Capturing the Art of Nature
Upper Mamquam
We explored the farthest portions of the river today, seeing a few new sights and generally just enjoying the day.
Category
Serendipitous Discoveries
2013
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I have found the Mamquam area an interesting spot to explore. There are a numerous of side roads with ample area to drive and sights to see that one would need several days to explore the whole area. The upper part of the river valley has been intriguing me for some time and I tried twice earlier this year to see it but both times I got stopped short by snow. Today we saw none at road level.
Our day started with Geoff arriving at the house and helping me to reload the truck as it has been stripped down for some cargo transport earlier in the week and never reloaded. So that delayed our departure by 20 minutes but once moving we made good time to the Squamish area. We were a bit concerned as to how the traffic would be in heading up there as there was a huge music festival in Squamish over this week-end. But they all drove up yesterday it seems and left the roads clear for us.
Driving up the lower end of the road we had to use our commercial radio to call out position markers as the power project kept the road busy and we wanted to avoid any large equipment on the road. The power project also kept the first 13km in really good shape and so we made quick time to the project but once past it the road quickly deteriorated to the more standard potholed rough driving we have come to expect when driving out here. Even so, we made good time as we zipped up the valley. The place was quite deserted and we saw only one other person the whole day and he was camping at the side of the mainline.
Our first destination was to take the side branch that climbed the slope alongside the upper Mamquam. The road is still used by hikers who drive to the highest spot so they can start a hike which climbs the slope to Seed Peak and even Mt Gillespie. We made good time to the top of the ridge but then encountered a narrow section where a clump of Alder was growing on the upslope side of the road narrowing the passage. After a bit of planning we pushed over the trees and continued to the end of the spur. Here we had some nice views across the Mamquam at Meslilloet Mountain. We also spotted some flagging tape marking the start of the trail to Seed Peak. Perhaps one day we can try it, it is around a 10km hike.
We then backtracked a short ways to a small pond on the ridge where Geoff spotted a well fatten rabbit. He went back for his rifle but was unable to find it again. Next we dropped down to a lower branch which traveled along the north slope of the Mamquam River. Here we came by the monument to a lost hiker where Ethan and I ate lunch last trip. We were able to make some good distance further down the road to its end. Along the stretch next to the monument the road is quite straight and level and provided a good spot for Geoff to try sighting in his scoped rifle. We staked out a 200 yard section and set up a small target, Geoff took a couple of shots but they didn’t hit the target. He will need to get a bigger one so he can find those that are just beyond the paper.
Done with this side of the river, we returned to the mainline and continued up, crossing over the Mamquam and then taking the branch the parallels the south slope of the river. Previously we started this road but stopped early as it seemed to be well overgrown. Today I had closely observed the road from the north side and felt it was worth pushing through the trees. So that we did and very quickly the road opened up and we had some clear travel for a few km’s before we were stopped by a serious washout rut travelling through the middle of a steep section of the road. We likely could have found a way past but we were satisfied with the distance we had made along this side of the river. We had also found a lovely pond along here that was surrounded by wild blueberries which made for some good photos. We backed up the road to just before it connects to the mainline and there we ate our lunch with a nice view of Mt Garibaldi to the north.
After lunch we continued up the mainline to the end of the road and then we drove a few more side roads on our way back. Here we thought back to the previous trip Geoff and I made to this area on October 7, 2011. Back then the weather was moving cloud around on us and we had times when we were engulfed by cloud. Today it was bright sun and the place seemed less alive but still it is a nice area. After completing a number of short spurs we came by one with a huge tree down across the road. There was a cut made out of the top half of the tree forming a path where an ATV could get over. This was just too tempting and so Geoff got out the chain saw and we proceeded to cut through the tree and haul it out of the way. After a bit of work we finally had the gap opened up enough and we drove past. A bit further we had a second tree to drag off the road. This one didn’t need any cutting. A bit further along we reached a group of fallen trees with a washed out road just beyond, now this was the end of the road for us.
We felt it was a good adventure so far and so we turned back and made our way out and back home without further incident. A pleasant outing and one in which I finally made it to the end of the Mamquam valley and roads.