Jeremy
01-26-2009, 01:37 AM
With the late fall weather in Vancouver taking on its wet and dreary conditions what better time to go camping. With Remembrance Day falling on a Tuesday there was a nice coincidence that Robin had 3 days off in a row. Once that was realized a plan was a foot to get out of town and go camping. First on the list was for myself to get the Monday (Nov 10) off. Once that was completed it was time to figure out were to go.
We both wanted to get out of town and go some were nice with a chance of some colder weather. After some research and looking at different areas it was decided that the Nehatlatch Valley would be our destination. The Nahatlatch Valley is located about 40kms west of Boston Bar. Boston Bar is a small almost forgotten town about 80kms south of Cache Creek and 70kms north of Hope.
Boston Bar, like other towns along the Fraser Canyon, came to being because of the gold found in the area. Many of the gold seekers in this region were Americans, and because the ships that brought them to British Columbia shores generally came from Boston, the aboriginals, referred to them as "Boston men," hence the name Boston Bar.
Boston Bar was also a well known and busy roadhouse stop during the gold rush.
The Building of the Railway also played an important role in this region, first came the Canadian Pacific followed by the Canadian National. In the beginning the CPR's divisional point, at North Bend, across the Fraser from Boston Bar, could only be reached by an aerial ferry. Today there's a bridge. No matter whether you stand on the east or west side of the Fraser, you can see both the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways on either side.
Since no one was available or wanting to go camping so late in the year this was going to be just Robin and I. Knowing that we would be going on our own and in one vehicle it was essential we be well equipped. All year we have been able to go with other friends and pool our gear. But in this case that was not going to happen. I started off getting the truck running. Had a bit of a hick up there as the “smart” jumper cables I used wended up blowing the main fusible link, dome fuse, CB Radio fuse and the stereo fuse. After I got the required fusible like thanks to Dave my trusty Toyota parts guy and friend it was running.
Ok so trucks running and it was time to do a quick check on what I had and needed. I knew we needed a chain saw and after talking to Dave he told me Tim was selling one. Well I got the chain saw from him and am good to go in that department. I might ad that chain saw’s are awesome!!! Alright now I needed an Axe, yes I did not have my own axe just a hatchet.
I also got serious about starting to get my tools for the truck. It’s always advisable when going out off road or back county to have all your own tools. You need enough tools to fix anything that will happen out there but not so many that you ad unwanted weight and loss of cargo space. So I got started on getting a “truck tool set” together (more on this later).
So with a destination, needed tools and equipment acquired it was time to pack and get going. Sunday morning we had a target of hitting the road by 10:30am. We got the last of the gear in (had a minor spas at the soaking mist coming down, I hate that kind of rain). I went and started the truck to hear the starter hang up. I did not have another started and it only did it for a few seconds so I turned off the truck. Disappointed and still a bit grumpy about the rain I tried again and it happened again. I decided that it was something that was not detrimental to the trip. I think what happened was the day before I pressure washed the truck and hit the starter. The starter got wet and caused the problem, it did not do it again after this.
Ok so away we go! We got the last of the food and then breakfast. We hit the hwy (#1) at 11:30am and were on our way……few! The further up the valley we got the better and better the weather got. By 1:30 when we pulled into Boston Bar it was sunny and the sky was warm and welcoming. A very nice surprise considering how bad the weather was in Vancouver when we left.
A quick top up of gas and bathroom break in Boston Bar we were going again…….for about 500ft. We got stopped at the rail way crossing on the east bank Canadian national rail way. It was a long train full of containers headed for Vancouver and the port. After about 10min the train finally passed and we were underway again……for about 1km. Then we hit a train on the West side CPR train full of grain headed north, about 10min later we were on our way free and clear lol it was a funny experience at the time.
After getting though North bend we were soon on the dirt and gravel forestry road. The rain and the snow in the past week had made the road very pot holed and muddy. It was not a big problem and we pulled into Squakum Forestry Rec site about 2:45pm. I had stayed in this site last year and its spectacular. Its off the main road and not accessible to cars. After winding down the worn out old road you hit the camp area. This camp area is fairly large, it has about 10 well spread out camp spots. There was more at some point but there long grown over now. This rec site is one of the User maintained one. Campers provide the majority of upkeep at the recreation site. Users are encouraged to be responsible and respect the environment by keeping sites in an unspoiled condition for others to enjoy. The ministry monitors user maintained sites and provides a basic level of service such as pumping toilets, replacing damaged or worn infrastructure, and removing hazardous trees.
After a quick tour around the camp area in the truck it was decided that we would camp in an out of the way spot on the West end. This decision was made for a simple reason that there was a roudy looking bunch of kids at the east end. They were walking around with out shirts on and started puffing there chests up as soon as they saw us coming. It looked like some strange territorial posturing you would see on the Discovery channel. There was also a camp that was empty other than a tent and few water jugs.
