Placer Mountain - Ashnola Traverse - Oct 3rd-4th

[ANDYD]

Placer Mountain - Ashnola Traverse - Oct 3rd-4th

What - Two day run, overnight camp out & end of the season club BBQ (details below).

When - Saturday Oct 3rd and Sunday Oct 4th 2015

Where - 9am Meeting at Whatcom Road A&W/Tims just off highway #1 at Abbotsford. Head towards Manning Park on highway #3, (last fuel is at Eastgate, just before Copper Creek). Turn off at Copper Creek, across Placer Mountain to the Ashnola River. Back on the highway#3 near Hedley at 2pm (ish) Sunday. Back at Abbotsford by 5pm. (option to meet at Copper Creek turn off at 11.30am Saturday morning)

What Else This is a two day, one night trip. Wilderness camping, bring everything you need with you. The off-road route we will be running starts at Copper creek, just past Manning Park on highway 3, we then head up to the beautiful Placer Lake. After lunch we head on and up to climb over the stunning 6000ft Placer Mountain. Next comes the cliff side "Red Road" of the Ashnola Traverse and onto follow the picturesque valley along the border of Cathedral Park. The road conditions will be mainly small FSR with a few narrow and challenging sections, nothing that a stock Land Rover can not handle. As usual, there could be possible BC pinstriping from overgrown sections (but not much expected on this run).
We plan to have our annual club "End of Season" dinner/BBQ besides the Ashnola River where the overnight camp will be. The dinner will be provided by the club, it will consist of Beef burgers, Caesar Salad, Chips and trimmings. A tasty Apple Crisp Desert will follow. Bring your own drinks.
The loop eventually brings us out near Hedley on highway #3 around Sunday lunch time, where we head back to Vancouver and home.

Post up and let us know if you are coming (we need a dinner count)!
Cheers,
Andy

[Crs]

I'm definitely "in" for the Sat/Sun. I'll wait to see final plans before committing to Friday. :D :D
I need to christen the new rubber wheel caps! :mrgreen:

[acg]

I will most likely be coming. But I need to be home in Chilliwack on Sunday by 4 pm. I am wondering if there is a way for me to head out of the trail a little earlier on my own on Sunday.

[ANDYD]

Hi Andrew,

Yes, the FSR from the campsite to highway #3 is mostly flat and straight forward.
If you left the campsite by 10am you will be back in Chilliwack by 4pm.

Cheers,
Andy

[justin_carlson]

I'm in!

[David V]

I'm in. I think I'll head out Friday so I don't thrash my truck keeping up with you turbo-diesel types. I'm working on Bill too; I think he'll be there if it doesn't look like rain.

David

[justin_carlson]

Andy... how does the club feel about having a *cough couch* jeep come on out? A friend of mine might be able to make the trip as well.

[DaveB]

All being well we will join you Saturday morning.

cheers, Dave & Pamela

[ANDYD]

Good to see some early interest .... weather is looking good for the weekend in that neck-of-the-woods!

Justin, yes your friend in the J@#p is very welcome to come along as your guest, I'm presuming he has good tow points front & rear so we can tug him through :wink:

[BlkP38]

Sue and I will be there.
Meet you at Copper Creek turn-off?
Approx time?
Turn-off directions or coordinates?
Thanks for organizing....looking forward to the trip.
Eric.

[ANDYD]

Hi Eric,

I have updated and added some more details on my first post.
If you want to meet the group at the Copper Creek turn off we will be there at 11.30am (if you are camping by the river on Friday night we can meet you there at the camp site as we will likely stop in for a short break).

If you need directions to the camp site, let me know and I will email them to you (cant remember if you have been there before?).

Cheers,
Andy

[justin_carlson]

Hey Andy, I'll probably head up Friday afternoon as well. Could you send me a link to the campsite too? Cheers.

[scraig]

I'm in with the twins :D
We are also interested in the Friday night option too - can you please send me info on the location as well?

[BlkP38]

Thanks Andy. We will see you at the Hwy 3/Copper Creek turnoff.
Regards, Eric.

[shawn doherty]

O'Doul and I will be baking the desert on Friday night. So we will meet up at Whatcom road Saturday morning. The BBQ meal will contain beef, cholesterol, gluten, tomato, lettuce, fruit , milk products, may contain peanuts and 1 cup sugar. If you have any specific dietary concerns please bring your own food. It will be cold up there at night so dress warm.

[ANDYD]

Hi Eric, although its known as Copper Creek turn off, its actually Placer Forest Service Road... (there is another turn off marked Copper Creek further along highway #3, don't take that!)

Basically, once you past the small gas station in Eastgate, Keep going on highway #3 for about another 8 or 9kms, when you come to a sharp hair-pin bend there is a Gravel road on the right, its name is Placer FSR. 49 11 20.60 N / 120 33 42.34 W (coordinates of the turn off),

I will PM you (and others that have requested it) with the directions from the turn off to the camp site.

cheers, Andy

[acg]

It will be me and my 7 year old, Daniel. I was going to bring along the 11-yr old son, 10 yr old son and two other 11-yr old exchange students. But Carol advised against it as she fears no one will be getting any sleep at the campsite with 5 active boys.

I live in Chilliwack. Would it be alright if I wait along the Hwy 1 eastbound shoulder in Chilliwack?

I will wait along the Hwy 1 shoulder at 9.20 am and just jump right into the caravan when I see you guys. This would save me time and gas to double back from Abbotsford.

My cell phone is 604-379-2600 if you need to reach me.

[chrismac]

I'm in. Sorry for the late reply.

[justin_carlson]

Shawn... for the sake of numbers for tomorrows dinner, I'll be coming up with a buddy of mine and his 2 kids. We'll be heading up after work today and meeting you all when you arrive tomorrow.

[ANDYD]

Andrew,

Yes, we can meet you along the highway #1 at Chilliwack, do you know what junction number you will be at?

Andy

[acg]

I will be between exit 120 and 122 along Hwy 1.

This is the stretch of highway right after you pass through downtown Chilliwack..... and where you will see the Chilliwack Airport runway to your left when driving along Hwy 1.

See you tomorrow morning!

[Crs]

LATEST NEWS UPDATE!!

Andy has headed up early with the Copper Creek campers.

Shawn and I will meet the gang at Tim Horton's at Whatcom Rd at 9:00 am.

I'll take the lead and either Shawn or Chris (with radios) will act as tail gunners.

Please be advised that the entire route may be close to 500 km. Fuel is available at Whatcom (petrol & diesel). We will also stop at Eastgate in case anyone needs to top up their tanks (petrol people take note :mrgreen: ).

Special rendez-vous. We'll look for everyone at Tim's. Andrew G will meet us on the TC1. (I have your number if we need at ACG.) Eric & Sue will meet us at the turn off.

Basic route: TC1 to Hope, Hwy 3 through Manning Park to Eastgate, then it gets interesting.

At Tim's, look for me in the green Disco 1 or for Shawn - the man with the Range Rover full of food.

Cheers, guys. I'll check here Saturday morning to see if there are any questions, or concerns.

Bring plenty of fuel and dress warmly.

[DaveB]

Bring some rain gear. The scattered showers are currently a deluge in Princeton!

[Crs]

Alons-y!

[chrismac]

I'll meet you folks at copper creek campsite or on the road