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Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 9:43 am
by stevec
Glen Friesen wrote:from what I have heard you should be fine in a stock 4x4. There may be the odd spot where you end up on a rope but nothing too crazy. I was going to bring my stock sidekick and hope for the best but now I'm not sure I will be able to make it. I won't know until closer to game time so I will keep you boys posted on that.

Glen.
I may mount the winch from my LJ10, just to be safe. It's only 4500#, but should be enough for self-extraction. If any of the guys in my club come up with me, they will all have very capable rigs with winches.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 12:47 pm
by stevec
Ok, I have my LJ81 coming up, one other confirmed rig (Samurai Hardtop), and one more probable (X-90). We'll be driving up Friday afternoon; probably get there around 7:00 or 8:00pm. A few questions:

At this point, who else will be there?

Where and when should we all meet up?

Are there places at the beginning of the trail where we can set up camp Friday night?

We would prefer getting a somewhat early start Saturday morning, to hopefully beat the traffic on the trail, and to get a good campsite Saturday night.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 1:24 pm
by Ruby
Myself and one other person were thinking of going Friday afternoon as well. Apparently there are good places to keep a truck and trailer in Princeton so I will be looking into that. I read this writeup below and it mentions camping at the 18km mark of the Whipsaw road:

http://www.bc4x4.com/tr/2009/whipsaw-and-beyond/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 10:15 pm
by Rick Friesen
I'm still planning on coming with my LJ81 and a friend of mine will be coming with a Sami of some sort. I'm not sure who will be coming with us yet. I'm not sure about where to camp or what time I'll be there yet either.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 10:14 am
by stevec
From what I've seen, it looks like we can just camp along that road, but I'd like confirmation of that from someone more familiar with the area (I'd hate to have some forestry official kicking us out at 2am!) I PM'ed both of you my cell phone numbers, but I doubt we'll have much reception around there. Everyone coming up with me will have CB's on channel 23, I need to put one in the LJ81, but will do that before the trip.

After watching some of those videos, I think I'm going to try and make some rock protection for the LJ81 before I go. The canopy is primered on the outside, so I should have that looking decent before we leave. Still need to run a 12V extension for the fridge, but that should be easy. I'll probably mount the winch too, just in case; still on the fence regarding the locker; I'll probably see how it does without it.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 12:22 pm
by grantwt
My dad is likely available for this trip, but is less than interested in typing up a response!! Besides, he probably wouldn't finish typing it up before the trip. It's only natural though that he doesn't like typing as his father was a typing teacher!!

Anyways, he is interested in the trip, but is concerned as he does not actually have a vehicle that is road legal, and usually has his buddy with a 77 ford pickup flat tow his rigs to the trail. If anybody has a hitch and could flat tow him to the trail head from Princeton and back from the end, he would be interested in being a trail guide. He might also invite his buddy along if it is OK with you guys to have one large truck along.

Also people often park along the Whipsaw road and camp the night before doing the trail. Loadstone lake is the nicest place to camp, but it usually makes a nicer place for the evening after the trail than before. I have never heard of anybody being given a hard time about where they camp on any FSR in Canada, so I wouldn't worry about that. The only problem I have with it is the road is often dusty and not the nicest place to camp, but probably the most practical from the wheelers perspective.

Anyways, have fun!!

Grant (For Stew)

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 10:20 am
by stevec
I do have a 1 7/8" ball on my LJ81, but it isn't wired for towing lights yet, so I better not try towing your friend! :wink: :))):

I'll make up a couple of "lj10.com" signs to note where we are camping. Like I said, we'll be there Friday evening, so if anyone else gets there before us, post up a note so we can find you.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:00 pm
by Rick Friesen
Looks like I should be able to come down Friday whenever it suits. A friend of mine is coming from Cranbrook with his LWB Samurai on Friday too, so maybe we can meet up in Princeton and then head out to find a camping spot and mark the way for others that come later.

If I can swing it, I'll head down there at the end of June and check things out ahead of time for camping.
Would anyone else in the area be interested in checking it out before hand? Boost_Retard?

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 4:54 pm
by stevec
Ok, the shell is painted as of Sunday, and the new hardware is installed. Still need to buff & wax it, and re-install the windows, but other than that, she's ready to mount. Got the winch mounted up just in case, and it looks like I have enough wire for the fridge without running another circuit back there, so I just need a CB.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 9:17 pm
by Rick Friesen
Have we decided which way we are going through the trail?

