), ‘You see the road is not maintained. Perhaps, it's better to drive back to civilization, we thought, just in case. Another (much rougher!) 12. The friendly Forest Ranger had been unable to give us any details about the circumstances when I asked but we drove back the 20 minutes or so, crossed the river and arrived at the small recreation site with a gravel turning area and adjacent picnic area. Places allows you to see where your friends are and share your location in the real world. We also checked out the Peaches and Cream Waterfall which was next to the Molson Memorial camping spot. is the Elaho Giant trail. ( Log Out /  Say goodbye to your new friends from there and enjoy professional photos taken throughout the day. At the end of a road?) We could have pitched the tents by the picnic table but if we wanted a good nights sleep the ground  was softer under the trees to the left. At the river's edge, your guides will give you the run-down of rafting rules, techniques and safety procedures, teaching you the skills necessary to maneuver through exciting Class III-IV rapids. We had nice views of the forested slopes beyond the river, shade from the sun, two easy chairs, coffee and plenty of food and I have long since decided that when I am too old for summers of mountain hiking a new 4wd and summers of camping in BC will be a pleasing substitute. Wedge offers Whitewater Rafting Tours in Whistler, BC from 2.5 hour excursions to full day adventures, departing Whistler Village up to eight times daily. Another problem – this time mechanical and easily solved with a hammer! I replied and our subsequent efforts proved my point although understandably perhaps our team work of Pete’s guidance and my reversing was not at its most productive. This is nothing, I am sure the water will flow off the road. I really enjoy driving up the Elaho … Check out our new and improved places directory. The northern slopes drain into the Toba River, and out to Toba Inlet. Rafts on the bank of the Elaho River, Squamish BC. Another six kilometers of pretty water extends upstream from Turbid Creek canyon (40 kilometers above Cheakamus Bridge) to just beyond the Elaho junction with the Squamish. Now, as I was to learn (! Smiles are plastered on our faces as we hit a wave head-on along the Elaho River in Squamish. The author on the banks of the Squamish River before things started to go wrong. The Squamish River system boasts some of the best fishing opportunities in British Columbia for seasoned pros and families alike. Next we stopped on the side of the road where we had a great view of the white water section of the river. As Sharron and I had long since made plans to visit Iceland and Greenland from September 13 and I had plans for the Alps with various visitors it meant that although Sharron had gone to Vancouver in mid July I could only go to Vancouver for four weeks from Saturday August 13 and our three kids would be arriving for two weeks from the following weekend with two of their three partners. We spent most of the time in an exchange home in the prestigious and much sought after suburb of Point Grey about which we knew very little but quickly discovered it had an idea location just 3 miles from Downtown, close to the University of British Colombia and replete with harbourside Parks and Beaches. A close-up of the side stream flowing into the Elaho . I had first met Pete three years ago when I had chartered a motor yacht for a week’s cruising in the Desolation Sound area of British Colombia and he had been ‘supplied’ to us by the Charter company as a personable skipper. Two days of all inclusive rafting with one night spent camping riverside. So I was somewhat incredulous that the two inches of surface water on the road was the reason for abandoning our planned camping trip. Before going camping if I have not used the tents for a while I usually prefer to erect them to make sure nothing is missing and I am reminded how they fit but on this occasion I had not had the time and had used both tents the previous September with our daughter Sarah and her boyfriend James. What: A two-day (overnight) rafting trip down the Elaho & Squamish rivers. ( Log Out /  All in all I was happy to write the day off as a bad experience, return to Vancouver  and make a mental note to make sure I know, really know, who I invite to go camping with in the future. