[TR] Hurley & Lillooet River Roads - 7/10/2004

[PaulB]

Drive: Hurley & Lillooet River Roads

 

Date of Drive: 7/10-11/2004

 

Trip Report:

Gary Shorthouse and I headed out the Hurley River Road on Saturday with the intention of climbing Mt. Sloan on Sunday. To get full value out of the drive, we checked out the approaches to a few other climbs. Here's what we found:

 

Mt. Samson

--------------

The bridge over Donelly Creek has been removed, so you'll have to walk (or ride a bike) from the Hurley to the end of the 4wd-hc section described in Alpine Select. There was a truck parked at the blockade, so someone has made the effort.

 

Mt. Thiassi (East Side)

-------------------------

The bridge over the Hurley River has been removed, so you can add a lot more walking to the already lengthy east side approach. Note that the river is quite wide here, and fording it may be tough.

 

Mt. Thiassi (West Side)

-------------------------

From the Bridge River FSR, the McParlon Creek road was driveable to about 7km, where it was blocked by large boulders from a rock slide. Other reports indicate that a bridge at 10km has also been removed. Still, this is probably the fastest way to get to Thiassi.

 

Mt. Sloan

-----------

There is a new spur from the bridge over Ault Creek which winds up and over the broad toe of the NE Ridge. From the end of the spur, it should be possible to thrash through the forest to get on the crest of the ridge and above treeline. This would avoid the steep climb up from Ault Creek which is the traditional approach for the NE Ridge. From the look of things, they're getting ready to cut down a whole lotta trees.

 

Since it rained most of the night, we bailed on the climb and headed back to Pemberton. We refueled, had breakfast and headed out the Lillooet River Road for more exploring.

 

Overseer Mtn.

---------------

The Meager Creek Branch road is gated and locked at the Lillooet River bridge. Again, a long walk (or bike ride) can be added to the normal approach.

 

Mt. Athelstan

---------------

As Don reported in his TR for Lillarete & the Randy Stoltman Tower, the access to Athelstan is pretty good. I interpreted the correct path through the confusing array of spur roads as right/left/left/right, but the process of elimination will eventually get you to the end of the correct spur, which now has a small cairn at the end. A short distance into the forest you will see flagging for an extension of the road, and be able to pick up the Salal Creek trail, which also appears to be flagged. Note that this trail does not take you up to the climbs on the Salal Creek wall.

 

Gear Notes:

- Chevy 4x4

- $130 worth of gas

- Alpine Select Guide Book

- NTS Maps

- GPS

- Backroads mapbook

- Assorted CD's

 

Approach Notes:

It was all approach!

[Dru]

Fawk yeah some one else that spent all last weekend driving around instead of climbing something!!!

[dbb]

Heh, reminds me of the time mtnphil and I tried to climb whitecap from near setton portage. $200 in gas, 16 hours of driving, bushwacked for two days, stung by hornets, never even saw the mountain. Ahhh canada