theislandnut
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You can get to it from the east by coming in through the blackjack ridge and or the hydrolines but there is a trail I call Pickle you would have to navigate that isn`t full size friendly. The picture I posted earlier with my jeep in it is on part of that trail. Highwayman trail also comes into it but it`s also not fullsize or stocker friendly.
You can get to it legally and in a full size or near stocker if you enter at the gate in Nanoose then make your way up to Rhododendron lake. Don`t go in the Rhodo Hole at the lake as asshats have put some sharp things in it and the last time I was in it I had some tire repair to do after winching myself out. On the FSR to the south west of the lake there`s a "somewhat overgrown" old spur that eventually comes out between Panther lake and Deadhorse. It`s a very long one that sees little use and is missing some bridges. I haven`t opened it up this year and very few people use it so bring a saw as there is a lot of blowdown out there this year. Look in the map book you`ll see it. It`s a whole day of wheeling if you plan on leaving through the manned gate again in Nanoose, so get an early start.
I included a picture of the spur at the Rhodo end looking southwards.
Once your at Shelton the BC forestry rec site signs are still up. If you wander around a little there`s water front and wooded sites covered in moss, some with picnic tables.
I call the "unmotorizes" walkers.
I rolled up to a roadblock on the backside of Mt Benson on 142 last year right after passing a large group of mountain bikers and a father and son on new quads. I had a kayak on the top of the cage and some climbing gear as I had myself an adventure planned.
The man at the roadblock told me to turn around and leave the area. I could see the quads had come up on me so I backed up and pulled over to the side of the road. The quads got turned around and headed back down the mountain. So along comes the mountain bikes and what do ya know, they get a wave and a have a nice day. So I get back in the jeep and pull back up to the road block, he looks at me like I'm lost and asks what's up. I tell him I'm going to do unmotorizes recreation. He tells me to turn around and leave the area or I would be considered a trespasser. Well they had a woodlot permit table set fifty feet from the road block so I go over to it with my jeep still parked in the middle of the road and try and give them my $20 and they won't take it. I had all the safety gear and and my saw and said I'd be sure to cut a few rounds before I returned. They tell me it dosn't work like that.
I turn around and drive to the gate in Nanoose and check in then continue on with my plans.
Lucky for them the roadblock was gone on my return trip as I planned to give him an earfull
I`m not much for rants but here goes.
Off roading is bigger then it ever has been and a lot of the folks you find out in the woods are somewhat new to the sport. Newbies are great and all but when there lack of thought and preparation cost the seasoned wheeler like myself access to areas because of habitual trespassing it piss`s me off. The average wheeler will spend countless hours researching how to build there rig and nothing researching the dangers or legalities of where there wheeling. You wouldn`t take sky diving lessons and then jump out of a plane in the middle of the ocean or across an international border because that`s just stupid.
I do way more research about the places I wheel in, then I put into my rig. That way I know what`s around me to explore and whether I`m breaking the law while doing it. I`m not saying I personally never trespass. What I`m trying to say is this, I know when I`m doing it and I take steps to protect myself and others with me so that the next folks that want to explore that mountain top, mine or crash site have the same choice as I did.
I have already got about 25 days wheeling in this year and haven`t gone on a single gate bypass yet. As for water sheds they are a little more aggressive with there protection. My local one is on privately owned land with no written land use agreement with the city and Southforks dam itself isn`t even in the watershed. There`s several gates that are impossible to get around protecting it and it`s clearly marked as are watershed. With some research and ground work I know how to get to it without a single gate or bypass and all while staying out of the watershed.
No ware you are wheeling folks. If your in the green area of the map below and you don't personally own the land or have permission then your likely trespassing. The other pictures are of Southforks Dam and res.
Rant over
Thanks. It`s an area that I try to explore at least once a year. It`s about a 100km return trip plus wheeling from Nanaimo.There`s an old abandoned rec site on Shelton L a couple miles away from Deadhorse to camp at, some good "quad" trails and there`s more then just the one mine in the area. If they would just open the gate at the end of second lake you can access a lot more from there.
I was thinking of dragging GoGo and an inflatable kayak to the lake this year, I`m getting to old for the ground.
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