Date: Sat, 7 May 2016 16:51:06 -0700
Reply-To: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Vancouver Island
In-Reply-To: <C2B7A473-E33D-43D7-9E68-D8FA10A90483@shaw.ca>
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Dear Alistair
My comment is and was directed at General Comments - you are intensely more
knowledgeable than nearly any one I have met outside of active loggers -
And yes the dumping of garbage in the woods is a serious problem - Muggles
engaged in this activity should be punished -
Logging shows doing a garbage dump in the woods also a problem -luckily
Truck Loggers Association - of which I am a member - is trying to stop
logging professionals from treating the woods like a personal waste oil
drop -
Hydraulic oil was likely the result of a blow out and yes that too should
be dug up and carried away - I mean it is often an excavator - bad dog no
treat to anyone tossing so much as a candy wrapper to the ground in the
woods -
As far as callus logging practices - well some of that is in the eye of the
beholder - if a person is 100% no tree should ever be cut then all logging
will look callus -
The encouragement I see in the industry to be a responsible harvester of
this renewable resource is heartening - with a long way to go -
Again my apology if my terse tongue in cheek salutation read as with
derision
The intention was 100% inclusive humour
Regards
On Saturday, 7 May 2016, Alistair Bel <albell@shaw.ca
<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','albell@shaw.ca');>> wrote:
> Hey roger,
>
> I'm not disputing what you said, it's just I haven't come across it.
>
> But I do come across, frequently, is illegal garbage dumping, callous
> logging practices, logging equipment maintenance garbage ( even though a
> lot of the spilled oil from logging equipment is biodegradable hydraulic
> oil).
>
> And illegal hunting.
>
> I see more damage done by yahoo types than anything else.
>
> And yes, forest ownership, leases,tree farm licenses, is different on the
> island from the rest of the province.
>
> Alistair
>
> On May 7, 2016, at 1:12 PM, Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Dear VI Master - to whom has all knowledge of the Unknown (log roads and
> other woodland gunk holes especially ) and to all of us who lovingly learn
> from him -
>
>
> Re Eco warriors and the stuff done -
> After being a safety manager for a logging roads builder - for more than 7
> years I can tell you from experiance that very little of what is done in
> the woods to thwart loggers is reported - most is circulated to safety
> departments of various stake holders -
> --- lest we forget many of these logging roads are owned and maintained
> privately - some on public land have private management and private use
> rules -
> Most of these logging roads are not under any sort of provincial "care "
> outside of the Tree Farm Lic the user is operating on the land with - and
> that licence may be 100 years old -
> Further to that the public use of the road is often at the pleasure of
> the licence owner -
>
> Regards
> On Saturday, 7 May 2016, Alistair Bel <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
>> Yes, roger makes some good points
>>
>> My experiences:
>>
>> Gates - yes there are gates and there are trenches and bermed inactivated
>> roads, and removed bridges. The gates locked usually in areas of active
>> logging, or if there is a big fire hazard.
>>
>> Road roughness - you should have good tires already :-)
>>
>> Truck traffic - it can be a little disconcerting to come across one of
>> the big loaded trucks barrelling towards you, especially when roads are dry
>> and dusty. I go slower when I suspect active logging. Never used radio.
>>
>> Eco warriors - new one on me. Never encountered anything of the kind.
>>
>>
>> And I should mention how I now navigate the roads. I have lots of paper
>> maps, and the back roads books. I seldom use them now. The backroad series
>> is ok, but I've found a few errors in them and I don't trust them
>> completely. They don't have up to date road inactivation data and I have
>> found mis labelled spurs.
>> Pretty well all of the area I outlined is beyond cell phone range, be
>> aware of that.
>> What I do now, and you can do this with lap top ( but now I use my iPads)
>> is when you are in wifi or cell coverage, survey the region you want in
>> google maps or earth, or Apple maps. Both are good, but the satellite data
>> differs, I have found more up to date satellite images in Apple maps for my
>> areas of interest, but annoyingly those images have thin cloud cover.
>>
>> But either will work. Survey the area to the detail you want. The data is
>> in cache on device. Then when out in the bush it becomes trivial to
>> navigate the networks of roads.
>>
>> My iPad mini is connected to garmin glo Bluetooth gps device. This gets a
>> quick and very accurate fix, even in canyons and tree cover.
