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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
839 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2009 : 02:06 AM
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MT.ROBIE REID TRAILHEAD - CANOE ACCESS TRIP
TRAIL NOTES
We decided to try a lake access approach for the Mt. Robie Reid Trail for our first trip because there seemed to be too may unknowns with the road access via Florence Lake forestry road...(snow/road conditions with our 2WD vehicles, gates requiring keys, bushwacking & creek crossing)...plus who doesn't like to canoe on such a beautiful lake? ;-)
Our orginal launch site was supposed to be the north beach campground but because there was filming in progress, we were turned around by security and decided to launch from gold creek instead.
After a quick look at the park map it seemed that campsite # 28 was the closest to the lake for a put-in so we drove to it and found that there was a trail called "gold creek trail" leading to the lake.See picture below for details...
This was it! We offloaded the gear and canoes and started our mr.canoehead portage down the trail to the lake. Once we had the canoes and gear set up, we had to find the nearest parking lot for the vehicles for the day as they couldn't stay on the main campground road. The nearest lot was back at the entrance...5 min walk from launch site...
FEE=$3.00/day (ticket is good for any lot in the provincial park)
Well, on the shore it was time for the traditional group shot/start time record. ;-)
<10:30am>
We headed out in leisurely fashion as we soaked up the surroundings with lots of nice waterfalls, silky smooth water and plenty of smiles.
<12:00pm>
We reached the narrows.
<1:30pm>
We reached the north shoreline of the lake right where the rushing river meets the lake and began the search for any sign of a trailhead as we headed east towards stave lake hugging the shore.
Suddenly, we spotted a little cabin and thought that this was probably where the trailhead was so we took our canoes up to the cabin and were so surprised to find this awesome little furnished cabin.
It had a wood stove w/firewood, a loft bed, lots of windows, table & chairs, shelves for food, tealite candles and crafty popcan candle holders...great little cabin for a cozy overnighter.
We milled around in the cabin for about 40 mins. having lunch and chatting before we all got so restless and had to get on the trail to see what it was all about.
<2:30pm>
From the cabin it looked like there were two options for a trail...one headed straight back from the cabin and the other one headed west towards the river that was coming off of Robie Reid...this seemed the logical trail so we started out down it.
The initial 15 mins there was a bit of bushwacking but it was made easy by all the obvious flagging tape...phew...sure is nice to have a marked trail for a change.
After the bushwacking we started to parallel the rushing river with what seemed to be big granite polished rocks. Very fresh and clean water source.
The trail carried on like this for about ten mins before heading into the more open forested part. Once in this section the trail began to steepen rapidly and it became quite apparent that this trail means business. :-) there is a trail junction at around the 2km mark up the trail...the trail we were on is marked with orange tape...the joiner trail at this junction has yellow tape...we believe this is the trail that comes from the road access, however we didn't have time to confirm it.
We only had enough time to spend 45mins up the trail so at 3:15pm we had to turn around to make it back to our vehicles to check in with our designated safety person....with an "on alert" time of 8pm.
<4:00pm>
Made it back to the cabin, packed up all the gear
<4:30pm>
Launched the canoes to head back
<7:00pm>
Arrived at shoreline of gold creek campground
<7:30pm>
Loading canoes and gear onto vehicles
This trail is definately one that we will all come back to...what a great adventure and well marked/maintained trail. The five of us had a really good time even in the rain for the paddle back :-)
The paddle back to the campground from the cabin only took 2.5hrs in the rain with a bit of wind coming at us.
Summary, thoughts & notes:
Important Note 1:
There is no cell service in the campground area and reception comes back after around 20 mins driving out so it is important to consider this...
Important Note 2:
Start your day with a FULLY charged phone and shut it off while you are not "in service" otherwise this has the potential to drain your batteries very quick as it will try to increase the power/RSSI signal strength to reach the non existant cell service.
