Participants

• Lee Lau
• Sharon Bader
• Chris Kelly
• Kevin Aitken
• Monte Westlund
• Iori Kokatalio
• Kris Holm
• Tyler Wilkes
• Sean Killen
• Chris Davey ??
• Trevor Hawkins ??

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

Recent trips 2008 horseback support, 2008 day trips, 2007 Floatplane base camp Lorna Lake, 2006 horseback support, 2006 Taseko traverse

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

INCLUDED

Original email - Feb 16, 2009


Hi all,

I have 6 spaces for a Chilcotin trip. Cost will be $ 400 each. Sharon and I going.

Going in on Sept 11th, 2009 - > Friday. Going out of Sept 14th, 2009 - > Monday.

Plan is to spend 4 days and 3 nights base-camped at Tyax Camp - this is close to Deer Pass intersection in the Tyaughton Trail. As a reminder, that is about 3 hours W of Spruce Lake. Tyax Camp has a covered area for eating; a cookshack with utensils and cookware; and a huge ass firepit.

We have horses bringing in our food for entire trip. Horses will bring in 30lb duffel bag also (tent, clothes, etc) and bring out the duffel bag. We will be riding in and out with just day packs. We will take care of our own food and be self-supported.

We will do day trips from Tyax Camp. See past writeups on http://www.leelau.net/index2008.htm

Eight people limit. I'll leave this open for a couple of weeks before throwing it open to others.

 

Followup email - Feb 23, 2009

Did all of you get this message? Please respond to confirm you did? Iori I got your deposit - thx!

FYI - I asked the horse packers to allow us to add another 3 people so trip is now at 11 people -

NEW

• Craig Hunt and Millar Montgomery have dropped out.
• Recommend packing clothes etc in a small duffel bag. Recommend packing food etc in labelled cardboard boxes. These go in plastic boxes on the side of the horse.
• We can take 400 lbs of food/drinks between 9 people. So that's about 44lbs of food/drink per person. If we add more people that per lb weight per person drops.
• Your personal gear should be 30 lbs per person. Not more. That includes your own sleeping bag, tent and personal clothes/ camp shoes etc.
• Arrive on Sept 10th evening at Gun Creek Ranch. Arriving on Sept 11th morning not an option (horsepackers have to start packing your stuff very very early)
• You have option to have Sept 10th dinner ($ 35 per head); Sept 11th breakfast ($ 15 per head); and Sept 10th place to stay (12.50 per head). If you don't want that option then let me know beforehand.
• Tyax Camp has cook facilities for 30 people. Has 4 burner propane stove. Has full kitchen

MISCELLANOUS NOTES

• Arrive on Sept 10th evening at Gun Creek Ranch. 2 hours north of Whistler. Accomodations GUN CREEK RANCH
• Breakfast at Gun Creek Ranch. DRIVE TO JEWEL CREEK Leave early morning on Sept 14th; Friday. Arrive back at Gun Creek Ranch on Monday Sept 7th.
• 4 days of riding from a central base camp at the Tyax Camp at the mid - point of the Tyaughton Creek trail. Each day has options of between 40 to 80km loops; pick your own distance. Easy loops is about 3 - 4 hours of riding. Hard can be between 6 to 10 hours with a lot of hike-a-bike.
• All camping all 3 nights. Bring your own tents, therma rest, sleeping bags etc...
• We make our own breakfasts and lunches and dinners.
• There are cooking facilities at Tyax Camp. Ie there is a fire, firewood, stove, cooking utensils etc.
• There is lots of firewood. There is a huge firepit
• There is a covered tented cooking area. There is a cookshack and a covered area to store personal gear. We sleep in a field.
• 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. If you don't bring enough warm, dry clothes then you are setting yourself up for failure.
  
  
  
  
  
  IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT.
  
  GET YOUR OWN MAPS AT TrailVentures http://www.trailventuresbc.com/ (also available at MEC) - I won't be the guide. I can 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. But you are on your own if you have to bail

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. .
• Groups have option to just do short ride (Gun Creek to Spruce Lake to Tyax Camp) or longer ride (Gun to Spruce to Deer Pass to Tyax).
• Red is short day. Blue is long day (10+ Hours - big climb - big descent)

Sept 12th - Saturday

• Long option. Ride up Elbow Trail to Elbow Pass then up to Elbow Mtn as out and back - alternate sufferfest option is to drop off NE face off Elbow down to valley and climb all the way back up.. Descend back to Elbow Pass and then up to Elbow- Lorna Ridge. Either ride ridge then drop down to Lorna Trail (exploration) or down Lorna Trail back to camp. Red Line
• Shorter option - Ride up Elbow Trail to Elbow Pass and back to Tyax Camp. Or Ride up Lorna Trail to Lorna Pass and back to Tyax Camp. Self-explanatory
• Medium option if weather is poor. Ride up Elbow Trail to Elbow Pass. Drop down Elbow Pass to Big Creek and ride towards Lorna Lake. Hike up Lorna Pass and down Lorna Trail. Blue line

Sept 13th

• Ride hike up to Deer Pass as out and back. Short variation is just to do this as an out and back. Long variation will go partially back down Deer Pass towrds Warner Creek then climb back up. This can be as long a day as you want. There's options to hike the ridgeline at Deer Pass to summit Sheba. I suggest hiking boots. Red is long day.
• Bad day weather variation could see us ride towards Manson Creek and Tyoax Pass and explore towards that area making our way towards Elbow Pass then back down to Tyax Camp via Elbow trail. Blue trail

Sept 14th

• Medium day is ride from Tyax to Deer Pass then to Spruce then out. See 2008 writeup here. It could be done in 8 hours if done quickly. Magenta line
• This one could hurt. Long day is Tyax Trail to Spruce - Windy - Eldorado Ridge down the spine lines to Eldorado Creek - High Trail - Cinnabar - Ridgerama - Cinnabar then out via Tyax Lake. Option exists to cut out early by descending High Trail - Eldorado - Lick Creek. Red line. I have no idea how long this will take but it might be a headlamp day
• Short day is Tyax to Spruce to Jewel then Gun via the milk run. Still would be a 5 hour day. Blue line.
• 
  
  

RECOMMENDED GEAR

PERSONAL GEAR

Your duffel should not exceed thirty pounds per person and be packed in a soft weatherproof duffel bag. Preferably all your gear along with your sleeping bag and tent can fit into one bag. This is just your personal gear and is what the horses will carry. .

NOTE this does not include your own pack with your own daily riding gear and is what you will carry.

FOOD

Food is separate. There are separate pack horses for food and separate dedicated pack-boxes. These are plastic carrying boxes - like low profile RubberMaids. I suggest putting your food in small cardboard boxes which can be easily packed. Label those containers as there's no guarantee that they won't get mixed with other stuff. Think about how those boxes are to be packed in plastic boxes and jiggled around on horseback. Pick your food accordingly.

Before this trip starts we will figure out who is cooking for what nights and we will be able to figure out cooking arrangements.

PACKING LIST

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
• Spare shifter cable
• Spare bled Hydro brake - long line for rear
• I set spare brake pads
• Odd spare allen head bolts
• 2 spare presta tubes
• Patch kit
• Leatherman
• Allen tool set
• Pump
• Shockpump
• Zapstraps
• Medium size pack with 3l bladder
• 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)

OTHER INFORMATION

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

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