Canada's Best Kept Secret: 500km from the nearest paved road, solo in Northern BC.

Crooked Creek · 07-06-2012, 11:53 PM

It all started two summers ago. It was my first adventure bike, and my first adventure ride.

After stumbling upon this picture online,

I decided that after heading up the Stewart/Cassiar into Hyder I would check out this mysterious rail grade.

Doing some digging, I had found that in the 1960's the Dease Lake Extension was planned to link the vast mineral resources in the Cassiars with the worldwide market via Fort St. James. But it proved a lot easier said than done, and by the time most of work was done in 1977, the cost was already twice what it was supposed to be (at 168 million), the copper and asbestos markets were in decline, and the contractors were suing BC Rail for misrepresenting the difficulty of the project.

A Royal Commission was appointed and in 1978 it was decided to abandon the project, leaving 240 km of railbed between Driftwood and Dease Lake incomplete. But for most of it, the grade has already been put in, enabling access to the Sacred Headwaters via the Ealue Road. Tom Grenon had ridden the rail bed (10-15) years before and I was curious to see if it was still possible.

It was.

And the further in and the higher up I went, the more I fell in love with the remote and rugged beauty of the area, known to many as the Sacred Headwaters.

So I went back the next year.

With a new bike and a new friend, the goal was to ride as far a possible south towards Fort St. James.

It was a little muddy, so we didn't make it all the way, but we sure had fun trying.

So much so, that later that summer, I came back again.

Traveling down the rail bed to Didene Creek, at the end of August another friend and I portaged 5 km into the headwaters of the Spatsizi.

From there, we paddled the length of the Spatsizi into the Stikine and on to the highway 37 bridge, making 250km in four days of paddling.

We didn't really know what we were doing; but we ended up surviving, and we are still friends today

.

Don't worry, we pulled out right before here.

Hiking up to the Spatsizi plateau at Hyland Post, we could see that beyond the source of the Stikine lay rugged and beautiful mountains.

I decided that I must get in there somehow someday.

So I did.

Mercenary · 07-07-2012, 12:10 AM

In like a bad penny!

prime · 07-07-2012, 12:14 AM

subscribed! let's here it!

DRRambler · 07-07-2012, 12:20 AM

In!!

Vinbowie · 07-07-2012, 05:31 AM

You are way out there pal.
Really cool.
Thanks

mdlak · 07-07-2012, 05:43 AM

In!

squonker · 07-07-2012, 06:12 AM

Right on, here we go!

gunnerbuck · 07-07-2012, 06:58 AM

Sucked in again...

Gale B.T. · 07-07-2012, 07:21 AM

WHAT squonker and gunnerbuck said but maybe 100 times more since I am so far away from 'home'.

Great RR Ben, we are hooked.
gale,tetejaunecache

hardwaregrrl · 07-07-2012, 08:32 PM

Yes!!!!

Crooked Creek · 07-07-2012, 10:11 PM

Sorry, I don't have time to write yet. But--in a nutshell--I rode almost 3000 km of mostly gravel and dirt roads in 3 days to Canada's best kept secret and back. I met a total of one vehicle once I left the main FSR on the way in, and saw 2 on the way out.

hardwaregrrl · 07-08-2012, 04:40 AM

Hey! Looks like you've streamlined your pack job a bit!!

Can't wait for the words but the pics are spectacular!

Crooked Creek · 07-08-2012, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardwaregrrl

Hey! Looks like you've streamlined your pack job a bit!!

Can't wait for the words but the pics are spectacular!

Haha, I think did a little bit better with the packing this time, especially considering that I have a boat, whitewater helmet, paddle, drysuit and full set of rafting gear in there

.

hanksmybuddy · 07-08-2012, 08:18 AM

Now we're talking adventure...... Subscribed!

HighwayChile · 07-08-2012, 08:39 AM

holy crap, thats a lot of stuff ! post fuel details too

I plan to go up there later in yr, , hope to take dirt route west of 97 up. I dont subscribe to many threads, I am now.

gotta hear about the boat stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crooked Creek

Haha, I think did a little bit better with the packing this time, especially considering that I have a boat, whitewater helmet, paddle, drysuit and full set of rafting gear in there

.

