Garnet Creek FSR To East Harrison Saturday Aug. 21

[SouthPoint]

On Saturday, August 21 Farp, Phoenix and myself are planning to ride the Garnet Creek FSR to East Harrison. For anyone who hasn't done this loop, it is very scenic and there is a good variety of road conditions to ride through. A washed out bridge was recently replaced, so I am hoping the road will still go all the way through. If not, there is still plenty of good riding in this area so it should be a good day.

If anyone is interested in joining us, we are going to meet at the A&W in Agassiz at 8:30am.

 

[Phoenix]

Only question I have is will I have enough fuel ? I can easily do 200kms before I get nervous about my next fill up.

Cheers, Alex.

 

[SouthPoint]

200kms will be plenty of range if you fuel up in Agassiz. There is a gas station right at the A&W. The ride isn't really that long, unless of course we make it through and get real energetic and decide to continue up to Boston Bar and try to beat the 812km loop

 

[Farp]

Hey Ted, how hard is it to get through to Boston Bar? Any ideas how long it would take? If we make a pit stop in Boston Bar for lunch and gas it'll only take us 3 to 4 hours to return to Harrison Hot Springs Via Kookipi. That'd be a real nice loop. We might have to run a few miles up Hwy 1, but that's OK. There's nothing on the return leg that'd give us any problems at all and it's a great ride. What do you guys think Ted? Alex?

John

 

[Phoenix]

Keep talkin', I'm thinkin' Kookipi was on my list after Chehalis L. I can't do an 812 Km ride in one day though, my DR650 came with the stock 232.5 Km seat.

Alex.

 

[SouthPoint]

Helluva an idea John. I like the way you think. Were you thinking of beating it up to Boston Bar on the highway and returning via Kookipi-Harrison East- Garnet Creek?

Just so we are clear, the Garnet Creek FSR runs from the Lougheed Highway at Ruby Creek to the Harrison East FSR at Bear Creek. It scales about 30-35km on the map. Last time I rode it (about 2 years ago) it took about 1.5 – 2 hrs. with a few stops. Many sections were a bit worse than the stuff from the north end of Harrison Lake to the washout.

It sounds like Alex really wants to do Kookipi (I never get tired of that ride) so perhaps we should beat it up to Boston Bar, come back through Kookipi and see how the time is when we get to Bear Creek. It sounds like we can do it as it is 1.25 hours to Boston Bar, 3-4 hours through Kookipi and 1.5-2 hours through Garnet Creek and about 20 minutes back to Agassiz. If we don’t have time for Garnet Creek, we could do it later in the season (but it really is a must-do at some point). I’m easy; I just want to be out on my bike.

On Saturday, I need to be back around 5 or 6 at the latest, so the earlier we can go the better. I’m sure you guys don’t want to be much later given your travel time home.

What do you guys think?

 

[Farp]

It looks like you can start on the Garnet Creek road at Ruby Creek and the Lougheed and come out on Hwy 1 just east of Lake of the Woods. From there up #1 to Boston Bar and the rest is well known. Looks like it'd be about 220km so Alex will just make it with his 232km seat. If that's not do-able we could ride the pavement all the way to Boston Bar. It's about 120km from Boston Bar back to HHS.

The Ruby Creek to Lake of the Woods section is indicated in the BC Backroads mapbook but it could be pretty rough. I'll try to verify it in Google Earth, or perhaps Bing. Sure be nice to talk to somebody who's ridden it. It's not very far though so if we had to turn back it wouldn't be a complete disaster.

Just so we are clear, the Garnet Creek FSR runs from the Lougheed Highway at Ruby Creek to the Harrison East FSR at Bear Creek

If we just went up the pavement to BB and back via Kookipi we could do the Garnet Creek route on the way back, time permitting, as you suggest. This would be a nice option too. Either way I'm all for it, we really can't go wrong no matter what route we take as far as having a great ride is concerned.

John

 

[Hamon]

That section is called American Creek, and myself, Ted, and my Dad did it, uh.. Last October? For the life of us, we couldn't figure out how to connect to the through road from the west side, so we backtracked from the east and found our way through. Most of the road is really decent, although there's one pretty sizeable hill (I remember ice and lack of enjoyment in October). It'll be an uphill battle coming from the west, but doable, especially if you've got other folks to push, point, and laugh.

Whether this ride will be doable in the timeframe allotted (5-6pm arrival back in Agassiz) will depend on this section most likely. I may even have the day off on Saturday (not sure yet, but it's a possibility that I may tag along), and I'd be up for it if I can in fact get that day off.