Important Note 3:
If it is a damp day, zip locking your phone might be a good idea otherwise you may find that your phone doesn't work when you return to service and power it up...some phones don't work when they get too damp.
Important Note 4:
ALWAYS bring extra dry clothing and clothing for many different types of weather. It might be a different kind of day by the time you return.
NEXT TIME
I would like to investigate the road access option to get to this trail just to see what is involved.
I will definately do the canoe access again as an overnighter because the canoe is a better way to get the camping gear out there, then I would hike the mountain the next day and canoe back the following day.
I wouldn't put the canoe in at that same starting spot if I had a better option but I would do it again if I had to. I think the beach at the north beach campground is way better for a launch site or the road access might allow a canoe right near the NE side of the lake...see picture that shows how close the road is to the shoreline.
~THE END~
Well that's it! What a fantastic trip! It is worth it just for the paddle up the lake to the cabin for a lunch or bbq. I can't wait to scramble this mountain ;-)
Here are some more pics from our day...enjoy
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Edited by - kellylegros on 05/23/2009 6:02 PM
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Maple Ridge, BC
Canada
739 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2009 : 02:57 AM
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Sounds like you had a great day out! Did you get to see any filming action? Apparently, they're filming "Percy Jackson," with Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman and Rosario Dawson.
Thanks for the well-documented trip report!
quote:
Originally posted by kellylegros
We decided to try a lake access approach for the Mt. Robie Reid Trail for our first trip because there seemed to be too may unknowns with the road access via Florence Lake forestry road...(snow/road conditions with our 2WD vehicles, gates requiring keys, bushwacking & creek crossing)
The Florence road access is pretty straightforward once you get good directions on where to go. It's only about an hour, maybe a little more, from the trail head to the cabin area, even with a large pack. Not sure what the status of the gates and snow is at this time of year. No bushwacking, though, as there is now a proper trail.
quote:
The trail carried on like this for about ten mins before heading into the more open forested part. Once in this section the trail began to steepen rapidly and it became quite apparent that this trail means business. :-) there is a trail junction at around the 2km mark up the trail...the trail we were on is marked with orange tape...the joiner trail at this junction has yellow tape...we believe this is the trail that comes from the road access, however we didn't have time to confirm it.
That yellow-marked trail is indeed the new trail connecting to the road access. After going further on the (orange-marked) Robie Reid trail proper, it starts getting steep shortly after.
quote:
I can't wait to scramble this mountain ;-)
Please be aware that from cabin to summit and back to the cabin can still be about a 12 to 16 hour endeavour (depending on your fitness level and skills), but there is a nice camp spot some four hours up from the north shore of Alouette, at 1360 metres (near some tarns). And the scrambling part onto the southeast ridge and onto the summit block is tricky at best (and deadly at worst) in snow conditions. Maybe better to leave this one for August or September. |
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
839 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2009 : 03:25 AM
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Thanks for the info Justin Case! The road access should be a real treat now that I have done the 6hrs of canoeing version...
We didn't see any filming action but we did see some huge set that they had made out there...apparently they have been busy building for a month now.
This mountain is quite the deal...it is very technical and complex as far as the amount of knowledge you need to summit it. Little by little I'll collect all the pieces of the "big trip" and one day make a nicer report out of it.
Cheers!
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Edited by - kellylegros on 05/23/2009 5:59 PM |
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 Grouse Grinding, GPS carrying, lawn chair packing, bike riding North Shore tech addict who stares at Crown Mountain from his office window all day
North Vancouver
Canada
1905 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2009 : 3:14 PM
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That's a great detailed report. I was surprised this year to see how close the logging came down to the east side of the lake!
A couple of years ago we parked at Gold Creek parking lot and I carried the canoe through the closed campground down to North Beach. Wouldn't you know it, about 5 minutes after we passed the closed gate, the ranger opened that campground for the season and about 20 camper vehicles passed us scrambling for the best spots. At least we didn't have to carry all the crap back back to Gold Creek parking.
