| Author |
Topic |
|
Vancouver, BC
Canada
559 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2012 : 4:37 PM
|
This is a guide of a one short low elevation but very pleasant trail that I came across as I explored the trail network in Gibsons area this morning. It is called "Hwy 102" and was quite memorable and had a good feeling to it so I decided to post it. I thank xj6response on trail information with his various posting. None of the peaks are melted enough for me to ascend so there is nothing else to report this season but thought this might be of interest to some.
ACCESS;
1 From Ferry Terminal, Go straight up the 4 lane hwy, then at the end of 4 lane, turn LEFT(going right will get you to the entrance of main Mtn Elphinstone trail. Start Odometer here.
2 Turn RIGHT at 0.4k
3 Turn RIGHT to Cemetry Rd at 1k
4 Turn RIGHT to Keith Rd at 2.1k
5 Then you would come to this confusing looking end of the road at 2.4k. Turn LEFT but there are three choices to the left; others being one diagonal left to a trailer park, and one for an obvious private house. Take the middle left between those two private property driveways. It looks somewhat overgrown & narrow. You might need to look hard to tell.
  
6 Then in 200m you would reach the gate and a sign for the cemetery.
TRAIL;
In few hundred meters of soft gravel road, you would reach the cemetery in the opening. There is a sign for Mtn Elphinstone trail on the left. I guess this is another way to get there but should be a round about way.
 
It starts going up rather steep for a while and it's a bit tempting to walk if you are running, but as soon as you see the rock slab base you are almost at the pleateau.
  
As soon as you reach the flat section, then you join the Hwy102 coming from the south east. The Hwy has signs like Hwy101 does and there are some nice switch backs but mainly going north on the side of the gentle hill under the canopy of second growth Douglas Fir and Hemlock forest. There are some diverting trails to steep uphill and downhill but they weren't that pretty & soft as this one.
          
Then you reach to the end by running into the gravel road - one of extentions of B & K gravel road.
One-way to the logging road end from cemetery gate took 33mins by easy running(on the way back stopped to take many photos and diverted to many other trails so I don't know the return trip time). If you are walking it would be around 60-90mins one way to the logging road from the cemetery gate.
I saw a lot of bike marks so I imagine the idea is to start from this logging road and go towards the other end without coming down to the cemetery. Other end being main Mt Elphinstone trail entrance. If you are into some nice and romantic or just a pleasant short path I thought this might be of your interest. Might be good for a family outing also.
|
Edited by - trailrunner on 07/02/2012 1:06 PM
|
|
Sunshine Coast, BC
Canada
250 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2012 : 6:58 PM
|
Hi Ya Trailrunner
I did a similar report on a different extension of this trail, called the 'tramway trail' which rakes you off hwy 102 across Chaster falls at the old wodden dam site, then up the hill following the decayed rail bed and artifacts of the historic late 19th century logging tramway
that whole area has some really nice moderate hikes many of which are quite good for running, if one is inclined 
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=40548&SearchTerms=tramway |
|
|
 Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2012 : 9:09 PM
|
I like it!! So moist and the key word was soft trails. I could really go for some wet R&R right now. My right heel and left toe are split open from the dry heat, hiking.
Soft, trail? I would walk it barefoot for some organic foot therapy, hehe. Great stuff!! |
|
|
Sunshine Coast, BC
Canada
250 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2012 : 11:17 PM
|
RM
yeah, I must say the trails from the high sierra to the low desert are really hard. Packed sand, gravelly and not very forgiving on the feet. Up here, the coastal rainforest produces vast amounts organic matter which mixes into the glacial till parent material. The forest trails can range from soft and mucky to firm strong soil, but always much easier on the feet than the south west USA.
Around the area where trailrunner did this report are miles and miles of mountain bike trails, also used by hikers. |
|
|
Vancouver, BC
Canada
559 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 12:59 PM
|
Yeah thanks for the follow up xj6response. The latter half of the hwy102 towards the BK Logging road was super soft indeed. You would love it Rented Mule. I noticed some trails around here are using the old logging road and then they tend to be hard surface with rocks built in. Trails specifically created without logging road base are just super soft and nice feeling as you run down the hill quick.
Also I just found this site--> http://www.sunshine-coast-trails.com/hwy-102.html
The site is full of trail info on Sunshine Coast and awesome. This site confirms that hwy102 gets to Mtn Elphinstone main trail but there are so many of them it might be hard to identify if coming from that direction without experience. |
Edited by - trailrunner on 07/02/2012 1:10 PM |
|
|
Sunshine Coast, BC
Canada
250 Posts |
|
Vancouver, BC
Canada
559 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2012 : 06:28 AM
|
| Yes I just explored the site more and they also got Ht Hallowell there. Not including Tetrahedron Pk, Panther Pk, Rainy Pk, and Mt Steel. They seem to be focused on low elevation trails. Great details. Pretty good eh? |
|
|
Sunshine Coast, BC
Canada
250 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2012 : 07:34 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by trailrunner
Yes I just explored the site more and they also got Ht Hallowell there. Not including Tetrahedron Pk, Panther Pk, Rainy Pk, and Mt Steel. They seem to be focused on low elevation trails. Great details. Pretty good eh?
agreed, they seem to have the more moderate and accessible hikes. All good, mind you. It's a really useful site. |
|
|
|
Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2847 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 11:57 AM
|
Hey, thanks for the great link to the Sunshine Coast Trails!! Really appreciated  |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Dummies' Guide to Hwy 102 Sunshine Coast
