveyark Crk-> Grant Camp - >Yellow lines

Sept 6th

• Ride from Grant Camp -> Elbow Pass -> Elbow to Lorna Pass hike-a-bike -> Deer Pass -> Spruce Lake - red line
• This will be a very long day - I figure 10 hours or more on the bike for the longest ride
• During day, horses move from Grant Creek camp to Spruce Lake
• Group has option of doing shorter rides (Lorna Pass or Elbow Pass to Spruce Lake via Tyax Crk direct) - yellow
• Group has option of doing medium ride (Lorna Lake -> Lorna Pass -> Deer Pass - > Spruce Lake - blue line - still long day

Sept 7th

• Ride from Spruce Lake - Windy Pass - Eldorado Creek - Lick Creek or B&F trail then out
• Group has option of short ride (Spruce - Gun Creek and out) to home.
  
  

RECOMMENDED GEAR

Your duffel should not exceed twenty five pounds per person and be packed in a soft weatherproof duffel bag. Preferably all your gear along with your sleeping bag can fit into one bag. Following is a list of some items that you should include.

Lunch - packed sandwiches and drinks. Bring own pop, beverages, cliff bars, luna bars etc if required.

(this was for a self-supported trip) - can pare it down.

• Bike - of course
• Spare derailleur - ESP Sram derailleur - 1:1 ratio
• Spare shifter cable
• Spare bled Hayes hydro brake - long line for rear
• I set spare Hayes brake pads
• Odd spare allen head bolts
• 2 spare presta tubes
• Patch kit
• Leatherman
• Allen tool set
• Pump
• Shockpump
• Zapstraps
• Small Hoseclamps
• Medium size pack with 3l bladder
• Water bottle
• Navigation gear (map, compass, GPS) \
• Riding Jacket; down vest
• Bike tights, fleece pants
• Warm gloves - spare pairs
• Spare socks
• Vaseline in lieu of chamois butter
• Sunscreen
• Headlamp (I AM NOT KIDDING _ BRING THE DAMN THING. If we need it and you don't have it I swear I am leaving you behind - You will not be my problem)
• Bug goo
• Hat with mesh thing for bugs
• Sleeping bag w/ silk liner
• Thermarest
• spoon
• Waterproof matches; lighter
• Small camp towel - toiletries - Toilet paper
• Bunch of ziplocs and trash bags
• Duct tape
• Bear bangers
• Bear spray
• Bear Bell
• Camera
• Footwear for around camp (hiking or walking shoes)
• Swimming Suit
  

WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR TRIP:

Day One:

We prefer our guests to arrive the night before. We can arrange accommodation for you and your group for a small additional charge. If you arrive early enough we will go over horsemanship skills the night before your trip is scheduled to depart.

Key points to remember when hiking/biking:

Be alert to your surroundings. Make noise and watch your footings. Be cautious where the horses are. If you meet on the trail with an oncoming pack string, yield and remove yourself as far off the trail as possible (to the low side and preferably at least 3 metres away). Bikers should not approach a pack string within 50 metres. Talk while the horses are passing you, so you do not startle them. Please make sure that you have an extra pair of light shoes for creek crossings as well as a day pack to carry your lunch, rain gear and shoes in.

OTHER INFORMATION

Package is provided by Spruce Lake Tours ; contact is Casie Menhennick
Phone is (250) 238-2375 - email is ride@sprucelaketours.ca

Some trips up there are profiled here; a July trip with alpine flowers in 2005; a fall colors trip in 2003; and another fall colors trip in 2001. Also see Taseko Lake to Tyaughton Lake from earlier this year.

Here is a 1:250,000 scale map of the area.