Gold Bridge to Gang Ranch

[Sicamose]

W

Did the annual loop a few weeks ago, with a few new bits; Hurley to Braelorne to Gun Lake to Tyax, to NoAxe, through Marshall Lake, up over the pass, to Highline, to D'arcy, to Pemby - and then home. I'd like to go back and explore the Gun Lake area, as we found endless criss crossing trails that need exploring!

Hi Offworlder et al,
We are hoping to go Yalakom - Poison Mnt Road (you call NoAxe?) - Gaspard Red Mountain Road to end up in Gang Ranch Area. Will be on GS/GSA's. Hoping this route will bypass any difficult sections (eg steep babyheads and pool of doom!!). Any insight/input would be much appreciated.

 

[Bushpig Performance]

Hi Sicamose, when do you plan to go?
I plan a party going this route but coming from Mud lake and then up Poison Mtn on August 8/9.
From my map reco/trail reports, I think it will be clear up to the end of Yalakom, the top part of Poison should be good too (smaller trees and fairly flat) but your exit onto Gaspard has a steep section I don't know about. Downhill for you, uphill for us.
On a trail not much traveled like this, there is also the risk of finding many deadfalls on the trail, slowing you down if you have to go around in the bushes.

 

[Scott_J]

Yalakom is a nice by pass for MudLake. Nicer in all respects. The water crossings are the least of your issues on a bigger bike.

 

[Sicamose]

Hi Alex and Scott,
Thx for your prompt replies. No exact date set yet. Our group is somewhat flexible. We almost left last Monday but decided the recent rainfall would possibly make heavy bikes even more problematic.
We are now considering next week. Weather is dry till then.
The section Alex circled... my BRMB shows as a steady 20% grade. This is the section i can't get any input on and google earth isn't clear enough. BRMB calls it both a trail and a road!
Is it a rutted baby-head creek bed or a flatish ATV wide trail. Grade is less of a concern than road bed quality.
We usually bring along an axe and swede saw .. good for 6" and smaller. Anything larger and we'll probably turn around.
Can either of you expand on the "issues on a bigger bike" for any part of this route.
THX again for your prompt replies

 

[lagbc]

Hi Offworlder et al,
We are hoping to go Yalakom - Poison Mnt Road (you call NoAxe?) - Gaspard Red Mountain Road to end up in Gang Ranch Area. Will be on GS/GSA's. Hoping this route will bypass any difficult sections (eg steep babyheads and pool of doom!!). Any insight/input would be much appreciated.
View attachment 383852

What you have here sounds about right. Should be easy enough on big bikes if it's dry.

We were there last year on small bikes (Gaspard Creek FSR), when it was wet and it was fun...

 

[Scott_J]

Hi Alex and Scott,
Thx for your prompt replies. No exact date set yet. Our group is somewhat flexible. We almost left last Monday but decided the recent rainfall would possibly make heavy bikes even more problematic.
We are now considering next week. Weather is dry till then.
The section Alex circled... my BRMB shows as a steady 20% grade. This is the section i can't get any input on and google earth isn't clear enough. BRMB calls it both a trail and a road!
Is it a rutted baby-head creek bed or a flatish ATV wide trail. Grade is less of a concern than road bed quality.
We usually bring along an axe and swede saw .. good for 6" and smaller. Anything larger and we'll probably turn around.
Can either of you expand on the "issues on a bigger bike" for any part of this route.
THX again for your prompt replies

The part you have circled in red is easy two track and relatively flat. The 20% grade would be the three ascents after Mud Lakes to the intersection with the circled trail. So we came up from Mud Lakes, turned right and headed over to Yalakom. I was on a VStrom 650 with a burned out clutch so thats how easy. I do not know what happens if you go right /North but the contours look pretty lazy and I have heard it is a bit boring.

 

[Scott_J]

To be clear this is the intersection I am referring to

 

[Sicamose]

Thanks for the help guys. Looks like the consensus is go for it... after days of no rain!!

 

[Dr.Suzy]

We are hoping to head from Gold Bridge N up Tyaughton, Mud, Gaspard Churn Creek Roads to Gang Ranch on 650's. Any info? Is there a better route? Thanks.

Gold Bridge North Report. Do not attempt this on loaded bikes. Five of us were trying to go north of Mud Lakes to get to the Gaspard Churn FSR 2800 then on to Gang Ranch. The water levels were low and we had perfect dry conditions. This was on September 10. The bikes were 500 cc, two 650's, and two larger ones. Most of the riders were very experienced. Going up the first hill was doable for all but then we went down a very steep hill that we knew we probably couldn't get back up if we had to. We then went on over some easy water crossings cause it had been dry for weeks. The next hill had all of us dropping our bikes and different stages and we couldn't do it. Turning around wasn't easy and that's when my bike fell and broke my ankle. (I should mention that I was the least experienced rider and am 65). We managed to get back to the bottom but then we were stranded between two sets of hills. These hills are doable on an atv but the problem with a loaded dualsport is that they are steeply V-shaped in cross section with loose material in the bottom. It's like trying to ride up a steep creek. Now the funny thing was that there is a perfectly good new fsr in this area. We were, with straps, ropes, digging and pushing, able to get all five bikes up to this only because we had four men to do it. I couldn't help but was able to crawl/limp up to the road. The road connected to the 2800 north to Gang Ranch. We're we're able to complete our trip through to Clinton but not before one of our group hit a deer at full speed. There was a lot of damage to the bike and the deer was killed unfortunately but our buddy was able to walk (slowly) with bruised ribs and limp his bike in to Clinton. Note: 240 km between gas stations.

