Harrison Lake West, No longer a Thru Road, March 2010

[TardisDeli]

Hi all,

The Harrison Lake West road no longer goes thru. Several of us drove it today 7 March 2010.

AT 72 kilometer UP (measured from Weaver Lake Turn-Off) the road is completely washed down the steep gravel hillside, only about a foot or so left clinging to the slope so one can walk across. But the whole length of the road that's gone is about 6 vehicle lengths long. Looks impossible to repair. Any logging can easily be done with helicopter drops into the lake, so don't see anyone paying up for a bridge.

Suggest not going further than 55 km Up, from the south end, as the road is horrible after that, with various minor washouts which look ready to completely go in the next rainstorm or snow melt.

Road OK up to 47 km UP, as there is VERY active logging, so they have maintained the road, and cut back the brush.

Also, at the start of the road, the Grace Lake campsite has been totally changed, there is now a huge parking lot for all the ATV's and off-roaders to park their vehicles. Clear cutting the opposite side of the road also, so our pretty little campground still exists but is now part of the parking lot.

Pictures will be posted by others in our trek today.

Christine.

[FalcoColumbarius]

What a drag.... . Perhaps we should explore the east side and see if we can find a road to Port Douglas. I understand that there are some hot springs up that way, although I imagine that there will be a similar crowd of off roading partiers as on the west side.

Falco.

[jaggedfish]

Hmm... that's a drag indeed (did see a sign at the bottom regarding that) but I must say my cousin and I were up there in our Delicas last weekend (Feb 28th, 2010) and there was still plenty of places to explore. We spent 8 hours exploring various side roads (high and low) and ended up at a spot with an amazing outlook over Harrison Lake. May have been because of the Olympics but there was nobody around that day - there were signs of quads tearing around but didn't see or hear anything.

Certainly couldn't help but notice the changes near the bottom of the road tho - very mucky and a lot of blasted rock (sharp) on the road bed. Once you're through that it's not bad though. All I'm saying is don't be deterred... you can still get away from the yahoos on the high side - they seem to stick to the lower side judging by the crap they leave behind.

If you don't mind giant cross ditches, you will be rewarded.
Ian

[patty]

loggers aren't the only ones who need the road. i believe kiewit still has several hydro projects on the go in that area. they barge most equipment in but drive the smaller stuff in, maybe they will repair it. hopefully.....

[Mephisto]

Last I heard the plan was to fix it, it's been that way since before Christmas. There was a long thread on the subject under trail talk on BC4x4.

[sasquatch-hunter]

Port Douglas is located on the north end of the lake, and they have to keep the road open (for a backup access). I am sure that they will fix the road during Spring. Anyway, I was camping out at Chehalis (again), and the crew showed up for a nice visit! It was great to see you all!
I've got tired of BBQ dinner, so I decided to go for a Chinese style hotpot dinner (shabu). I paid less than $20 of food (mostly mushrooms) at T & T market.

[fexlboi]

Here you go. A photo of the "washout"...

[FalcoColumbarius]

Wow.

[jaggedfish]

Yup... that is most decidedly washed out! Wow!

After seeing what they have done down at the bottom end near Grace Lake, I am sure this is fixable. If you look closely at the revised road around Grace Lake you will notice they have 'softened' some of the inclines and the road is a good 30-40 feet below where it used to be.

Was commenting to my cousin about driving through so would be nice to be able to do it again.

Sounds as though it was fun anyway.
Cheers!
Ian

[marsgal42]

Yikes! Even a Delica will have difficulty getting through there.

I was thinking of doing Harrison West this summer. I guess that's on hold.

...laura

[sasquatch-hunter]

All we need is one of these:

[ShaneA]

It would be nice if they'd use something like this to repair it with.

I haven't been that far up Harrison lake before, but was planning on doing some trips up that way this Spring and Summer.

Shane

[sasquatch-hunter]

Or just buy a WRX and have Discovery Channel to build you the ramps.

[thedjjack]

who is good at physics....how fast, what angle do we need to jump a L400 across this (I have a L300 that is why I ask for a L400)

Cheers

[mararmeisto]

A Delorean at 88 mph could make it on a straight trajectory, but only if one chooses the correct destination time in space...