Saturday Ride

[eric-klr]

I met Larry (Blacknbluesm) and Scott (ScottBC) in Chilliwack at 6 am on Saturday. We then rode to Hope for breakfast at Home Restaurant. After gorging ourselves on huge portions we headed up through Manning Park to the Copper Creek -Placer Mountain exit.

When we arrived, the sun finally broke through the low cloud and we took about 15 minutes to defrost ourselves. Our fingertips were numb with cold and our core temperatures were down, except for Scott, who had the foresight to bring an electric vest. It's starting to get cold up in Manning Park this time of the year. There was frost on the side of the road.

I hadn't been over the Placer Mountain Road to the Ashnola for about four years. Things have changed so much because of thePine Beetle logging we were lucky to meet a friendly grader operator who got us straightened out and onto the right route down to the Ashnola. The switchbacks down to the Ashnola are carved out of a red rock talus slope and are quite steep and high on the pucker factor.

Once down to the Ashnola Valley, the temperature climbed into the high 70's. The road out to Keremeos is in excellent shape and a perfect setting for western movies. Massive boulders and steep canyons with gnarly old trees. We followed the valley as far as the Indian Reserve, then turned left and followed the southwest side of the Similkameen River to Hedley. The road was marked for reservation use only, so I asked a nativein the subdivision if we could travel the route. He was friendly, said his name was Bill,andthat we could use the route. If anyone said anything he said we could just mention his name.

The route was quite spectacular. A lot of open range and horses. Then into a landslide that had brought down massive boulders, from pickup truck to dump truck to house size (hopefully Scott posts all his pictures). Then we got onto the old Great Northern Rail grade and followed that about four miles past Hedley to the highway. We then doubled back and headed up the Hedley Mine switchback road to the top of the mountain. Excellent views of the valley below.

Then back down to the Gold Dust Pub in Hedley where we sat on the veranda for a couple of cold beers to cut through the trail dust. I believe it's the old mine manager's house, full of old pictures. Interesting place.

From there, it was down the Old Hedley Mine Road to Princeton, where we fuelled up then headed down the Kettle Valley Railway to Coalmont. Arrived just in time to see the front of the hotel starting to burn. People were running out of the pub with pitchers of water to extinguish the small fire. Don't know if it was a cigarette or what. The barmaid was so happy thatthe fire was extinguished thatshe rang the bell and it was a free beer for everyone.Our timing was perfect. We were wondering about the old rooms upstairs and she said go ahead and look around. It is so full of history but they definitely need a sprinkler system. The place was built in 1922 for the old Blakeburn Coal Mine.

From there, it was on to Tulameen. Then left on the Tulameen River Road out to the Coke. Then bypassed the tollbooth and back to Abbotsford for Larry and Scott and Surrey for me.

646 k in the saddle for me and probably the best ride of the year.

[Yak_KLR650]

Nice ride! I've ridden a lot of that but that's a lot for one day.

good on ya! :clap:

[Dorky]

Nice ride guys. A broken butt methinks. I'm bummed that it's frost season already.

Camera?

:clap::clap::clap:

[scottbc]

Great write up Eric. I took some nice shots, I will try to post them tonite.

You missed the final installment though. I found Larry at the side of the Hwy. at #3 road out of gas. You passed him 5 min. before he ran out. I came along 15 min later.Pics to follow.

Scott

[scottbc]

Eric did a good job of telling the tale of our trip. I will try to elaborate with pictures.

I left home at 5:30am to meet the guys in Chilliwack for breakfast at 6:00. Unfortunatly not open until 6:30am. That's ok, lets hit the Home Restaurant in Hope.




http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_001-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8384&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)



This is us after the huge breakfast special getting ready to head out. We will need the food energy to keep warm. There was frost on the ground in Manning Park.







http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_002-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8385&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)



The beginning of the Placer Mtn FSR. A little time in the sunshine to defrost before heading for Ashnola River FSR. Easy riding FSR and a little luck to find the right trail, not to mention a helpfull grader operator, took us through recent clearcut to a fun little quad/4x4 trail.







http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_003-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8386&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)



Eric kept mentioning the Red Rock switchback trail. This was it, quite high on the pucker factor.







http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_004-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8387&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)



Erik likes it ! Check out the size of the rock. Very loose, any braking resulted in sliding rock. This is not the steepest section either. Sure hope we don't have to turn back.







http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_005-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8388&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)







http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_009-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8392&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)



This is next, nasty switchback at the bottom of this.







http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_008-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8391&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)











http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_007-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8390&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)



Looking east to the Ashnola Valley and Cathedral Park. This is where we are going.