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Fortunately we had 3G coverage and James was able to access the manual on line and after checking everything else we concluded it was fuel blockage, perhaps the rough track had dislodged some grit in the fuel tank which was blocking the fuel line. I’ve been looking for this memorial for about a decade, and everyone’s directions have led to to different places. Check out our new and improved places directory. Photo: Canadian Outback Rafting . The Ford tailed by a thick dust cloud. Elaho River is a stream located just 15.1 miles from Garibaldi, in Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Skip to primary navigation; Skip to content; Skip to primary sidebar; Skip to footer; 01887 829706 07793 754853 [email protected] Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Subscribe on Instagram Follow us on Google+ Subscribe on YouTube. Beer for Pete and Milk, Lemonade, fresh rolls and Salad from the Delicatessen where I was served by a charming Filipina who was amused to learn that my dentist was in Cebu and only 10 days ago I had been hiking to the Matterhorn in Switzerland with four Filipino friends. However Pete was not particularly hungry, said he was not a big eater and mentioned something about stress and we were happy to have instant noodles and I decided it was not worth messing around with Pasta for one so warmed up some soup to go with the rolls and peanut butter. Campgrounds Association. There’s room for about 12 campsites in total along the water. It was at this exact point that Pete abandoned ship! All Rights Reserved. The Elaho is a very sleek looking boat, and with its graceful lines and pronounced bow and stern rocker begins to approach the look and feel of a fiberglass boat. Change ). I sent the link to Pete and called him to confirm a Thursday departure was fine and checked that he had got the link to tell his family where we were heading in case we did not return and is only comment was ‘Fine’; although clearly Pete was a bit perturbed by the advisory to keep one’s eyes peeled to avoid any high speed logging trucks hurtling towards us. – The Cordillera Mountains, Luzon, The Philippines October 24 – 29 2017, 44 The Blue Trail at Ilulissat : An Outstanding Day in Greenland – September 22 2017 Ilulissat Greenland, 43 Images from Greenland and Baffin Island: August 29 – Sept 23 2017, 42 Hiking with a Swiss Maid – Summer in the Alps 2: Murren and the Swiss Alps July 21 – August 17 2017. Read more . Responded Sep. 8, 2020. ‘Sure’ I replied ‘You can see the stream has got diverted and is just following the road and will then drop off down to the river’. This is a flooded road and like many Thais I occasionally drive though conditions like this in Thailand. Elaho Whitewater Experience. Best Fishing Times Fraser River System Squamish River System. However that does not mean that come the weekend there would not be people coming up from Vancouver to spend the weekend in the back country. Nepal: Nov 25 – Dec 6 2018, 54 Alpine Panoramas (June to November 2018), 52 Fedal – we will never see their like again. by Louise. We packed all the food and dishes back in the Jeep because leaving food, waste, dishes or anything with odour is a strict No No in Canada as Bears have an acute sense of smell and although it is unlikely one does not want to do anything to attract bears into the campsite. I guess I had just assumed we would get to our camping spot by mid afternoon and have a snack. Just south of Sundown Cr. BC Ferries BC Highways Capilano River English Bay. If he makes a return visit to Thailand? Turn this truck round, come back and pick me up’. 36 A Camp Too Far – The Elaho Valley, BC, Canada – August 22 2016, 58 The Höhbalmen Route, Zermatt, Switzerland – A Photographic Essay. ... Join us on an incredible 2-Day Rafting Wilderness Expedition in BC’s world-famous backcountry in the stunning Elaho and Squamish river … ‘There’s hardly any water on the road. Taking a break at the side of the road - Thai style! So I started to look at some shorter duration options closer to Vancouver and decided on Clendinning Provincial Park as a probable destination with a couple of fall back. ‘I don’t think we are meant to be here. White Water Rafting in Squamish: A Trip Down the Mighty Elaho River By Emanuel Smedbøl and Megan McLellan June 6, 2016 Only an hour north of Vancouver, Squamish is one … Whoops – although we had enough food to feed 500 for a month I had forgotten about lunch as I never eat it! A stream had been diverted and was flowing along the foresty road but this was not a problem . The bridge over the Squamish at 20 mile leads to the only organized camping spot (Buck Mountain Campground) and the Ashlu River. I have been coming to Vancouver since 1978 and have done a lot of camping and hiking but I had not even heard of Clendinning Park which appeared to combine the advantages of proximity to Vancouver (120 miles or so) with a fairly remote location and low visitor numbers. In truth I was not obsessed in getting there – I had never even heard of the Park until a few days earlier but after doing the research and planning the destination I was certainly disappointed not to get there because as far as I could see there was no reason not to have done so. Another Forestry Road near Madeley Lake. ‘Can we come through your campsite to look at the waterfall?’, ‘Of course, it’s a public site’ I replied ‘Are you the guys who drove up last night. And as I was ruminating accordingly I looked up and did a quick double take – what was a young woman in a bikini doing walking towards me! I was fairly sure that Pete, a similar age to myself (late 60s) would be a good fit and personable companion. And so as Pete signed up for a camping trip and still wanted to camp I thought it was somewhat unfair and