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Coquitlam, BC
Canada
62 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2010 : 6:15 PM
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Well, this is my first trip report and I don't know if it even counts because I didn't do any hiking, only camping and a bit of canoeing, but here goes nothing! I figure at least some of you might be interested in seeing what it's like up at Jones lake this time of year.
My boyfriend (Tyson) and I headed up to Jones Lake on Wednesday afternoon, and we had never been there before. Planned to do some camping, canoeing, and fishing (I heard that the fishing is excellent there). We set up camp amidst on-and-off rain and didn't get a chance to go out onto the lake on Wednesday. At night, it was very cold, and we were told that it had snowed up there the morning before our arrival, but if so, there was none left by the time we got there.
On Thursday the sun came out and we were just about ready to head out in the canoe when we realized that there were whitecaps on the lake and that the wind seemed pretty strong. It didn’t look like we’d get anywhere in the canoe. It was a miserable day, as we were let down by not being able to go out in the canoe, the wind ripped our tarp down (fortunately it didn’t rain for the rest of the trip, but it still sucks that the tarp got ruined), and also because Tyson was coming down with a cold and wasn’t feeling great. To make matters worse, we used up all of our firewood from home, and so we bought some from the people who keep up the campsites, and it turned out to be wet and was very hard to start and keep a fire going with. We would have packed up and headed home on Thursday afternoon, but two friends were planning on meeting us and staying overnight so we decided to stick it out. We did have much more fun after our friends arrived.
 Jones Lake with view of Cheam Range
 Keeping warm by the campfire at night.
On Friday it seemed calmer in the morning so we finally got to take the canoe out - all four of us now. Unfortunately by the time we got to the other end of the lake, the wind picked up (and not in our favour) so it was a bit of a struggle to get back. We also trolled a line during this brief canoe trip, but did not catch anything. Although it was not quite as windy as Thursday, we brought the canoe back in.
After a brief photoshoot on the muddy/sandy/stumpy shore of Jones Lake, we packed up and left. Tyson and I were hoping to stay until Saturday or Sunday, but his cold was getting worse and we decided to head home. As you can see in these photos, the water level hasn’t risen yet, but we were told that in the next month or so it will dramatically.
Lastly, if anyone was wondering, the road isn't too bad. A couple we ran into up there told us that 2 years ago it was much more rugged, but now it’s pretty good until around 7km in, where it is much more level but full of potholes.
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Hope, BC
Canada
7098 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2010 : 11:44 PM
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| Nice pics, I love that place. I went there at 12am Saturday night and stayed til 3 am, the shooting stars were spectacular. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
439 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 08:19 AM
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| That's one place that's been highly recommended for its beauty, but its accessibility also draws crowds of yahoos. Better make it up there pretty quick before Yahoo season is in full swing. |
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1448 Posts |
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 | Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
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Coquitlam, BC
Canada
62 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 10:44 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by spacemonkey
That's one place that's been highly recommended for its beauty, but its accessibility also draws crowds of yahoos. Better make it up there pretty quick before Yahoo season is in full swing.
Funny, the Lady who works for BC Hydro up there called them just that - "Yahoos". There have been a few up there already. She told us that the week before a couple of drunks with a shotgun were shooting all of the signs. She called the cops on them, and when the cops came up they found the 2 'yahoos' had just flipped their boat in the lake... hahaha.
RE Camshaft - I do believe the official name is Wahleach Lake, but it seems to be known in general by both. The signs on the road said Jones Lake and one I recall listed both names, and the road leading to it is called Jones Lake FSR. Not sure why it has two names.
Regardless, it is a nice little camping spot, especially if you can find a spot further away from the Yahoos. Free camping, and the people who upkeep it (May-October) seem friendly. And the shooting stars WERE spectacular. |
Edited by - afterimage on 05/10/2010 10:48 AM |
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Langley, B.C
Canada
285 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 11:09 AM
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| I have never been up there before, is there anywhere up there you can camp for free? I have this problem with paying for campsites. |
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| Mr. B
Intermediate Member
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Popkum, B.C.
Canada
629 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 5:52 PM
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Nice pictures, I don't think I've ever seen the lake so low. I was up Sunday morning to do my bi-annual Alder clearing on the Lucky Four trail.
Here's what the lake and the mountains look like from the 4th switchback at 1200 Meters.
 
Lots of garbage here too. They even use cans for trail markers!
This sign struck me funny.
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 6:05 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr. B
This sign struck me funny.
There must be a lot of injuries at RedneckvilleJones Lake . |
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Coquitlam, BC
Canada
62 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 8:11 PM
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MikeW - yes you can camp there for free in the BC Hydro camp areas. There is a reasonable number of campsites and 3 main "campgrounds" - first come first serve.
Mr. B - nice shots from the Lucky Four trail, minus the garbage, which seems to be appearing everywhere I look. We found lots of rubbish (especially beer cans) around the boat launch/recreation area at the lake as well.
As for the last shot of that sign, they seem to post those on BC Hydro property because I have seen the same kind at Buntzen Lake. There are also ones saying "You're probably not expecting to drown today" and "You're probably not expecting to get lost today". They just showed up this year. |
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vancouver, bc
Canada
987 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 9:33 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by afterimage
that's a stellar backdrop and portrait, is that the shutter in your hand? I'm going to have to check this place out, preferably sans yahoos, avec camera. |
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Coquitlam, BC
Canada
62 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2010 : 09:32 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by splitboarder
quote:
Originally posted by afterimage
that's a stellar backdrop and portrait, is that the shutter in your hand? I'm going to have to check this place out, preferably sans yahoos, avec camera.
Thank you! Yes, that's what's in my hand. New toy for my camera, I need to learn to use it more discretely. 
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Vancouver
4 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2010 : 10:46 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr. B
Nice pictures, I don't think I've ever seen the lake so low. I was up Sunday morning to do my bi-annual Alder clearing on the Lucky Four trail.
Hi:
What shape is the trail in. I hiked it up to the mine about 15 years ago. At that time, the road along the lake was washed out just down from the a-frame cabins. We humped our bikes over the massive debris pile and rode up the road to the end of the switch backs - there used to be a bit of a parking spot there, then hiked the rest of the way in. I think the road along the lake has been re-opened, How far up the switch backs can you drive now?
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| Mr. B
Intermediate Member
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Popkum, B.C.
Canada
629 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2010 : 5:19 PM
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| You can drive about 1.5 km away from Jones Lake. At this point is a creek crossing that has been crossed by ATVs. The old road is infested with Alder which I've been cutting back. It's about 1 1/2 hour walk to the trailhead. |
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Vancouver
4 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2010 : 10:49 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr. B
You can drive about 1.5 km away from Jones Lake. At this point is a creek crossing that has been crossed by ATVs. The old road is infested with Alder which I've been cutting back. It's about 1 1/2 hour walk to the trailhead.
Thanks Mr. B.
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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 - 05/08/2012 : 5:59 PM
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Missed this TR, 2 years ago. Some real nice images of Jones Lake with the peaks in the background.
K |
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Jones Lake, May 5-7 2010.