>>
>> My iPad Air 2 has built in gps and works almost as well.
>>
>> Also , you can find pdf maps with geospatial data embedded. With the
>> right app you can have your position displayed on a topo map.
>>
>> (I really should do a blog post detailing all this, it truly is a game
>> changer for getting around on e logging roads up here).
>>
>> I continue to be amazed when I am at one of my favourite camping sites
>> and I can see the site on the satellite image, with my blue dot location,
>> and then look up from the screen and see that I am pretty well spot on. I
>> mean really very close, within a couple of meters.
>>
>> Alistair
>>
>>
>> On May 7, 2016, at 9:57 AM, Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Dear VI Camper
>>
>> With Alister telling you all about the wonderful logging road system
>> there are three things you should take into account before venturing on to
>> said logging roads
>> 1. Tires - the Michelin pkg offered by Go Westy says right on the tires -
>> NO ROCKs
>> And many (er.... Some) logging roads are blasted rock with all the sharp
>> edges and all -
>>
>> 2. Some logging roads have gates - the gate may or may not be open to
>> where you want to end up - also it may be open upon your arrival and closed
>> when you try to get out - and no there is usually not a handy list of
>> numbers to call attached to the lock -
>>
>> 3. Many logging roads are active and the trucks moving in either
>> direction are calling miles up or down via a vhf radio - you may want to
>> think about getting one - does everyone have one - no - do the truck
>> drivers wish everyone had one - YES - a logging truck loaded or unloaded
>> actually meeting an unannounced vehicle is probly about as common for
>> logging truck as it is for urban drivers meeting wayward bicycle - Not
>> Awlays reported - happens lots - please be safe -
>>
>> And oh yes one more thing
>>
>> 4. Eco warriors leave many nasty things in the woods to hinder the
>> progress of legitimate users of the bush - razor blades on lock s was one
>> particularly hidious event recently catalogued - it is my hope you do not
>> become collateral damage to some of these misguided protests
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> On Saturday, 7 May 2016, Alistair Bel <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>
>>> Forgot to add that I have some pics of the areas described below, on my
>>> blog.
>>> For example, pics taken with David B. On a trip to bamfield and port
>>> Alberni a few years ago, and a cold April.
>>>
>>> https://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/another-logging-road-trip/
>>>
>>> Alistair
>>>
>>> > On May 7, 2016, at 8:12 AM, Alistair Bel <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > Ok, a couple of options for the southern part of the island. I'm
>>> leaving out the obvious tourist attractions.
>>> >
>>> > From Victoria head west to port renfrew. On the way there are a few
>>> provincial campsites that are worth a look. China beach, Mystic beach,
>>> sombrio beach. There is also a fairly rugged hiking trail ( similar to the
>>> famous west coast trial) that runs along that section of the coast.
>>> > Any one of those parks is worth an overnight stay.
>>> > Jordan river is popular surfing spot with a small campsite.
>>> > At port can head out westwards and have a look at botanical beach.
>>> Very much worth it if you are into intertidal life.
>>> >
>>> > Port renfrew itself has a native run campsite in the beach. It can be
>>> a a zoo on summer weekends.
>>> >
>>> > Fairy lake provincial campsite is close by, but again, it can be a zoo.
>>> >
>>> > The road goes north thru port renfrew, over a second bridge, and you
>>> have the choice of turning left or right.
>>> > Turning right, and this is all paved, the road winds along Harris
>>> creek and then on to cowichan lake. This is now part of a popular circle
>>> route back to Victoria, very popular with motorbike riders. Some very nice
>>> views of the creek (popular in winter high water with those crazy extreme
>>> type river kayakers). No real campsites along the way, but old logging
>>> roads here and there if you want to explore.
>>> >
>>> > Back at the choice of turn, if you take the left the road winds north
>>> then west to follow the Gordon river watershed and on again to cowichan
>>> lake. The road turns to gravel after the bridge over the Gordon. Just a
>>> little further is the famous avatar grove, big trees, really big.
>>> >
>>> > We head on this road to do our camping and exploring , but turn off
>>> and head west. No campsites where we go, and road can be rough. If you are
>>> in the mood for that let me know and I can give you hints to navigate the
>>> confusing system of logging spurs.
