Gitchee Gumee Revisited

[The better half]

Add us to the list, things have worked out and we will be joining you.

[JohnnyJ]

Originally Posted by whiterhino

John,
You must be thinking of somewhere else. It never rains in Canada.

Sorry, I got confused.

For all the newbies, just back your cargo shorts, flip flops, and tommy bahama shirts. It's b-e-a-u-tiful weather up there.

[mschaffer66]

Originally Posted by JohnnyJ

Sorry, I got confused.

For all the newbies, just back your cargo shorts, flip flops, and tommy bahama shirts. It's b-e-a-u-tiful weather up there.

No tent right? Just camp out under the stars?

[JohnnyJ]

Yep, should be fine. Lol.

Have fun up there, another place on my list that I need to get back to.

[whiterhino]

Called yesterday and reserved my spot.

[kixx007]

Originally Posted by whiterhino

Called yesterday and reserved my spot.

I hope we got a good camp site.

[landj]

Add the wife and I to the list.

[whiterhino]

So what's our head count looking like? How many people that are going have run the Canadian Crown Land?

Just looking for ideas on how many groups we will have going out.

[kb8ymf]

Originally Posted by whiterhino

So what's our head count looking like? How many people that are going have run the Canadian Crown Land?

Just looking for ideas on how many groups we will have going out.

I revised the list in the first post. It looks like 10 vehicles so far including us.
Not sure on the have or have not been there.
I think a review of what to expect is in order...........
Please read the .pdf in Post #44.
In particular the stuff about the ride and what to bring. Ignore the fact that was written a few years ago....gas is now in teh $5.00 range as was pointed out earlier in this thread. We most likely will not be going on the rides described as this is an exploration run and the last thing WR and I want to do is run the same trails we've run 20 times before.
I suspect WR and I are the only ones (besides BigBird) that have been there. If it stays @ 10 total we may be able to run with one group however listening to the trail guide will be of the utmost importance.
we may however elect to break the group in half. Running into dead ends is a real probability up here as there are really NO maps of this area. I repeat NO MAPS. Much of it is 'seat of the pants' running. We will sometimes hold the group at the intersection and either run up the trail ourselves or send #2 of the group in, or maybe the last one if we missed an intersection.
we wait till we get a report back, then head in or continue on to the next spur trail.
There can also be deadfall on the trail. If we can drive over it we will. If it's the type that we can't get over.........we have to try first before we say we can't get over it. We may then clear some of it away. The expectation is that everyone will help when ever possible to do the manual labor of tossing trees off the trail.
If someone breaks, the expectation is that the vehicle is yours to fix. We will help you but don't expect someone else to do all your work for you. So give your vehicle a good going over before you leave home. It's much easier and a lot cheaper if you fix your stuff before you leave home.
I'm sure WR will jump in if he has any other thoughts.

READ .PDF IN POST #44 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jim-kb8ymf

[whiterhino]

A quick note to everyone, you must be street legal. Mark/Paula, is your rig licensed?

[kb8ymf]

Originally Posted by whiterhino

A quick note to everyone, you must be street legal. Mark/Paula, is your rig licensed?

What did I miss? Is Mark/Paula one of Indy's add-ons or am I blind?
j

[kerryann]

Originally Posted by kb8ymf

READ .PDF IN POST #44 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jim-kb8ymf

The PDF in post 44 was very helpful. I had planned on bringing our food :) I will wait and buy pb&j supplies at waltucky in the soo. :) I actually didn't know everything that was listed so thanks for the heads up.

[whiterhino]

Originally Posted by kb8ymf

What did I miss? Is Mark/Paula one of Indy's add-ons or am I blind?
j

Mark has a very capable buggy on 4d's & d60's. I believe it is street legal but just checking or they may be bringing something different.

My game plan is to try to make a large loop 20-50 miles north of the campground. I have a roughly 2 mile connector that I need to find as I don't want to do a deep water crossing with stockish rigs. I also want to try to work my way through an area that I know has been logged since my last foray into that region. Therefore, we may find some open highways and/or some dead ends. Lastly, I want to find a way through an old trail that I know of but have never run. I have been up it a short ways but never completed it.

Note to some, these trails can be very tight and brushy. As in, if you don't want some pinstriping on your rig, you may not want to go. You simply never know. Very little of where I plan to go will require lots of 4wd. However, there are stream crossings & logs that will require it. And........ there is one small rock garden that will most likely be run. We may also see a night run to a local place if it pans out. Never know about that for sure.

I won't be up there till evening of Thursday. My plan is to be on the road by 9:00 **** at the latest**** on Friday morning. We will be passing a gas station as we head out. We will see a minimum of 5 miles of pavement and as much as 40. Plan on it.

[southofsanity]

rivers north of me are pretty low so i don't see any problems for stockish rigs

[whiterhino]

True Curly except they might be high next year when we have a larger group so I want to find it now.

You and Chelsea going to stop by?

[kixx007]

Originally Posted by whiterhino

A quick note to everyone, you must be street legal. Mark/Paula, is your rig licensed?

Yes.

[The better half]

Originally Posted by whiterhino

A quick note to everyone, you must be street legal. Mark/Paula, is your rig licensed?

Yes we are plated and insured.


We were fortunate to attend the trail ride when kb8ymf lead the UFWDA event. It is one of our favorite events we have ever attended over the years. The scenery is absolutely beautiful, but as posted prepare for the unexpected.
A CB is a must; kb8ymf is a great guide and will point out interesting information along the way.
We are looking forward to this exploration run! If we can help in any way just let us know.
Mark and Paula

[kb8ymf]

WR and I had an impromptu trail planning mtg. With 10 total rigs we plan on heading out as one group. I know WR said 9:00 but I'd like Friday leave time from the campground to be 8:00 am. We have a gas stop to factor in. The first day will be the longer of the two we have planned. We will head north on Hwy 17 to Batchawana River Rd. We will stop at the Canadian Carver and will REQUIRE everyone to top off as the trip will be long with some potential road miles as the end of the ride especially if we are unable to find our way out of a little 'unknown' section. To put in in perspective your vehicle will be running nearly the entire day. WR is going to pack extra fuel. I carry 16+ gallons so I'll be ok but if your a gas hog, plan on toting an extra 5 gal jerry can. We will make a trip into the Tribag mine so bring your best flashlight and potentially some boots as the entrance is usually under 12" of water. With any luck we will get to wave at the Algoma Canyon train on it's upbound run to Algoma Canyon. You won't believe the faces of the riders when they see us at the abandoned train station over 60 miles north of civilization! We'll see if we can get the train engineer to give us a horn blast.
The first third and last third of the trip we are planning is in part stuff I took over 20 years ago. I've always wanted to do it again. I can't wait!

Day 2 will probably encompass some of what I took the UFWDA folks on so Mark/Paula may recognize some of the trail but certainly not all of it. We'll add a bunch once our feelers return with the info we are seeking.

We may toss in a short night run close to camp which will leave you talking about it for quite a while.

Just to reiterate what WR said. The trails up in Canada don't get much if any maintenance. So without use, they tend to grow in quite quickly. So yes, brushy.

As Paula also pointed out, a CB is required. It makes the 'keeping the puppies in the box' process much easier for WR and myself. Lunch will be on the trail both days so plan accordingly. Like POST 44 says, water, food and clothes for at least one additional day along with any medication you need to take. The weather can turn at a moments notice so bring warm clothes even if the day starts out near 70.

And make sure you don't forget your camera!

jim-kb8ymf

[whiterhino]

And rain coat.

[danimal]

I really wish I could go with you guys ,so don't forget to post some pics