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 10:15 pm
by Ruby
Rick Friesen wrote:Have we decided which way we are going through the trail?
I figured we would go from the Princeton side so we can leave any tow rigs there. Also camping up high at one of those lakes.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 9:23 am
by Pidder
I'm assuming it will be a great bunch on this ride, similar to the Kelowna run last year. I am planning on bringing my daughter, just want to make sure it will be family friendly and not drunken mayhem. I had a bad experience with a group of 4x4 guys once before and regretted it ever since. Anyone else bringing family and kids? Norm

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 11:11 am
by Rick Friesen
No one in my group has children but none of them are into drunken mayhem either. As far as I'm concerned, if someone wants to do that, they can do it elsewhere as I don't want to waste my time dealing with it.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:10 pm
by Ruby
I will have a beer around camp, but no craziness here. :beer:

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:19 am
by Rick Friesen
I hope I wasn't misunderstood there, I'm totally fine with people having a few beers around the fire.
I've just been to events where people were recklessly drunk driving with their children in the vehicle and no seat belts on, so it kinda gets me worked up a little.

This group is great though, I'm totally looking forward to running the trail and sorry for the rant!

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:17 pm
by stevec
How old is your daughter?

My kids will be at their grandparents in CA, so it'll just be Linda and I. We may have a beer or two at camp, but that is all. Same goes for the other two couples coming up with us. I too expect our group to be family friendly. I will not condone drinking alcohol on the trail, meaning if I see it, I will politely ask the drinker to pour it out, or leave the group. I've met the Friesen's and Aaron at prior LJ meets, and the two other couples coming up with me are long time friends, and I am very confident that there will not be any problems.

I am expecting to start on the Princeton side. We'll be there Friday evening, and I plan to check for others in town before setting up camp.

My LJ81 is ready to go, except for the CB. Canopy didn't turn out great, but it's good enough for now. Ordered a cheapo $30 CB from Radio Smack last week; just need to install it when it gets here.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 10:08 pm
by Pidder
Hey don't get me wrong, I don't mind guys having a few at the end of the day. But I've seen guys pouring it on their cereal at the start of the day. LOL Sounds like everything will be fine with this group. My daughter is 15 and came on the sunday of the Kelowna run last year. She had alot of fun and shows an interest in coming this time as well. Norm

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 10:25 pm
by Rick Friesen
Ok I'm a little confused on what is the "Princeton" side of the trail since both ends of the trail are about equal distance from the town. Do you mean starting from Coalmont or south of Princeton on Hwy 3?

Also, are we hoping to run the entire trail on Saturday or camping halfway and finishing on Sunday? I thought we were doing the whole thing on Saturday but thought I better double check.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 10:13 am
by Ruby
Rick Friesen wrote:Ok I'm a little confused on what is the "Princeton" side of the trail since both ends of the trail are about equal distance from the town. Do you mean starting from Coalmont or south of Princeton on Hwy 3?

Also, are we hoping to run the entire trail on Saturday or camping halfway and finishing on Sunday? I thought we were doing the whole thing on Saturday but thought I better double check.
I expected to come out at Coalmont. The plan was to start on Saturday, camp at one of the lakes, then finish Sunday. Looks we will be coming over Friday so the early birds will have to meet up.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 10:36 am
by stevec
Me too. Looking at Grant's map, Lodestone Lake is the "recommended" camping spot, so if we start off Hwy 3 and end at Coalmont, then we would be well past the halfway point if we camp at Lodestone Lake Saturday night. That should give us enough time to finish the trail and get home Sunday.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:24 pm
by Rick Friesen
I'm not sure what it's like at Whipsaw right now, but in the high country around Kelowna the bugs are really bad right now. Just a note that people should be prepared for that and have bug spray and/or bug jackets.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:54 pm
by Pidder
Have we decided if anyone actually knows the route. I have been looking at google earth and there are ALOT or logging roads up there. Easy to take a wrong turn if we're not familiar with the area. I hope to arrive friday afternoon or evening. will look for the signs when I get there. See you all then. Norm

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 2:06 pm
by stevec
It looks like my friends are leaving later than I would like, so we won't be coming up together. I plan to leave Seattle around 1:30 - 2:00, so I expect to be there by 8:00pm. I'll be talking to them via cell phone when we reach the border, so hopefully I'll have an idea of how far behind me they are. I will drive into Princeton to check for Suzuki's before I head out on the trail, and can bring some "lj10.com" signs with me. I will also have my CB on channel 23.

I'll bring a copy of Grant's map with me, along with GPS coords. I pulled off ExPo. It's a pretty popular trail, so I think we'll be fine.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:15 pm
by Ruby
I was hoping Grant's Dad (needed a trailer) was going to come along as they know the trail. We are heading out Friday afternoon so we will see you there. No real potluck dinner plans for Saturday night, but I'll bring a little extra smoked salmon.

Re: Whipsaw 2010

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:43 pm
by stevec
Upon review, the waypoints I printed only go as far as Wells Lake. Hopefully Grant's dad will be there to show us around. If someone gets there early, maybe they can pick up a topo map in Princeton?