petulant not worth the aggro to pull the plug on the trip so tuned right, crossed the Elaho River and headed back to the Molson Memorial Site – named after two brothers who died there within a year of each other. This of course involves carrying your food, fuel and shelter for your anticipated stay. river to Elaho, get picked up by a party that is camping in Elaho. Experience an amazing Whistler river adventure on the Green, Cheakamus or Elaho-Squamish Rivers only minutes away from the resort. This is the Upper Squamish River Campsite. Dry bags to keep all your clothes and personal items secure and dry. Just south of Sundown Cr. On our way to Clendinning Park it was just as well we stopped to check out the small Molson Memorial Recreation site as we were fated to return! Whether you are camping with the family or on a day trip with your friends, the Squamish River and its tributaries provide easy access and year-round fish.. You can enjoy world class views, in between the river’s several Class III rapids and its two mighty Class IV rapids. We agreed to meet at the Horsehoe Bay Ferry Terminal the following day at 0930 and meanwhile I packed all the supplies we needed including two tents, Sleeping mats, cooking fuel and went to the Safeway to stock up with more food supplies – we had enough Pasta, Soups, Instant Noodles, Fruit Pods and Energy Bars to keep us going for a month. Waterfall adjacent to the Elaho River Forestry Road. I found the newly moustached Pete who I had not seen for ten months awaiting where he said he would be and we were soon heading north on perhaps the most spectacular highway in North America – the Sea to Sky highway which connects Vancouver with the world famous ski resort of Whistler. I probably know the trails in the Lower Coastal Mountains of BC as well as any non Canadian and probably better than many Canadian hikers and I have lost count of the number of times I have driven up the spectacular Sea to Sky highway to go hiking in Garribaldi Park or in the Whistler and Pemberton areas. There will be a bridge veering off to the left. *Fishing Spots* Boat Launches Camping Sites U-Catch Trout Parks. And not at all impressed. It was a great traverse. May 2018, 50 Twenty Three Monks and Two Nuns for Breakfast! However, James is a lot more practical than myself and I had forgotten one of the tents was the large ‘kitchen’ tent we our trekking division ‘Great Walks of the World’ had taken to the Drakensberg in 2003 and was quite difficult to erect if you forgot it had a fixed fly and you had to erect the external fly first! We followed the Squamish River Valley as we drove north from Squamish with the Tantulus mountains in the background. Some of these perhaps just a few miles long whilst an area is being logged and others for greater distances and in turn with a network of subsidiary roads. I don’t know if it’s the loggers or the natives but you can tell if they wanted us here things would be better maintained’. Deep down inside me I think and hope that if I ever get to a point when I am too old, infirm, immobile or whatever to travel as I do at present (and surely that time will come as surely as night follows day if I keep living) then Vancouver would be the perfect spot to spend ones declining days but meanwhile each year I have a fortunate dilemma for which I appreciate I am very fortunate. Nice view from the bridge. Squamish River=S: Mamquam River=M: Cheakamus River=C: Ashlu River=A: Elaho River=E This is the 'E-Main' logging road, following the Elaho River. Forestry Roads are always liable to debris from landslides and rock fall. I thought of doing so this time but a months coverage for $90 when I might only use it on one day seemed excessive but in retrospect if it saves your life, or even a long walk out through bear country, then it is clearly worth it. So the moral of this story is very much if you ever plan a wilderness camping trip (Wilderness? The Elaho is a very playful boat, turns readily, leans well, sits low in the water and feels slightly tipsy at first. The guides do much more than just prepare you — they make sure you’re having a good time, too. This half-day tour is suitable for all ages and is especially memorable for anyone interested in photography, wildlife, or bird watching. Just once in almost 30 years has one of our vehicles stalled and been abandoned. Sufficient food for two guys for two nights? The second choice was to drive on through the surface water until I could find a place to turn and then come back for him but I was concerned that if he saw or heard me going on he would be thinking I was abandoning him so I should really be telling him what I was doing. Planner. display in gallery. Pete was far from convinced our map was accurate enough to show the hairpin (‘There’s this thing called a scale Pete, and as we have come 8km since the junction the map scale would allow for it to be shown’) but he also felt the road was going nowhere so no sooner did we agree to turn around than the road petered out in a clearing. I cursed Pete for putting me in the position and at myself for being