Date: Sat, 7 May 2016 13:48:13 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bel <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bel <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: Vancouver Island
In-Reply-To: <CAG0-GTzcW5o5ezFcpLX+Pad2iiRSssP93++ssZL+ZFpqfd3A3A@mail.gmail.com>
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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
>>>
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------
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>
>
> --
> 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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