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Duncan, B.C.
Canada
19 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2010 : 9:06 PM
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Can any one tell me, conditions of this trail, is it a very long trek?
As im looking for three days or so, i have done king and queens, and mount thelwood and flower ridge trail. I would like to take a friend who has not done a lot of off trail back packs, so am looking for one thats reasonably marked
Thank you |
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3022 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2010 : 10:54 AM
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It is considered "officialy closed " at the bridge start, due to bridge damage by nature.
Crossing through the water may or may not be difficult, depending on how you like scratching yourself up through the shoreline shrubs and if you use good firm soled sandals you can ditch after & reboot.
The trail is about 3-hours one-way to reach the top with a pack ,of constant constant constant uphill grade with nary a level spot to sit. Steep edges.
That is why there are no camp out spots along the trail.
Bear & dear domain. Elk & cougar at the lower levels.
Very nice tall old trees and some clean fast water near one crossing.
The snow pack, if still there , melts about three inches a day, so Do Not Trust using your Footprints to find your entrance/exit points back to trail.
Butterflys & Hoverflies.
Pet policy / leash in effect, do not let pets disturb alpine [ ptarmigans are a bit stupid & gullible ] & forest life. |
Edited by - cambium on 08/12/2010 10:57 AM |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1321 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2010 : 10:56 AM
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| Wasn't the trail just rerouted around the bridge? I believe you start a little ways along the highway now... |
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3022 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2010 : 11:01 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by swebster
Wasn't the trail just rerouted around the bridge? I believe you start a little ways along the highway now...
How would they do that without skirting along one of the two lakes ? They would need to re-trail & that would have impact on the aforementioned wilderness along the remote shoreline.It is sloggy in there even in summer months . Some kind of water crossing would still be required.
Better to rebuild the bridge is my thought. |
Edited by - cambium on 08/12/2010 11:03 AM |
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Nanaimo, BC
Canada
4 Posts |
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3022 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2010 : 11:24 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by IslandGem
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_north/comoxvalleyrecord/lifestyles/97121219.html Hope this helps :)
Thanks, that should clear up the O.P.'s question.
It seems that some of us have until Aug.30 to ask B.C.Parks to rebuild the bridge.
The north-shoreline along Drum lake Upper is a high value wildlife zone that should not have the impacts of human traffic displacing it.The Hwy took care of the rest of Upper Drum lake.
A shame that Friends of the Park had to call-out B.C. Parks to get any action going, I heard of it but wasn't aware that this was one of the places . |
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Duncan, B.C.
Canada
19 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2010 : 11:52 AM
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| Thank you for all the information,much appreciated! |
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35 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2010 : 4:49 PM
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Here is a recent trip report from the CDMC website http://comoxhiking.com/init/forum/display/46 including a GPS route of the trail.
Cambium, I am interested to hear more details about the north shore of Drum Lakes being an important wildlife corridor, this has not been an issue raised in the main stream media.
The Friends of Strathcona website has a notice that the bridge will in fact be replaced by BC Parks, here is the link http://friendsofstrathcona.org/crest-mtn-trail/
If BC Parks mentioned the wildlife corridor as one of the reasons for not keeping the new re-routing of the trail it might make more sense to everyone. |
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3022 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2010 : 11:03 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by qiz
Here is a recent trip report from the CDMC website http://comoxhiking.com/init/forum/display/46 including a GPS route of the trail.
Cambium, I am interested to hear more details about the north shore of Drum Lakes being an important wildlife corridor, this has not been an issue raised in the main stream media.
The Friends of Strathcona website has a notice that the bridge will in fact be replaced by BC Parks, here is the link http://friendsofstrathcona.org/crest-mtn-trail/
[size=3]If BC Parks mentioned the wildlife corridor as one of the reasons for not keeping the new re-routing of the trail it might make more sense to everyone.[/size=3]
Quote from B.C.Parks rep [ ? ] > "We realize that there are some members of FOSP and perhaps the general public who may be disappointed with our decision, believing a new trail would be a better and less costly option. Be assured we approached this assessment fairly and would have supported whatever the best option was and while replacing the bridge “may” end up being the more costly option (not guaranteed due potential high costs of highway work required and moving of all trailhead infrastructure), public safety, from both a BC Parks and Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure perspective, is paramount. "
Thankyou for the added info, qiz ,it amazes me how often wildlife corridors & habitat are often overlooked or not seen by either parties.
My experiences in there have confirmed with visual sightings and evidences that this corridor is a part of travel used extensively during spring months and evidence also of in autumn months where Elk , and to some extent Deer , travel through the North banks and settle in the shrubs and cross-over [ east side ] to the power-line right-of-ways leading to the 'old ' Landslide - Elk river trails.
I am very happy to see that B.C.Parks will continue the Bridge option, a parallel human trail that temporarily exists would in the long run have added unwanted pressure on the animals.
co-incidently, this corridor has given me past experiences of cougar contacts.
It is high value, my radar is on "full alert" whenever I poke my nose inside "their boundaries".
{ Glad to see harnesses were visible on the friends of strathcona's pets . Hope that trail now dies a quiet death }. |
Edited by - cambium on 08/13/2010 11:05 AM |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1321 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2010 : 11:26 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by cambium
{ Glad to see harnesses were visible on the friends of strathcona's pets . Hope that trail now dies a quiet death }.
The bridge still isn't rebuilt. Who knows if it ever will be. Without the new bypass trail, this area would probably not have gotten any attention and the broken bridge would have just sat there rotting away for more years... |
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3022 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2010 : 11:06 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by swebster
quote:
Originally posted by cambium
{ Glad to see harnesses were visible on the friends of strathcona's pets . Hope that trail now dies a quiet death }.
The bridge still isn't rebuilt. Who knows if it ever will be. Without the new bypass trail, this area would probably not have gotten any attention and the broken bridge would have just sat there rotting away for more years...
Swebster...
Yes, without a doubt.
That is why I mentioned that it is too bad we have to "call-out B.C. parks" once in a while for a scrap ...
I hope the other initiatives that the Friends of the Park highlited also are resolved . |
Edited by - cambium on 08/14/2010 11:09 AM |
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6 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 8:24 PM
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| I was up in the area recently and the Crest trail is rerouted. The trailhead now starts close to the day area of Crest Lake. My husband and I had a look at the bridge, it does need repair but we were still able to cross over it. I think repairing it would have been the better solution. I'm not sure why the Park chose to build a new trail. Does anyone out there know? |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1321 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 8:56 PM
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| The park didn't build a new trail really. Friends of Strathcona Park did, with their permission. The reason is that it is much easier and cheaper to grub out a short bypass trail than to build a bridge, which requires engineering, wood, probably first aid attendants, etc etc. BC Parks didn't have the cash for the bridge, because the government has cut their budget down to practically nothing. Apparently they will eventually rebuild the bridge though. |
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crest mountain trail
