August 2020
By now I have realized that going along the forgotten trails of the Coast Mountains and the Chilcotin would be impossible by bike. Instead I can follow the roads, old and new when available and still get close to the big mountains. It’s usually in and out (maybe the same way) but it’s the only way to do it on a bike. I still spend a lot of time taking a zoom photo and transferring it to my phone to look for any hints of trails or roads.
There is a network of old trails into the Charlotte Alplands but that may need to wait for another summer and on foot/packraft.
There was an old mine near Perkins Peak offering easy access into the alpine here.
how easy? that depends on your wheel size :)
I thought there would be less mosquitoes but after a shower and dinner I was pretty happy to be looking out through the bug net of my tent.
The way up was rough and steep and the Garmin forecast was not too promising. I was hoping for a good day at the top so I could fly the drone and with all that extra food that I have been lugging around I could wait a day or two. Maybe there would be less mosquitoes up at 2150m.
I had my e-reader and the sun broke through the clouds every now and then. The most surprising thing that I found is eventhough I am not so far north, the sun rises from the north-east and sets to the north west. Making almost a big U around through the day.
I really dislike leaving the bike behind but there was absolutely no way or need to bring it to the peak.
Perkins Peak at 2842 meters was surprisingly easy to go up. The road goes up to 2450 which could be driven with an ATV or a more ambitious 4x4.
The best part was reuniting with Vicuna (the bike) and riding down.
Mac & Cheese (or here in Canada - Kraft Dinner) is a very versatile food. You could have it for breakfast or lunch or dinner. Or all three.
Maybe if I am back in few years there would be a lot more roads going through this area. Nothing can stop the big wheels turning and the saws buzzing as you would find out in one of the later posts this year, even the Trans Canada Trail is not more immune to being logged just like any other part of The Great North.
But it’s thanks to the Loggers and Miners that we can all ride out and see this wilderness. I set up camp at Miner Lake
I also got to meet with Joyce, Mike, Sue and Jim who drove up to the summit lake yesterday and saw my tent. It’s been an odd summer and I was actually pretty happy to be talking to people. Since I was pretty much in self isolation riding out here and will not be going into any households in the next few weeks I gladly broke social distancing rules in favor of being inside a giant gazebo away from all the mosquitoes!
As I make my way down the Bella Coola highway I can’t stop looking at the big mountains wishing there was a way there.
but the Bella Coola highway will have to do. It’s an interesting kind of road both with industrial and free range traffic.
but more on that later.