Whipsaw & Beyond 2009 –Day 1

The anticipation leading up to this run was amazing, over 1000 posts would placed on the thread prior to the actual run itself.  The same anticipation as you get when taking an ice cube and running it down the spine of your neck on that hot summer day.  During the run we would travel over 1000 km together through 5 days exploring some of the most beautiful tantalizing areas in our province.

Adventures together, friendships, bonds and perhaps a bit of limerence would occur; one never knows quite what to expect when you get over 22 trucks together.  My eyes were opened up and my own personal epiphany’s 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 how things would happen.  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 in for helping us have the time of our lives and fulfilling a dream Jordy has had for 40 years.

Geoff06 had travelled up Tuesday night to meet us at our own 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 (lol). 6 others had made the journey Tuesday night to the 18 km mark of Whipsaw, to allow 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 – Anatural 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 (running the traditional 10 minutes late) and headed towards Princeton passing 2 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.  Well the first time ever I learned what NMEA stands for, it means you now have the luxury of a 17 inch GPS monitor and can track the trail and navigate in style (ok such luxuries do exist in the bush). 

We made a quick stop off in Princeton to pick up Garlic & the all important ice to provide that perfect subzero temperature for the beers that would provide the needed quenching from the thirst 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 7 other trucks would be waiting including –

• 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, made it much easier.  At 10:45 we gathered up to start the trek into the 18 km mark to meet up with the contingency 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 .

Jordy’s first sign went on the “sold” sign near the Lamont FSR and was pretty clear in the direction he was suggesting.  The 2^nd sign had an arrow pointing this way but was placed on the right hand side of the Coral Creek FSR which the arrow kind of suggesting that Road.  But of course being his faithful navigator that does not make me a sign pointerer, that required a 2^nd vote of it will confuzzle the next person.  Luckily one of the other woman (takes a good one to lead the men) ran up to Jordy and placed their 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 that 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, however 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.

About 30 minutes later we made the 18 km mark and pulled in to join the others who were packed up and waiting with baited anxious breath for our arrival.  Wondering what could be taking so long, let’s get this show on the road!  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.  (You know – Can’t Remember A….)  Now with a total of 15 trucks ready to rumble and the quick 30 minute driver meeting things got underway.

Huff’s mine is only a few steps away from the 18KM 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 sample, lines from the old generators.  If you wander around you can find old bottles, cans and get a good sense of the feel of what lies here and 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 allowing me my free time to re-feel the beauty of it without feeling rushed, 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 back packing in to the rivers edge where they would tie me to their backs and rappel down the cliff’s.  Rob #4 & Bob (Daddy Style) met up with us here after the huge rush of travelling over from the Sunshine Coast and basked in the amazement of this.  We talked for a bit but again it was time to catch up, we didn’t want to fall too far behind. 

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 2 memorial markers outside, and the original cabin is still here.  Unfortunately time is taking its toll, as so are people, this is not the place to preach take care of what is around us, but without doing that we will lose access to what we have.

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).  But 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 societies expectations of how you should live your life.

We did follow our safety rules in the Grizzly Country, take bear spray and left a radio with one of those that is staying at home base and take one with us.

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 2 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, a puddle where they could play – and we 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 it and not have to feel guilty.  Some opted to go around, but the best part was the 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 while in the vehicle.  The kind of scene that can make a girl giggle with anticipation, the kind of anticipation you think of with the Rocky Horror Picture Show.. AN-TI-CI-PA-TI-ON. 

It was time for the ice cold beer to come out of the cooler, kick back and just enjoy the surroundings, popping the top off and letting the quenching thirst coat my tastebuds as the dew from the ice surrounding it dropped on my arm.  Realizing 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. 

About an hour later (now about 3:30) 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 got out and enjoyed the views here, if you walk to the little peak you can see both sides of the valleys.  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?

30 minutes later we happened to finally make Janzen Rock, we were running a bit behind what we had wanted as Jordy did want to get a bit of video of the trucks going up – we missed the stories to be told here, but the photos of the others will make the collage.  We then continued on to Wells Lake.  Wells Lake a place of beauty & blood donations, Jordy was ready to indulge in what he calls his “Silly Bugger Juice” – or is that what he was referring to his friends sharing.. hmm I really should have noted that part a bit better.. lol

We follow BushPiggy (Rob #1) into the campground, passing Hunter & Vic who were already there.  Jordy following right behind  Rob and we got to camp about 4:40.  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 potluck, I know how much we missed out on – next year it will be a must do.  Jordy & BushPiggy opted to take off and try to do a bit of exploration, Jordy then realized that no , the suburban can not go  everywhere.  Sometimes the short wheel base has it’s benefits, perhaps next year we’ll have the Jeep and he’ll let me drive!

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.