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 Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2009 : 6:39 PM
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You said it!! Fantastic trip, indeed! Looks great!
Great write up! Appreciate the hard work. I especially like the
overview map in the beginning. I think I will start to put my gps coords on my treks, as well. That makes it nice for the google-earthers.  |
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Vancouver, bc
Canada
1009 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2009 : 7:42 PM
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| Great TR Kelly and it was a fantastic trip in spite of the hiccups - glad you're not grounded - also looking forward to the next episode ;+) |
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
839 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2009 : 10:41 PM
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Thanks for the positive vibes everyone! 
It makes all the late nights and planning worth it to see people's appreciation.
Take care and I hope to see you on the trails.
P.S.
Does anyone have more information about the Mt.Robie Reid Hike/scramble part of the trip?
I am interested in ascent time, any climbing gear required/recommended, is the trail marked all the way up or is it obvious, wildlife reports, cell service for emergencies near the top, location to camp on trail if the trail isn't do'able as a day trip up/down...
Cheers. Kelly |
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Abbotsford BC / Sydney, NSW
Australia
307 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2009 : 06:44 AM
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Great write up Kelly.
Fantastic pictures.
Wulfs work on the trail is beaut and worth the walk on it. I havent seen the last bit of it as I had to leave canada before it was finished up. I hear its just as good though.
Cant help with the trail up Robie Reid. Ive only been up a little ways. Other will be abel to fill you in. use the search function to find some awesome trips from others up there.
Cant wait to spend some time in the area when Im back this summer.
Cheers for making me homesick |
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13453 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2009 : 9:35 PM
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Great report Kelly.
Like the calm water shots. That cabin looks in great shape, nicer than when I saw it 2 year ago.
K |
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 | DW2
Senior Member
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West Coast, B.C.
1396 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 10:12 AM
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Looks like someone has done a lot of recent work on the cabin!
There is excellent camping on the trail once you level off in the sub-alpine. The summit was a bit beyond my comfort level, but we had a great few days exploring on the rock and snow. The trail to where you can camp is steep!! |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
271 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2009 : 7:35 PM
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check out our trip report from two years ago...9/7 2007 Stas's and my picures are somewhat down in the threat. Mine are on page two. I posted some pics of pertinent areas...note... I mislabeled the bumps.... East is really north... in other words, as you head uphill E/N is the bump on climbers right. boy time flies. we did the road access RR in one long day. At that time we still had to bushwack the few hundred meters between the end of the new road access trail ( at park boundary) to the existing trail. Second week in september at 430 am in the dark with only head lamps we were somewhere along the lakeshore heading towards the cabin..devils club, brambles, rotten logs..oh joy..that was the most dangerous part for the whole day. Now that the new connection is in it will be much nicer !!! Didn't use rope..dry day. We brought some just in case.
1st weekend that september : 4 hrs to bivy site with overnight pack. got rained out on ascent day..so came back following weekend as day trip
day trip: light pack but some warm clothing in case of bivy, warm sunny windless forecast. 2 1/2 hrs to bivy site. 16 hr round trip.
Start early !!!
Remember..the summit is at the end of the ridge up the little pinnacle...only one decent self evident spot to clamber up from the ridge. Once above the first few meters choose the route of less loose rock. for us it was to climbers left over large blocks. NOT at the radio beacon as one unfortunate CCer realized too late ( once back down) |
Edited by - lofty on 05/28/2009 7:49 PM |
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
839 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2009 : 12:34 PM
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thanks for the reply lofty...
Is the road access ok for a ford windstar minivan 2WD or my ford ranger 2WD? Or is it more of a 4WD road / high clearance?
Cheers & thanks again. KL |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
271 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2009 : 4:26 PM
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not sure anymore...it's two years back. it seemed fine. we had 4x$'s but don't think they were neede really. Why not drive there on a rainy weekend and check it out. We had a key to the gate, but I think the gate might be unlocked...anyone out there know more ????
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Mt. Robie Reid Trail - access by canoe