soft enough to be concerned about his feelings about being abandoned if I drive on to find a place to turn when he had shown scant concern or consideration when jumping out of the Jeep, telling me what to do and then disappearing. Hmmm, "Last Chance Camp" sounds a little ominous as the first heading on this site. - See 928 traveler reviews, 116 candid photos, and great deals for Whistler, Canada, at Tripadvisor. PS- Harry died in a commuter plane crash, and John died in a logging accident. Experience an amazing Whistler river adventure on the Green, Cheakamus or Elaho … Coalition. It is a pity that both Switzerland and Canada are in the same hemisphere so I could spend summers in each, much like many Ski Instructors alternate between winters in the Alps and New Zealand! 10/10 would recommend! Explore British Columbia’s rugged wilderness on this 2-day camping and river-rafting trip in Squamish. The river tributary was only yards away and whilst there was a flat but stony area around the table I thought we could fit the two tents I had brought in on a small flat grassy  elevated area on the way to the nearby waterfalls and got the tent outs. He indicated that he would prefer to stay in one place for two nights rather than stay at two sites but was content to leave the planning to me. Once you reach the end of the river, the bus will get loaded back up and the driver will take you back to the base to dry off and change. They were camping a few kilometres up the road and needed to get some beer and cigarettes. I walked down the track in case you were parked to tell you were welcome  camp by the picnic table’, ‘It was no problem – we just drove backaways and parked by the road’. So we continued onwards amidst the forest with views of the impressive peaks to our right becoming clearer as we ascended and found more and more clearings. as we passed a spot where the road was widened to allow people to pull over. By the time I had calmed down, worked through the options, taken off my flip flops and put on my boots it was a good 5 minutes since Pete had abandoned me and I set off down the road fully expecting to find him sitting on a rock behind the bend………….or the next bend…………or in sight along the next 200 metres of straight road. And of course a landslide or washout can mean a bumpy 9 mile drive up a former forestry road to a trailhead could become inoperable at any time and replaced by a steep 5 hour walk! When we got to the turnoff for Outrigger, the road was washed out at 0 km so we started hiking up more logging road. So summers in BC are going to have to wait until I am too old to hike but will hopefully still be able to enjoy the outdoors by touring backcountry roads in a four wheel drive vehicle and camping equipment. But clearly a time bomb was now ticking and one about which I was blissfully unaware because Pete continued……. exploring Squamish's biking trails whilst concocting her next big adventure. I’m John’s daughter. When: July 7 (11AM) to July 8 (2PM) Where: Squamish, BC. At the 'E-1000/E-Main West' fork keep right and continue up E-1000. - See 928 traveler reviews, 116 candid photos, and great deals for Whistler, Canada, at Tripadvisor. We chatted for 5 minutes without Pete saying a word. ‘Too right I am’ I thought without commenting because I don’t fancy doing so in the dark and find something is missing when we can’t see how to fix it. There are also views up the fjord to Mt Garibaldi and the Black Tusk. A rain storm arrived at night, when we were camping on the side of the road. You have got to be kidding. The radio ready to go. The Elaho upstream of the gorg, the river was flowing full and fast. ‘Trust me Michael – we are not going to see anyone up here. ‘Wait a minute. Yours seem a lot more straight forward. This river wasn't as big as the Squamish River, but its slower and shallower pace also meant there were lots of great camping areas to remember for future trips. He was also interested in military history and so a year later undertook a trip to South East Asia where he combined a visit to Vietnam with a journey from Singapore to Thailand and a stay with me in Pattaya. Elaho Whitewater Experience. For the first time since 2003 David suggested we go for a hike though not because he wanted to hike with his Dad but rather he could show Amber beautiful Canadian scenery so we decided to head for Brandwine Meadows, a beautiful Alpine area above and to the west of Whistler which had been on my to do wish for over 20 years. I really could not see how a couple of inches of water could pose a problem. We did the full 8 hour excursion on the Elaho. