Silver Pine Adventure

Keeping up to date with the Silver River power project has been an on-going interest for me. On our previous visit to the Silver River we explored some of the changes completed by the Power Project. I wanted to revisit the area and see how things have progressed and enjoy some of the sights that the improved roads offered. So we set off for Harrison and the east-side. The drive to the start of the logging road went smoothly. Soon we were starting up the gravel and listening to the road frequency for any activity. Now it being a long week-end we were expecting a lot of week-end campers on the road and campsites, we were not let down. Cars were inching their way along the road as they made their way to a campsite. Now one thing I have noticed about this crowd is that they really don’t understand the rules of engagement out here. Most seasoned back country drivers are all too ready to pull over and let faster vehicles pass but this crowd just hogs the road crawling along at what likely seems to them a good pace. We had to pass a few cars on the way up, I’m sure they were quite surprised at what a normal speed for out here really is.

The Bear Creek camping area was packed with campers, cars were parked alongside the road for a few kilometers, and it was even more packed when we returned. Talking with the campsite host on our way in told us that the some campers were causing issues and required some RCMP handling which was taking place when we returned. They also asked if we knew of any that could help one car owner who had shredded a tire and had no spare! Why anyone would drive up here without a spare is really beyond me. People just don’t seem to get that they are not in well supported area.

Once past the beach we encountered far fewer but still saw that most camp spots along the water were full. We made it through the Silver River log yard and past the air strip. Then we turned left off the main line and onto the Pine Service Road. This is Geoff’s favourite area for hunting. The road has been improved by the power project and we were planning on driving to the end of the new road to see what they had done for the project. We made it through all the old road and stopped to look over some of the grassy areas that Geoff really enjoys walking across during his hunting events. We then continued along the road but came to a stop where a huge log had been pulled across the road to stop travel. Now we were a bit miffed by it and considered how we would move it. Not too difficult but then we thought that it was keeping that rowdy group out and though we could winch it off we wouldn’t be able to put it back.  So since I wanted to see a fair amount of area to ay we decided to leave it for now.