imported post
imported post
Sunnyday April 25 RR- 2 Mile, Hazelton to Hwy 35 and around Gookla.
We opted to run wild on Sunday as the weather prediction offered a clear sky day. After slamming a half pot of Java, final check of Pig and amenities it was time to feed the monster. On rolling out, the sun just started cresting the mountains and glimmering on the morning frost, yet it didn't seem at all cold.
The tanker was full, off I went to make the 200 Km journey to the Hazes to meet up with 2T, some Stevie Ray and Johnny Lang as my companions. Yet again, regardless of my numerous travels eastbound along the Skeena, one still has to appreciate its' rugged beauty, even more so as the leaves have emerged back onto the trees. The Skeena level has risen immensely since the last haul and has the brown spring hue to it. This is noted as a good sign as the snow is vacating rapidly and perhaps will offer no impedance to our back road escapades. After a pit stop at Kitwanga to let my toes get some feeling back, arrived at 2T's new Casa. Great view from his place and the luxury of riding basically from your front door, even a rock quarry for trials practice. Wow, me is envious.
Fueled again at Kispiox Valley Road and vroom, time to have some adventure. The FSRs were high speed and in great shape. Turned up Poplar Lake Road, pristine shape and sauntered along, noticing some B&B's and cabins available along route. When I find these homesteads and such in the Boonies I can't help but wonder who lives way out here and why. Better yet, why don't I live here?
Finally, Helen Lake FSR. The sign says "Road Closed" at X? distance, not exactly feeling to great about this, we carry on to investigate. 2T has now picked up pace and I'm struggling to keep up. I'm tired from the chores of the day before and a bad nights sleep. That's my best excuse! Damn a fork in the road, and no sign of 2T, left or right, OK failsafe is left. No sign of him, and my DualSportTracker skills are not helping. No tracks or dust to follow yet, but alas I inhale a delicious waft of 2 Smoke. I went the right way and eventually glimpse dust in the corners ahead. You can run but you can't hide! Run into a local returning with his truck and son, he waves me down and says the road is closed a little ways away but he went around it with his truck. No problem then, off again chasing 2T as he must not have stopped for the input.
This is the road closure.
The road has an asphalt consistency here and is all twisties and switchbacks, and fun! We whip around a few corners and arrive at Helen Lake, nice spot for a break for future trips, 2T blows past this lake and Little Fish Lake. No photo ops, now I'm convinced he is terrified of all the Naked Finn talk.
When we finally hit Mitten, the sign has the road closed at 7Km, nope edit on sign says 23Km. Hmm, again some investigation was required.
We do stop for Ooohs and Aaahs on the Mitten though.
Turning at this point would be wise!
Some scenics.
We are stoked at this point. So far, whatever caused the road closures seem to have been repaired. Yeah! A little banter about hardly any snow and off we go!
Spoke too soon apparently.
I think that was the worst of the bunch. The elevation drops and smooth sailing to Hwy 37. I'd been sweating since the snow, time to drop a layer.
Mission accomplished. 95 Km from 2 Mile to 37 in 2.5 hours at more or less race pace, perhaps 4 at a moderate pace. Time for lunch in Kitwanga, and I am famished. We cruise along against a decent headwind until we approach the sign that says that Kitwanga is 72 Km. A debate starts in the synapse region, we just passed the Cranberry Junction, we could take the Cranberry for fuel at New Aiyansh, but there is no "eats" really, however starvation and back tracking might be better than the a boring roadie. Undecided I pull over for 2T's input, he needs fuel was the decision. Kitwanga it is. So we haul 37 for a while, and a mirror check shows him off to the side, I figure he had to pull off to hit reserve function. Nope, reserve no more.
Here we are ripping fuel lines off for the 5 Alive Fuel bottle transfer.
After 2.5 Litres of Love Juice transfer we are off again. The prevailing headwind provides yet another use for the Pig, windbreaker. I pull in front and give 2T the Nascar draft benefit. We finally end the painful road ride, fuel up all the tanks at Kitwanga. I'm thinking here that with my full tank for a little snoop around the Gookla's I can head home without any additions, thus catching The Little Princess before bedtime and watch the Kings get ousted.
We take the Gookla Road right in the Village, and honestly I am expecting a nice leisurely FSR experience before the haul home. The road so far seems marginal, or not what I expected, however I follow along. Turns out to start to be somewhat more of a challenge, 2 track, bumpy, all kinds of eye-openers for a Pig.
That portion was fun and I did get to hone my skills or lack thereof. We hit the more usual FSR's, and somehow it was quite relieving. We just explored and bathed in the scenery.
At this point we were returning back from a dead end so to speak, I however managed to suggest that we need needed to try an earlier path in search of the Gookla connection to possibly facilitate a loop through. I will also add now that there are more pics of me than 2T, however he is faster regardless of my pursuit, and I figure he has the time and energy to capture the moments.
The sign barked something like closed or deactivated, not suicidal!
I had some technique issues, nonetheless emerging unscathed from this more difficult option. Then it was bushwacking time, although at this point I'm feeling pretty good that I have somewhat proven that the almighty Pig will go wherever asked and fulfills more than just the Fuel Tanker role. After a few clicks or branch dodging, my almost most embarrassing moment takes place. I manage to duck under a tree limb, position it behind my lid and pass the obstacle so I think. As I pull away, a branch on the tree limb grabs hold of the hand loop of my knapsack and gives me a heave-ho, leaving me one-handed on the throttle whilst nearly dismounting me before the snap. After all the adventure today, the thoughts race through my head of how embarrassing this will be when 2T comes back to find me dangling in mid air. Fortunately the branch broke. Here we are after 2T figured we were most likely near the end or as far as we were going to go.
We turn back to whack the trees, not before some discussion about returning over the creek bit and the advice is not to fall in. 2T is way ahead now, positioned and ready for pictures no doubt. One superstition or thing I don't like, is the pre-suggestion to an unfavourable moment. This now weighs on my mind heavily, as the thought never entered before. Now it was a challenge, for me and all KLR brethren alike, I must not get wet!
2T as usual, well ahead and situated for the best photo op. My arrival finally.
The crossing.
The climb out.
Is this A, B or C loop stuff? Phew! We head back to the highway via an easy FSR and part ways after an Epic day! At the end of the day, officially 620 Km, 150 ish of it on dirt. Worth every click!
:hb:
)