I'll keep an eye on this thread. I can't guarantee my involvement, but it'd be nice to get out there if possible.

Travis

 

[Farp]

I'll keep an eye on this thread. I can't guarantee my involvement, but it'd be nice to get out there if possible.

Travis

Hey Travis, it'd be great to have you along - sure hope you can get the time off. How does the uphill compare to the Eagle Ridge road to Cypress Lake, or the north Sylvester route to Kenyon Lake?

John

 

[SouthPoint]

Thanks Travis. Well said. I'll never forget that hill. I hit the ice, stuffed my bike in to the bank and ended up walking it down. You are right, that hill could be a bit of a bear to get up. At least there wouldn't be any ice!

I could do Sunday if it works out better for everyone else.

 

[Farp]

Either day is fine for me, makes no difference. Alex might have a preference for Saturday.

John

 

[SouthPoint]

The long range forecast looks better for Saturday. Might be a few showers on Sunday now. Let's see what Alex has to say.....

 

[Hamon]

Hey Travis, it'd be great to have you along - sure hope you can get the time off. How does the uphill compare to the Eagle Ridge road to Cypress Lake, or the north Sylvester route to Kenyon Lake?

John

I've not done the uphill at Eagle Ridge, but comparing it to the north Sylvester route, I would say it's as steep or steeper, with less loose rocks, and more dirt. I have no idea how it'll be on Saturday after a couple days of possible rain. I don't know if I would explore it on my own, but would happily go at it with a few folks.

As for me riding on Saturday, all systems are go. I'm even trying to coerce my pa into joining this ride, seeing as his DRZ has been telling me it's feeling left out every time I visit. We'll see what happens. I am in sales, after all; sometimes my arguments can be very convincing.

I personally would like to try the hill. I may venture out there after work on Friday to scout it and report on conditions on Saturday. My memory's just too fuzzy to give an accurate description of it right now.

Travis

 

[Farp]

Thanks, Travis, see you on Saturday. This is shaping up to be a great ride.

John

 

[SouthPoint]

One thing I remember about that hill is that we were all pretty happy that we could get out without going back up it. In any case, I'll certainly give it a go if that is the route everyone wants to take. One way or another, I'm sure we can make it up. I'll have a wrench ready at the bottom to take my mirrors off.

My only concern is that we could spend a fair bit of time screwing around in there and be left a bit short of time for the rest of the ride given the distance we want to travel.

 

[Farp]

My only concern is that we could spend a fair bit of time screwing around in there and be left a bit short of time for the rest of the ride given the distance we want to travel.

I hear ya Ted. Maybe we should talk about it Saturday morning at the meet up place. I'm not even sure where the hill is. Is it on the route from Ruby Creek/Lougheed to Lake of the Woods/Hwy 1 or the other one that comes out on the East Harrison FSR? If we can get to Boston Bar without doing the hill maybe that's the way we should go. This is shaping up to be a nice day long ride and I'd hate to see us get behind schedule because of some hill that we don't really need to go up in the first place.

John

 

[SouthPoint]

it is on the Ruby Creek/Lake of the Woods section. It may be a better thing to do on a separate ride, perhaps later in the season when the days are shorter. Not too many days left for long rides. I'd hate to waste one...

 

[Farp]

it is on the Ruby Creek/Lake of the Woods section. It may be a better thing to do on a separate ride, perhaps later in the season when the days are shorter. Not too many days left for long rides. I'd hate to waste one...

Yeah, I agree. So, if I've got it right we're gonna do the pavement to Boston Bar and return via Kookipi, then, depending on time, either take the Garnet Creek route on the way back and come out on the Lougheed at Ruby Creek, or, alternatively, stay on the East Harrison all the way to Harrison Hot Springs. What ever route we take it should be a great ride.

John

 

[SouthPoint]

Yes. I think that would be best. That way we get to do Garnet Creek and Alex gets to do Kookipi.

John, how do you and Alex feel about an 8am start? I don't want to put you guys out too much just to accomodate my schedule. If not, 8:30 is fine.

 

[Farp]

John, how do you and Alex feel about an 8am start?

I was planning on arriving at your house at 8:00am. That leaves 1/2 an hour to offload the bike, and get to the meeting place in Aggasiz by 8:30. That's about as early as I'd wanna do it; something about getting up when it's still dark just doesn't work for me.

John