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. For me the gloss had been taken off the trip so I was quite happy to return to Vancouver the following day as Lisa was arriving from Australia fairly early on the following (Saturday) morning so the next morning I told Pete it was my preference to head back to Vancouver but I was happy to relax at the campsite and chill out and read all day admiring the view etc and leave as late as he wanted. Interestingly nearby was an abandoned logging camp with complete structures for processing timber, huts and loading bays as well as some machinery including crane just left abandoned in the forest. And I do like selecting little roads into remoter and less visited areas and following them to see where they lead – part of my lifelong love of maps, travel and exploration. Check the tyres to see it was just surface water with no depth. I shouted a couple of times and I could just hear a distant but indistinct shout in reply. I was not used to someone throwing their toys out of the pram and storming off. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Sarah's friends Keith and Nick showed us the way, … I was particularly impressed with one flat topped peak  rising high above us to the east. They did say that once when they were heading for Clendinning one of the vehicles in their group had been driving at around 40 mph because the road had lulled them into a false sense of security, hit a gully and broke an axle. Explore British Columbia’s rugged wilderness on this 2-day camping and river-rafting trip in Squamish. I have no idea if the comments of the Ranger, our subsequent visitors from New Westminster and the cars we saw on the way out made any impression on Pete. I asked Pete if he wanted me to pull over by the river and eat the but he was happy to go back to the junction where we had some salad and on checking the map and the layout of the roads we had taken in error it was clear we had somehow missed the first turning and this was indeed the second turning that followed the Elaho River all the way to Clendinning Park. The Elaho upstream of the gorg, the river was flowing full and fast. Elaho River British Columbia Canada. I’m in the forest industry as well and often think of the two names at the memorial site. Paris June 10 2018, 51 Leonard Cohen and the Deaf Children at Baharibse. So that meant some careful planning to maximise the time and I thought it would be good to fit in a camping trip in the first week before our kids all arrived and so earlier in the year I had emailed a couple of mates to see if they fancied a 3 Day/2 night camping trip not long after I arrived and my pal Pete was indeed up for it. The Squamish River system boasts some of the best fishing opportunities in British Columbia for seasoned pros and families alike. August 14 -16 2019, 57 ‘It’s been a long time coming’ – Beaverdam Camp, South Chilcotin, British Columbia, Canada. You are not going on?’ said Pete. Elaho River Whitewater Rafting Almost 70 km in length, River Elaho begins in the Coastal Mountains and runs towards the northwest of the Whistler The conservancy contains the headwaters of the Elaho River, which … The map covers Pemberton Ice Field, Elaho River, Ryan River, Upper Elaho Valley Conservacy, Upper Lillooet Provincial Park, Lillooet River and more! It was a beautiful day and we had a ton of fun. Facilities:Tables, Toilets Site Operator:SQUAMISH NATION UTS’AM/WITNESS SOCIETY Site Description:This site was upgraded in 2009 with 9 new tent pads, tables, fire rings and 2 outouses.Beautiful new site beside the Squamish River… When I got back to the Jeep I realised that Pete was probably well out of his comfort zone and all the signs were there in retrospect from his initial concern about using a forestry road, comments about the Loggers, Natives and not being welcomed, the boulder on the road and then a delayed lunch with his only refreshments three beers on an empty stomach as we drove along. Never? If we are camping anywhere we can head to the Molson Memorial spot that we checked out where we know there is a grassy spot and available water’. We were wrong! It’s a beautiful day, great scenery and no one else is here. Join us for our classic run down the mighty Elaho River, complete with over 20kms of Class 3 … Many injuries! this Memorial for about a decade, and everyone ’ s class... Views, in between the River forest conditions were tinder dry it was time to embrace my fears and on. Gravel at the side of a forestry road a stream had been to! The Memorial site shores of the best remedy ( more… ) Published: July 31st,.... Fraser River system Squamish River FSR E-Main ) is to the area and some photos Pete in..., when we were meant to be here I am still adjusting to the Nissan are also views the. Road to the Nissan trip in over a decade, and out to Toba Inlet rafts the! Turn this truck round, come back and pick me up ’ itinerary of the continents not one for idle! To Last Chance camp '' sounds a little ominous as the Chinese say ‘ be careful what you for... Plane crash, and everyone ’ s nobody there now but I people. 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Very carefully about who you invite and make sure you ’ re having a fit... Meet-Up and wrap-up will be a small stone road leading down to the only camping. ( check the pictures! led to to different people no tourists few kilometres the. A four, fuel and shelter for your anticipated stay ( BCROA ), sleeping mat and sleeping.... The Executive Suites … 11 have driven our trusty (? just headed back along the foresty but!