 

[offworlder]

Sorry to hear about your injury @Dr.Suzy. I know exactly where you're referring to between the hills (see our ride report re how the hill of doom killed one of the bikes in our party), and how hard it would be to get the bikes up and onto the new road you mentioned (I also sussed that our in an attempt to rescue our party.)

Good to know the new road connects to the 2800 rd, thanks for sharing, and wishing you a quick recovery. I'm guessing the bridge (you crawled up to) connects to this road:

51°11'11.1"N 122°40'41.7"W · 51.186417, -122.678250

goo.gl

 

[Dr.Suzy]

Thanks for your thoughts. I should have mentioned that there was a late model 1200 BMW left abandoned by the trail in between those first two hills. I wonder if the rider had walked out for help.

 

[offworlder]

Thanks for your thoughts. I should have mentioned that there was a late model 1200 BMW left abandoned by the trail in between those first two hills. I wonder if the rider had walked out for help.

Thats one of ours ; left to be rescued (at least you know its still there @Reza!)

Northward ho! Getting squishy in Squamish, and beyond...

Heading Northward tomorrow for more sillyness. If anyone wants to come along, always happy to share the epicness.

forum.dualsportbc.com

 

[offworlder]

@Dr.Suzy - can you confirm that the new road connects with the maps point I linked to? Did it also continue in any other direction, ie: South, or East (ie: there was a fork where you turned North)?

 

[Dr.Suzy]

@Dr.Suzy - can you confirm that the new road connects with the maps point I linked to? Did it also continue in any other direction, ie: South, or East (ie: there was a fork where you turned North)?

I can't confirm that it connects to that point. The new bridge that crossed the creek had concrete blocks at the west ?side. Motorcycles could get through these and head east but we didn't try that way. We went sw then gradually west and north to the 2800 FSR. I'm giving these rough directions based on the sun as I didn't have GPS but I'll check with the other guys and give you the exact coordinates of this new bridge. The km numbers on the road were about 73 I think and they went down all the way until the main turn east towards the Gang Ranch. I don't know why they don't seem to want an easy connection between the good FSR 's in the south to those in the north.

 

[Dr.Suzy]

I can't confirm that it connects to that point. The new bridge that crossed the creek had concrete blocks at the west ?side. Motorcycles could get through these and head east but we didn't try that way. We went sw then gradually west and north to the 2800 FSR. I'm giving these rough directions based on the sun as I didn't have GPS but I'll check with the other guys and give you the exact coordinates of this new bridge. The km numbers on the road were about 73 I think and they went down all the way until the main turn east towards the Gang Ranch. I don't know why they don't seem to want an easy connection between the good FSR 's in the south to those in the north.

The new bridge was at 51 degrees 10 minutes 41 seconds N and 122 degrees 41 minutes 9.4 seconds W (or 51.17794 - 122.68595 off the Gaia). So your point is 1.09 km NE of that at a bearing 30.8 degrees. Hope that helps. We should have gone East over the bridge to check it out but it was getting late. Cheers.

 

[Randaroo]

Hey you's guys... we went through on Saturday, 23,07,22 from the Yalakom to Poison Meadows, then headed to the 3 way intersection along Windy Ridge, about half way to the 3 way intersection is a new road(1 or 2 years old) accessing cut blocks on the west face of the ridge, thats the new connecting road to the Red mountain to 2800 road that you want. The old road from the 3 way intersection is better than ever too and they both meet then yer heading NW towards the Churn creek crossing before heading uphill to the 2800 intersection.
But then... at the 2800 road intersection a plywood sign saying road closed bridge out(or something like that), about 5kms or so further is a minor bridge replacement works currently in progress. unfortunately it was Saturday and the crews had left for the weekend. The stringers were in but the decking hadn't been placed.
So... dropping all our bags and stuff we were able to scramble through the creek and up the other side, get our sh#t back together and boogie on. The creek crossing is easy but ya wanna be fairly good on the moto and/or a couple bike wrestlers if not would make it all no big problem. Anyways they will be back this week to finish the bridge to be sure and zoom off ya go... party on.

 

[lagbc]

Hey you's guys... we went through on Saturday, 23,07,22 from the Yalakom to Poison Meadows, then headed to the 3 way intersection along Windy Ridge, about half way to the 3 way intersection is a new road(1 or 2 years old) accessing cut blocks on the west face of the ridge, thats the new connecting road to the Red mountain to 2800 road that you want. The old road from the 3 way intersection is better than ever too and they both meet then yer heading NW towards the Churn creek crossing before heading uphill to the 2800 intersection.
But then... at the 2800 road intersection a plywood sign saying road closed bridge out(or something like that), about 5kms or so further is a minor bridge replacement works currently in progress. unfortunately it was Saturday and the crews had left for the weekend. The stringers were in but the decking hadn't been placed.
So... dropping all our bags and stuff we were able to scramble through the creek and up the other side, get our sh#t back together and boogie on. The creek crossing is easy but ya wanna be fairly good on the moto and/or a couple bike wrestlers if not would make it all no big problem. Anyways they will be back this week to finish the bridge to be sure and zoom off ya go... party on.

Pictures?

 

[haileypooch]

I was Randaroos wingman - here are couple pics. creek crossing was ok - took about an hour in total but we were on single cylinder bikes.

 

[offworlder]

Anyone made the crossing up/through/over Mud Lakes from the Tyax side? Last I heard the roads were underwater, and its near time to take on that beast of a hill...

 

[lagbc]

Anyone made the crossing up/through/over Mud Lakes from the Tyax side? Last I heard the roads were underwater, and its near time to take on that beast of a hill...

Looks like the water is way down these days.