Epic adventures here in BC Canada

Teaser pics and VIDEO

 

Explored another new area just south of the old quarry. I’d heard rumours of a trail and a massive rock face from some local rock climbers

off we go! Parked the Heep and disappeared into the woods .

First item of business was draining my canteens. I was thirsty from last nights post hike Reeb shenanigans and downhill Longboarding.

even in clear water, the Millbank Bag will filter out ultra fine sediments . I filled both canteens and treated with chlorine dioxide drops.





let your Millbank Bag SOAK first , a good 2 minutes to let the high quality linen canvas fibers swell . The tighter the fibers , the better the filtration .


crystal clear water in the bag…..and yet…..about a teaspoon of ultra fine micro sediment.



last weekend there was no leaves , just alder buds - they smell soooooo sweet . Now there is leaves starting to bud



We had HEAVY MONSOON rains this week. Tons of areas on the old roads were suddenly massive watering holes



time to cross boundaries and get to the other side


Whole area is massive - so many places to camp by the ocean. But sadly a foreign country owns this land

 

Lots of old hand stacked rock walls, old concrete foundations .

huge Douglas firs, tons of alders, flat camping spots and stone fire pits and firewood everywhere

 

Now we wander the cliff trail …….sketchy , slippery ….

 

Time for lunch , I was famished

tinned congor eel with sweet chilies, instant ramen , cooked in my titanium mess tin over a roaring hot fire . Overlooking Howe Sound . Huge sea puppies everywhere!


FIRE!

VIDEO

FOOD!

VIDEO

 

After lunch I headed further east on the trail .Found the rock climbing area, plus a nice chunk of resin rich fatwood. Last spot on the trail had a great lookout point high above the ocean


Heading back out towards the Jeep an hour later

Tardigrade Tactical harness, BlueForceGear webbing, FHF Gear canteen pouches, Caracajou Tactical butt pouch, CRO Medical bleeder pouch and BFG BooBoo pouch (both used as utility pouches. )

 

On the way back down the highway, I turned off a BC Hydro power line access trail. I wanted to get photos of the old Camp My Way / Maple Ridge Wilderness Program boys camp, an outdoors correctional facility for misbehaving boys.

history here: LINK

the camp was a place boys and teens were sent to, instead of jail . Physical exertion and teamwork were the goals….. there was a multi point obstacle course thru out the forest above Porteau Cove BC

Now just remnants remain - including hand painted boards by the attendees thanking their hardcore instructors. The old brick showerhouse, chow hall and barracks are long gone. Yet high above the ground there is still cable courses thruout the woods. No safety gear was used back then. Just grip and determination, as it should be. There is obstacle course remains all thru this forest, several KM’s long up the coast .

little is written about the camp. Much like a lot of BC history, it is forgotten, like tears in rain

 

The official name of the corrections program was Maple Ridge Wilderness Program

little info remains on BC Govt sites…. Just recollections from attendees. Their stories are touching .

LINK

 

Easter Sunday Tabbing 20 km ! Teaser Pics!!!

 

The goal was a midway point up the massive mountain above Britannia Mine Townsite (ocean level). I wanted to photo document the huge concrete ore sluices up on the mountain , for Michael Kluckners website VANISHING BC



A little birdie mentioned to me that the sluices were being covered with bulldozed soil , by the logging company, and I’d best take the opportunity to photograph them before it’s too late, as half the structure was already gone

I tabbed (rucked, hiked, marched) up the FSR. Endless KM’s of steep grades . Steep enough that logging trucks have to use 2nd gear and full engine retarder brakes when descending.



One of TWENTY massive rock / concrete penstocks 75’ deep , on the creek. These were used for power generation for the townsite , mine, equipment, and the massive processing Mill 3 on the beach by the ocean. Mother Nature has taken care of the twenty penstock structures over the years……

 

Up and up and up the FSR I went. Higher and higher in elevation. Birds, wind, sun , forest.

finally got to the old sluices. Not much left, the really deep sluices are buried now. Just the shallow ones remain, about 300’ long . A few settling tanks are left . The concrete is stained brown from decades upon decades of ore materials sluicing thru it.

 

There should also be a huge lighting strike emoji. To cover all proceeding post in 1 giant hit!

 

Always enjoy your adventures!

 

It’s gone now, but there was a HUGE town built on top and side of this mountain .



the history is incredible. Sadly like most things in BC, everything gets destroyed instead of being preserved. It infuriates me to no end .

Mt Sheer Townsite

other history from the area

1915 Disaster

Ghosts of Britannia

Recollections

Britannia History

 

I left the old sluice area and headed back down the mountain. Along the way I spotted old garbage scattered in the forest, all were in a dry area by a big tree. It could have been from logging camps back in the 60’s / 70’s or from townsfolk from Mt Sheer Townsite , who knows. I’m leaning towards loggers , due to the old boots

 

Great posts Bushman as always. Enjoy your photos and links to the history of the area. Great to see and read. Thank you for the time and effort of your posts.
Regards,
Kevin

 

thanks Bro!

 

I'm sure if we didn't have such extreme winters and wild growth there would be much more to preserve and see .. it's kinda like the late 1800 early 1900 miners/loggers tried to hide their shame and damage to the lands when they left though