>>> >
>>> > Back in the Gordon river road to cowichan. Lots of side roads, again
>>> rough, to explore.
>>> >
>>> > What ever road, Harris or Gordon, you take you end up at cowichan
>>> lake. You can then head east (paved) to cowichan village and then on east
>>> to the main island Hwy and back south to Victoria. If you do that stop at
>>> the logging museum in Duncan.
>>> >
>>> > But if you head west (gravel) you have a couple of prov park choices
>>> on the south side of the lake. And then if you continue west towards
>>> nitinat lake, there is a somewhat hidden site on nitinat river , nitinat
>>> falls. No organized sites, the road down is tight, can be tricky at bottom
>>> if you want to get onto the river gravel. But it's an option.
>>> >
>>> > On to a T in the road, left to nitinat village where there are many
>>> kite boarders in the summer. The lake gets very windy in the summer
>>> afternoons. Mini industry serving (originally windsurfers) kite boarders.
>>> >
>>> > At the T if you go right, and over bridge that spans the nitinat river
>>> ( gravel bar camping below bridge, but do you want to camp there?) you will
>>> be on the fairly well marked road to bamfield.
>>> >
>>> > You can turn off that road and get lost along the way :-). One example
>>> is the alternate route to bamfield that passes flora lake. Nice little
>>> forestry campsite, buggy though, but if weather hot and dry it's worth a
>>> stop for swim and overnight.
>>> >
>>> > One of my favourite watersheds, the klanawa, is reached via this way.
>>> Lots of rugged calling to be had, again if you're game let me know.
>>> >
>>> > Bamfield has marine research station and is the north end of the
>>> famous west coast trail. Pachena bay is very much worth a visit, somewhat
>>> like a mini long beach, but a bit more sheltered.
>>> > There is a native run campsite near the national park there, right
>>> near the bay.
>>> > From bamfield you can head north east on gravel, along the side of the
>>> Alberni inlet and end up at port Alberni.
>>> > You can stock up on crack and OxyContin here :-)
>>> > But has a super cool working steam sawmill, very much worth visit.
>>> > Then you can head west to Tofino and long beach etc, or east back to
>>> the east side of the island and the main island hwy.
>>> >
>>> > Alistair
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >> On Apr 30, 2016, at 8:14 AM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >> Hi all -
>>> >>
>>> >> Just beginning to put the first plans together around a trip to
>>> Vancouver
>>> >> Island in late July early August and so I am asking the group for
>>> great
>>> >> suggestions of where to camp and explore.
>>> >>
>>> >> I received some really great suggestions last year from the group
>>> that made
>>> >> our trip to Washington & Oregon memorable.
>>> >>
>>> >> Thanks in advance,
>>> >>
>>> >> Bruce Todd
>>> >> 86 Westy Syncro
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> roger whittaker 604.414.6266
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------
>> PR MARINE SURVEYORS &
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>> LinkedIn -
>>
>> - ca.linkedin.com/pub/roger-whittaker/14/78a/b71/Explore printed work
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>>
>> http://www.prpeak.com/articles/2010/11/29/multimedia/video/doc4c62e5f80d228504902172.txt
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> roger whittaker 604.414.6266
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> PR MARINE SURVEYORS &
> http://www.tvthatworks.com
> http://www.tvpowellriver.com
> LinkedIn -
>
> - ca.linkedin.com/pub/roger-whittaker/14/78a/b71/Explore printed work
> at: http://www.prliving.ca/
> View the growing list of video work at:
> http://www.youtube.com/user/LastonLastof#g/u
> http://vimeo.com/42309497
>
> http://www.prpeak.com/articles/2010/11/29/multimedia/video/doc4c62e5f80d228504902172.txt
>
>
>
--
roger whittaker 604.414.6266
----------------------------------------------------------
PR MARINE SURVEYORS &
http://www.tvthatworks.com
http://www.tvpowellriver.com
LinkedIn -
- ca.linkedin.com/pub/roger-whittaker/14/78a/b71/Explore printed work at:
http://www.prliving.ca/
View the growing list of video work at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/LastonLastof#g/u
http://vimeo.com/42309497
http://www.prpeak.com/articles/2010/11/29/multimedia/video/doc4c62e5f80d228504902172.txt
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