After picking out spot we got to work getting set up, its dark at 5pm now so there was a bit of a hustle to get set up before then. We got the tent up in short order and pick nick bench moved. I also set up a large tarp over the pick nick table and right to the edge of the fire pit. As soon as we got that done the next thing was to get wood for our fire. I took the newly acquired chain saw out and put it to the test. The beach right by our camp was full of drift wood. Problem is the lake was high and the wood was very wet. After about 15 min with the chain saw we had a good amount of what looked like ok wood. It turned out to be very wet and almost impossible to burn.
At the time we were getting wood the camper that was set up just down from us came back to find all his wood stolen as well as his axe. He quickly came over and asked if we had taken it, I said no and it was obvious as I was putting away the chain saw. He was a very weathered looking native man and did not look like he took this theft lightly. I told him that some kids were here in a Jeep and maybe to pay them a visit. It was a bit unnerving to have a run in like this as you would hope out here people respect your camp. I was also not sure if he believed that we had not taken his wood, I did not want any trouble.
I had herd from Dave that its mushroom season up there and there are lots of people picking. The mushroom of choice is the Pine Mushrooms, or Matsutake, Tricholoma magnivelare, is a mycorhizzal fungi. This means it exists in the wild solely in symbiosis with plants, as far as we know. Specifically with the Ponderosa pine out west and the Jack Pine in the northern Midwest. Very little success has been had growing mycorhizzal mushrooms. There has been little success with invitro chanterelles. In my research since we got back I have found that they go for upwards of $100 a pound.
So after that run in we got to getting the fire going, it took a team effort and a lot of work it was. It took us about 1.5 hours to get a good fire going. We used this gel fire starter gel we got at some pint in the year. I have to say I think this stuff saved out asses that night. With the fire going and the night firmly set around us the rain came and went as Robin got dinner on the go. She had made this interesting meal as a child at camp. You take ground beef, hash browns and frozen veggies put them in a tin foal pouch and put on the fire or BBQ. I have to say it was fantastic simple fast and so tasty. After that we sat around the fire enjoying the hypnotic flickering of the flames and playing Yatzee.
Our camper that came over earlier asking about his stolen wood came over and started chatting with us. Turned out whoever stole his wood also went into his tent and stole a few other things. He and a friend/relative had been there for over a month picking mushrooms. They were very nice although a bit creepy. They warmed then selves by our fire as they talked about confronting the kids and making it clear they would not be treated nicely next time. They were all the way down from Quesnel and had done this for a few years. After about 20min and a few uncomfortable silences they left to get fire wood and start there own.
That night both Robin and I had a restless sleep, from the rain and possible sounds of animals. Eventually we both fell asleep and had a ok sleep once that happened.
The next day we woke to no rain and started on breakfast. The mushroom pickers came over and let us know they were leaving and that the wood they had there was all ours.
We both wanted to get out of town and go some were nice with a chance of some colder weather. After some research and looking at different areas it was decided that the Nehatlatch Valley would be our destination. The Nahatlatch Valley is located about 40kms west of Boston Bar. Boston Bar is a small almost forgotten town about 80kms south of Cache Creek and 70kms north of Hope.
Boston Bar, like other towns along the Fraser Canyon, came to being because of the gold found in the area. Many of the gold seekers in this region were Americans, and because the ships that brought them to British Columbia shores generally came from Boston, the aboriginals, referred to them as "Boston men," hence the name Boston Bar.
Boston Bar was also a well known and busy roadhouse stop during the gold rush.
The Building of the Railway also played an important role in this region, first came the Canadian Pacific followed by the Canadian National. In the beginning the CPR's divisional point, at North Bend, across the Fraser from Boston Bar, could only be reached by an aerial ferry. Today there's a bridge. No matter whether you stand on the east or west side of the Fraser, you can see both the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways on either side.
Since no one was available or wanting to go camping so late in the year this was going to be just Robin and I. Knowing that we would be going on our own and in one vehicle it was essential we be well equipped. All year we have been able to go with other friends and pool our gear. But in this case that was not going to happen. I started off getting the truck running. Had a bit of a hick up there as the “smart” jumper cables I used wended up blowing the main fusible link, dome fuse, CB Radio fuse and the stereo fuse. After I got the required fusible like thanks to Dave my trusty Toyota parts guy and friend it was running.
Ok so trucks running and it was time to do a quick check on what I had and needed. I knew we needed a chain saw and after talking to Dave he told me Tim was selling one. Well I got the chain saw from him and am good to go in that department. I might ad that chain saw’s are awesome!!! Alright now I needed an Axe, yes I did not have my own axe just a hatchet.
I also got serious about starting to get my tools for the truck. It’s always advisable when going out off road or back county to have all your own tools. You need enough tools to fix anything that will happen out there but not so many that you ad unwanted weight and loss of cargo space. So I got started on getting a “truck tool set” together (more on this later).
