Capturing the Art of Nature
Squamish Valley
It has been two years since we visited the Squamish valley and so we set out to visit some of the old sights
Category
Serendipitous Discoveries
2018
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I find the Squamish valley to be full of many fascinating mini-adventures. The area is quite large and the mountains seem to be huge. The Squamish and Elaho Rivers offer a wide variety of areas, from deep gorges and fast rapids to lazy wide river areas that hide the power of the river. The only negative of the area is the time it takes to get there. So it had been over two years since my last visit. On that trip we came to see the remains of the Elaho forest that burned in one of the bigger forest fires. Today we just wanted to introduce Geoff’s boys to the area.
We left the house a bit after 8:30 and made good time on the highway until Horseshoe Bay, there we encountered the road half closed off for a bike event. The whole length of the highway from Horseshoe Bay to Whistler was down to a single and even alternating lanes. The traffic wasn’t super heavy but it was slow going due to the event. Eventually we arrived at Squamish and filled the tank with fuel and then set off if the valley. On the way we called my radio friend John to see if he was home, today he was and when we came by his home we dropped in for a few minutes. Three years ago when Geoff and I last visited, Geoff had dropped in hunting knife and John had kept it for him waiting for the return visit that never came.
Well, after a short visit and collecting the lost knife we piled back into the truck and started off along the FSR. We didn’t want to do a lot of driving so we decided to head for the area just past the confluence of the Elaho to where the Squamish valley widens out and where there is a nice area that is very popular for camping. We made fast time along the road stopping only once to give the boys a few minutes to explore the sights. Once we neared the bridge over the Squamish we slowed down and starting looking for any campers on the river. We found only one group camped along the river, right at the start of the area. We continued past and found a nice area about 1 kilometer further up the river. Turning off the road, we picked a nice location to park and there we started to explore the campsites.
After a bit of walking around we started cooking lunch. As with most things cooked in the hills, it tasted good once we had it ready to eat. After the food we walked along the river for a distance exploring the various camp spots, the area is quire broad and though fairly flat, the ground is packed with smooth stones embedded in the soil, fairly easy walking but sleeping on the ground would be a bit hard. On our return to the truck we came by some grasses with grasshoppers jumping around. The boys were interested in them though it took a bit of coaxing for them to hold the little creatures.
Once we had our fill of the river we packed up and drove up the Elaho to the gorge where we showed the boys the deep gorge and fast water. They seemed quite fascinated with the steep cliffs and river below. Back in the truck, we started up the road looking for a place to turn around. Driving along the gorge, we soon found a side road we hadn’t explored before and there we drove in the sort distance it went. It was a good spot to do a bit of shooting, so Geoff set up some small targets and the boys had turns trying to hit them. Done with target practice we returned to the Elaho mainline and started out. As we approached the camp ground we came to a side road with a structure in the distance. This caught our eye and so we turned into the road.
The road led to an abandoned works yard for the Interfor forestry company. It looked interesting so we parked and got out to explore the various old buildings and other items left behind. The main workshop was still standing and in fair condition, some side buildings were collapsed. It was fun wandering around looking at some of the old stuff that once was a busy works yard. In the back were two old log movers that had been left behind. They were quite large machines and Geoff and the boys climbed their ladders to get a closer look from above. Done with the machines we returned to the truck as the weather was starting to get wet. We did explore one side road off the works yard. It lead off quite a distance to another building, on closer look it was a metal sided structure with danger printer on it. Seeing its distance from the other structures and composition it was easy to surmise that it held the explosives needed for road work! It was still locked up and though we doubted any explosives remained, the building was not open. Well, it was getting on in time and the boys were tiring so we started back for the mainline and our way out.
We had no traffic for quite some distance. At the 16.5km point we passed two busses used by the river rafting tours, they were waiting to pick up a cold customer. As we reached the start of the FSR a few more SUV’s passed us on their way in. It was really very empty for a week-end, I guess the bike event and questionable weather kept them away. Well we were back on pavement and we made quick time to Starbucks in downtown Squamish. The road closures were cleared away and the road was running full speed. After short stop to get some drinks we were back on the road and headed for home. Though a shorter visit, it was refreshing to be back in this area and enjoy the views.