07-06-2012, 11:53 PM	#1
Crooked Creek ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2010 Location: Alberta Oddometer: 398	Canada's Best Kept Secret: 500km from the nearest paved road, solo in Northern BC. It all started two summers ago. It was my first adventure bike, and my first adventure ride. After stumbling upon this picture online, I decided that after heading up the Stewart/Cassiar into Hyder I would check out this mysterious rail grade. Doing some digging, I had found that in the 1960's the Dease Lake Extension was planned to link the vast mineral resources in the Cassiars with the worldwide market via Fort St. James. But it proved a lot easier said than done, and by the time most of work was done in 1977, the cost was already twice what it was supposed to be (at 168 million), the copper and asbestos markets were in decline, and the contractors were suing BC Rail for misrepresenting the difficulty of the project. A Royal Commission was appointed and in 1978 it was decided to abandon the project, leaving 240 km of railbed between Driftwood and Dease Lake incomplete. But for most of it, the grade has already been put in, enabling access to the Sacred Headwaters via the Ealue Road. Tom Grenon had ridden the rail bed (10-15) years before and I was curious to see if it was still possible. It was. And the further in and the higher up I went, the more I fell in love with the remote and rugged beauty of the area, known to many as the Sacred Headwaters. So I went back the next year. With a new bike and a new friend, the goal was to ride as far a possible south towards Fort St. James. It was a little muddy, so we didn't make it all the way, but we sure had fun trying. So much so, that later that summer, I came back again. Traveling down the rail bed to Didene Creek, at the end of August another friend and I portaged 5 km into the headwaters of the Spatsizi. From there, we paddled the length of the Spatsizi into the Stikine and on to the highway 37 bridge, making 250km in four days of paddling. We didn't really know what we were doing; but we ended up surviving, and we are still friends today . Don't worry, we pulled out right before here. Hiking up to the Spatsizi plateau at Hyland Post, we could see that beyond the source of the Stikine lay rugged and beautiful mountains. I decided that I must get in there somehow someday. So I did. __________________ 2008 WR250R 4000km Cassiar/Spatsizi/Telegraph/Alcan fish and ride here What you're Missing: a Guide to Side Trips off the Cassiar here Canada's Best Kept Secret: 500 km from the nearest paved road here Crooked Creek screwed with this post 08-03-2012 at 12:05 PM

07-07-2012, 12:10 AM	#2
Mercenary Mindless Savage Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Ft St John, BC Canada Oddometer: 869	In like a bad penny! __________________ 2008 DR 650 We can handle it....We're Canadian

07-07-2012, 12:20 AM	#4
DRRambler AKA Albertastrom Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Alberta Oddometer: 362	In!! __________________ Carpe Diem South America 2013

07-07-2012, 05:31 AM	#5
Vinbowie Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Maryland Oddometer: 258	You are way out there pal. Really cool. Thanks __________________ 2008 KLR rider Lets ride ! "The poets down here don't write nuthin' at all They just stand back and let it all be." Springsteen

07-07-2012, 06:12 AM	#7
squonker Eat my shorts Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Bee Cee Oddometer: 3,662	Right on, here we go! __________________ Ride Report: Canada North to South 2008 here Drive Report: Ice Road Trucking 2005-2011 here Ride Report: Northern Vancouver Island: here

07-07-2012, 12:14 AM	#3
prime Adventurer Joined: Jan 2008 Location: kamloops, BC Oddometer: 54	subscribed! let's here it!

07-07-2012, 05:43 AM	#6
mdlak Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2010 Location: GTA Oddometer: 185	In!

07-07-2012, 06:58 AM	#8
gunnerbuck I.Hopp. Joined: Nov 2005 Location: N.V.I, B.C. Oddometer: 3,079	Sucked in again... __________________ 640 A x 2

07-07-2012, 07:21 AM	#9
Gale B.T. Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Pagosa Springs, CO. Oddometer: 1,229	WHAT squonker and gunnerbuck said but maybe 100 times more since I am so far away from 'home'. Great RR Ben, we are hooked. gale,tetejaunecache

07-07-2012, 08:32 PM	#10
hardwaregrrl Shit for brains Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Atlanta Oddometer: 4,883	Yes!!!! __________________ Trans Lab RR-broke down in Ontario-2 stroke fun for 200 bucks- TCAT R100 GS racks For Sale My life aboard an R80ST

07-07-2012, 10:11 PM	#11
Crooked Creek ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2010 Location: Alberta Oddometer: 398	Sorry, I don't have time to write yet. But--in a nutshell--I rode almost 3000 km of mostly gravel and dirt roads in 3 days to Canada's best kept secret and back. I met a total of one vehicle once I left the main FSR on the way in, and saw 2 on the way out. __________________ 2008 WR250R 4000km Cassiar/Spatsizi/Telegraph/Alcan fish and ride here What you're Missing: a Guide to Side Trips off the Cassiar here Canada's Best Kept Secret: 500 km from the nearest paved road here Crooked Creek screwed with this post 07-11-2012 at 01:44 AM

07-08-2012, 04:40 AM	#12
hardwaregrrl Shit for brains Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Atlanta Oddometer: 4,883	Hey! Looks like you've streamlined your pack job a bit!! Can't wait for the words but the pics are spectacular! __________________ Trans Lab RR-broke down in Ontario-2 stroke fun for 200 bucks- TCAT R100 GS racks For Sale My life aboard an R80ST

07-08-2012, 08:18 AM	#14
hanksmybuddy Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2009 Location: Bend, Oregon Oddometer: 259	Now we're talking adventure...... Subscribed!

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