More to come.

[joker650]

Nice pics. Looks like a cool ride Scotty:tup:

[scottbc]

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_011-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8394&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

We make it to the Ashnola Valley and stop to enjoy the scenery at a cow camp. Anyone have any idea what the pipe into the bottom of the firepit is for? An extra hot fire for branding irons?

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_010-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8393&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

Nice place to kick back and relax.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_014-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8397&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

Even nicer place to get married! I was a long way off, didn't want to scare the people.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_015-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8398&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_012-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8395&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

The rivers are very low this time of year.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_016-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8415&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_017-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8416&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_018-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8417&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

Posing for the photographer.Sure a nice day for a ride. Eric kept commenting that this was just like the old west. Lets go boys, I think a posse may be after us.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_020-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8419&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

This is our first stop on Bill's road. Thanks Bill, always good to ask. The KlR still has a licence plate here, it went missing sometime later. Notice the sqiggle up the moutain between Larry and Eric? That is our destination. The Headly Nickelplate FSR.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_021-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8420&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_022-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8421&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

Looking east to Keremeos, the way we came.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_023-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8422&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

Closeing the gates after us.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_025-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8423&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

I sure woudn't want to be around when those rocks were falling.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_028-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8425&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_030-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8426&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

This was apparently an old water flume which carried similkameen water to a small generating station.

More to follow.

[scottbc]

We made it out to Hwy 3 at the bridge west of Stemwinder Prov. Park. Turned east to Hedly and the Nickelplate FSR.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_032-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8428&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

Looking eastto Keremeos from thelookout at the top of the Nickelplate FSR. You can see the road/trail we just traveled along thebottom of the mountain on the far side of theSimilkameen River.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_031-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8427&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

West to Hedly and eventualy to Princeton.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_034-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8437&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

The famous Hedly Nickelplate FSR. You must do this once in your life, just too much fun. Take the family up in the minivan next time your going this way, they will think that they areat the PNE on a ride.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_036-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8439&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

Larry enjoying the beginning of the KVR section on the outskirts of Princeton. Watch out for the huge piles of bear sh...t.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_037-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8440&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

The second tunnel for us. The first time I was here was probably 10 years ago. I was paddling the Tulameen river with the Beaver Canoe Club and the water was well over all the boulders that you see here. This is a class 4 rapid at those levels, a must portage. It was scarry portaging a canoe through this tunnel, which is curved with no light visible at the end, big ditches at the time. Fun stuff, no trail around the tunnel then ( pre TCT).

Did I mention the bears? I didn't see it happen but Eric and Larry were ahead of me and a bear ran beside Eric before crossing the river to get away from the bikes.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_041-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8442&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

Welcome to Coalmont. If you come here nice forestry camsite just outside of town at Granite Creek. People still come and camp here all summer just to goldpan the river and creeks.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_040-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8441&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

The infamous Coalmont Hotel. Biker friendly.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_042-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8443&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

Tired and happy. No beers were injured in the making of this film. Free ones taste best, so I'm told.

On to Tulameen, best make haste it's getting late.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_043-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8444&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

Quick pic on the Tulameen River FSR. Heading to the Lawless FSR and the toll booth bypass. Looks like the sun is going down.

This was our epic one day adventure. Got out to the Falls Lake entance to the Coq. put all the warm layers back on and wound upthe 400 to 110 ( yes, only 110, I am an asphalt weenie). Thanks guys, it was a great day, the longest ever for me on the DRZ. Larry, Eric, great guys to share the day with.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237DSCN0537-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8446&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

564.4 Kms door to door, not to shabby if I say so myself!

I almost forgot. Ask Larry ( black&bluesm ) how many Kms a DRZ 400SM gets on a tank when it is wound up to 120+ on the highway.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237Ashnola_Dualsport_07_045-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8445&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

A map showing the area of our trip for those unfamilliar.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/654/237DSCN0539-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=8447&size=big&sort=1&cat=500)

Hope you all enjoy the pictures.

Scott

[dooveman]

Crazy Red Rocks...
o
/=+
O7_/O
*************

[Phoenix]

Quite the one day adventure, awsome pics. I'm sure my seatcover would've disappearedon the red rocks:shock:.

[eric-klr]

Greatjob on the pictures Scott . Alex you would have had a great day there was only the one bad hill.