So with a destination, needed tools and equipment acquired it was time to pack and get going. Sunday morning we had a target of hitting the road by 10:30am. We got the last of the gear in (had a minor spas at the soaking mist coming down, I hate that kind of rain). I went and started the truck to hear the starter hang up. I did not have another started and it only did it for a few seconds so I turned off the truck. Disappointed and still a bit grumpy about the rain I tried again and it happened again. I decided that it was something that was not detrimental to the trip. I think what happened was the day before I pressure washed the truck and hit the starter. The starter got wet and caused the problem, it did not do it again after this.
Ok so away we go! We got the last of the food and then breakfast. We hit the hwy (#1) at 11:30am and were on our way……few! The further up the valley we got the better and better the weather got. By 1:30 when we pulled into Boston Bar it was sunny and the sky was warm and welcoming. A very nice surprise considering how bad the weather was in Vancouver when we left.
A quick top up of gas and bathroom break in Boston Bar we were going again…….for about 500ft. We got stopped at the rail way crossing on the east bank Canadian national rail way. It was a long train full of containers headed for Vancouver and the port. After about 10min the train finally passed and we were underway again……for about 1km. Then we hit a train on the West side CPR train full of grain headed north, about 10min later we were on our way free and clear lol it was a funny experience at the time.
After getting though North bend we were soon on the dirt and gravel forestry road. The rain and the snow in the past week had made the road very pot holed and muddy. It was not a big problem and we pulled into Squakum Forestry Rec site about 2:45pm. I had stayed in this site last year and its spectacular. Its off the main road and not accessible to cars. After winding down the worn out old road you hit the camp area. This camp area is fairly large, it has about 10 well spread out camp spots. There was more at some point but there long grown over now. This rec site is one of the User maintained one. Campers provide the majority of upkeep at the recreation site. Users are encouraged to be responsible and respect the environment by keeping sites in an unspoiled condition for others to enjoy. The ministry monitors user maintained sites and provides a basic level of service such as pumping toilets, replacing damaged or worn infrastructure, and removing hazardous trees.
After a quick tour around the camp area in the truck it was decided that we would camp in an out of the way spot on the West end. This decision was made for a simple reason that there was a roudy looking bunch of kids at the east end. They were walking around with out shirts on and started puffing there chests up as soon as they saw us coming. It looked like some strange territorial posturing you would see on the Discovery channel. There was also a camp that was empty other than a tent and few water jugs.
After picking out spot we got to work getting set up, its dark at 5pm now so there was a bit of a hustle to get set up before then. We got the tent up in short order and pick nick bench moved. I also set up a large tarp over the pick nick table and right to the edge of the fire pit. As soon as we got that done the next thing was to get wood for our fire. I took the newly acquired chain saw out and put it to the test. The beach right by our camp was full of drift wood. Problem is the lake was high and the wood was very wet. After about 15 min with the chain saw we had a good amount of what looked like ok wood. It turned out to be very wet and almost impossible to burn.
At the time we were getting wood the camper that was set up just down from us came back to find all his wood stolen as well as his axe. He quickly came over and asked if we had taken it, I said no and it was obvious as I was putting away the chain saw. He was a very weathered looking native man and did not look like he took this theft lightly. I told him that some kids were here in a Jeep and maybe to pay them a visit. It was a bit unnerving to have a run in like this as you would hope out here people respect your camp. I was also not sure if he believed that we had not taken his wood, I did not want any trouble.
I had herd from Dave that its mushroom season up there and there are lots of people picking. The mushroom of choice is the Pine Mushrooms, or Matsutake, Tricholoma magnivelare, is a mycorhizzal fungi. This means it exists in the wild solely in symbiosis with plants, as far as we know. Specifically with the Ponderosa pine out west and the Jack Pine in the northern Midwest. Very little success has been had growing mycorhizzal mushrooms. There has been little success with invitro chanterelles. In my research since we got back I have found that they go for upwards of $100 a pound.
So after that run in we got to getting the fire going, it took a team effort and a lot of work it was. It took us about 1.5 hours to get a good fire going. We used this gel fire starter gel we got at some pint in the year. I have to say I think this stuff saved out asses that night. With the fire going and the night firmly set around us the rain came and went as Robin got dinner on the go. She had made this interesting meal as a child at camp. You take ground beef, hash browns and frozen veggies put them in a tin foal pouch and put on the fire or BBQ. I have to say it was fantastic simple fast and so tasty. After that we sat around the fire enjoying the hypnotic flickering of the flames and playing Yatzee.
Our camper that came over earlier asking about his stolen wood came over and started chatting with us. Turned out whoever stole his wood also went into his tent and stole a few other things. He and a friend/relative had been there for over a month picking mushrooms. They were very nice although a bit creepy. They warmed then selves by our fire as they talked about confronting the kids and making it clear they would not be treated nicely next time. They were all the way down from Quesnel and had done this for a few years. After about 20min and a few uncomfortable silences they left to get fire wood and start there own.
That night both Robin and I had a restless sleep, from the rain and possible sounds of animals. Eventually we both fell asleep and had a ok sleep once that happened.
The next day we woke to no rain and started on breakfast. The mushroom pickers came over and let us know they were leaving and that the wood they had there was all ours.