Fool's Gold Route

The Objective

To mark and clear the Fool's Gold Route of all minor obstacles using hand tools only; machetes, brush clearing tools, hand saws.

Event: Fool's Gold Route Trail Clearing / Hike
Date: Saturday, October 4th, 2003 (proposed)
Duration: 1 - 14 Days (see date range clarification)
Distance: 31 Miles (estimated)
Directions: See maps below
Parking: Squamish Trailhead
Required Equipment: 10 essentials of trekking, non-cotton clothing, blister-proof footwear, food, hydration, personal items, trail clearing hand tool.
Supplied Equipment: Use of a satellite phone to make quick transportation arrangements, survey flagging.
Crew Positions: Packers to move packs ahead while trimmers trim and clearers remove debris, machete operators, brush clearing tool users, hand saw operators, debris movers, flagging hangers, route finders.

Event Date Range

In order for the dates to be convenient to the most people possible, participants can show up on or anytime after the proposed start date of Saturday, October 4th, 2003 and follow the flagged and trimmed trail, catching up with us as we progress along the route. Since we will be trimming and clearing as we go, you will be able to catch up to the trimming crew without difficulty as your hiking speed will be far greater than the trimming crew's rate of travel. If you can't stay for the entire trail trimming event please feel free to return along the trimmed trail to your vehicle at the Squamish end trailhead or make other transportation arrangements. Along the Fool's Gold Route there are a few places where either boat or air extraction is possible. A satellite phone will be available for transport communications. For more information, please email gerry@darkglobe.net

Trailhead

There are many shallow potholes along the Forest Service Road, but no major obstacles until you get a great distance from the highway. We will place small signs at all intersections starting at the right turn at 19.8 km (12.3 miles). The small signs will consist of a white plastic sign with the letters "FGR" and an arrow indicating the direction to take. Drive as far as your vehicle can make it, then park and walk the remaining distance to the trailhead at the "Tee" junction.

Follow Highway 99 towards Squamish. Turn east onto the Mamquam River logging road, which leaves the highway directly opposite the logging yard, immediately south of the Stawamus River bridge, 2.1 km (1.3 mi) north of Shannon Falls Provincial Park, or 2.0 km (1.2 mi) south of the main traffic light at the Squamish turnoff.

The following road distances are measured from Highway 99, so zero your odometer there. Follow the main road, crossing the Stawamus River and ignoring minor spur roads. Keep left at 3.7 km (2.3 mi) and again at 6.8 km (4.2 mi). Follow the main road, which traverses the mountainside above the Mamquam River canyon; ignore the right-hand road at 9.5 km (5.9 mi).

At 12.7 km (7.9 mi), turn left, crossing the Mamquam River and bearing right over Skookum Creek. Keep right at 13.0 km (8.1 mi), right again at 19.8 km (12.3 mi), and then left at the 'Y' junction at 21.2 km (13.2 mi).

Follow the main road along the valley bottom. Turn left onto road M-29 at 26.2 km (16.3 mi), and keep left again as this road switchbacks steeply up the mountainside. Depending on road conditions, some cars may have problems with traction or water bars (ditches across the road) here. At 29.1 km (18.1 mi), follow the right for,, which traverses the slope high above the upper Mamquam River. Again, water bars or rough spots may cause difficulties for cars here. The road crosses a large clear-cut and turns into a side valley. Park near the bridge at 32.8 km (20.4 mi) if you can make it this far in your vehicle.

If you've made it to November Cr., then you are almost there. Cross the large broken log over the creek and continue on another 50 meters and stay to the left at the "Tee" junction. The road at the "Tee" junction is deactivated so look for heavy ditching and debris blocking the road that once was a road. It does not really look like a road now. Go about 50 meters on the deactivated road and look for the small signs pointing up the hill through the slash to the treeline. Follow the newly cut trail and flagging past the resurrected old Boise West Trail Head sign up hill in the slash.

Click Image to Enlarge

Old Boise West Trail Head Sign.

Trailhead to Scary Crossing

We will re-flag and trim the old trail built by the Western Canadian Wilderness Committee in 1992 through Mamquam Pass (Elevation 1360 Meters) and drop down to Scary Crossing Grove, where there may or may not be an existing campsite. We should be able to mark and trim the trail to Scary Crossing the first night. We will trim and mark the trail both to Scary Crossing and Wet Foot Crossing. As you near Boise Creek keep looking down and to your right as we may camp in a nice flat area near a side creek about 5 minutes before arriving at Boise Creek. If you don't see us there, continue on to either Scary Crossing or Wet Foot Crossing and cross Boise Creek. We will be camping on the South side of Boise Creek the first night.

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Scary Crossing.

Scary Crossing to Cedar Spirit Grove

The second day we will mark and trim the trail along the South side of Boise Creek down to Cedar Spirit Grove. This will involve crossing many side ravines and slide alder areas. It is estimated that we will be camping in the Cedar Spirit Grove area the second night.

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Cedar Spirit Grove.

Cedar Spirit Grove to the Bull Creek Canyon

Heading up the Bull Canyon (Elevation 680 Meters), through Bull Pass (Elevation 1060 Meters) will lead us to DeBeck Creek, past the creek leading to Consolation Lakes and to the Mid Valley Camp. From the Cedar Spirit Grove there is no trail to trim. Hopefully we will be able to find and follow the old flagged route and trim out many of the minor obstacles while re-marking it with fresh flagging. The third night (and possibly the forth night) we will camp somewhere in the Bull Creek Canyon.

Bull Creek Canyon to Disc Creek Canyon

Past the Disc Creek Canyon (Elevation 480 Meters) we will find and follow DeBeck Creek (area of Sasquatch sightings), past Spindle Lake Creek (suspected site of Lost Gold Mine). DeBeck Creek will eventually lead us close to the shore of Pitt Lake. There is an un-named campsite here. At this point you could use the satellite phone to call for air transportation to take you back to civilization. Otherwise you can continue on towards Pitt Pass with the trail trimming crew or return back the way you came to your vehicle.

Pitt Pass to Widgeon Valley Camp

Leaving DeBeck Creek and through the Pitt Pass (Elevation 720 Meters) will take us to the Widgeon Valley Camp, at the end of the disused logging road.

Widgeon Valley Camp to Trailhead

From Widgeon Valley Camp we return along the way we came, admiring our hard work as we go. This will alleviate the requirement for us to be picked up in Port Coquitlam and delivered all the way back to the Squamish trailhead.

The route beyond Widgeon Valley Camp follows a disused logging road and eventually joins up with the Widgeon Lake Trail which probably does not require any trimming.

At a later date a trail trimming and marking expedition can be launched from the Burke Mountain end of the Fool's Gold Route and will end up at the Widgeon Lake Trail where we can follow our marked and trimmed trail all the way to the Squamish trailhead.

Fool's Gold Route Description - Click Image to Enlarge

Fool's Gold Route description by Joe Foy.

Fool's Gold Route Description - Click Image to Enlarge

Fool's Gold Route description by Joe Foy.

Fool's Gold Route Description - Click Image to Enlarge

Fool's Gold Route description by Joe Foy.

Topographical Approach Map - Click Map to Enlarge

Map shows logging roads leading to the Fools Gold Route
trailhead.

Fools Gold Trailhead Map - Click Map to Enlarge

Map shows Fool's Gold Trailhead.

Fools Gold Route Map - Click Map to Enlarge

Map shows entire Fools Gold Route.
Fools Gold Route Map - Click Map to Enlarge

Map of Squamish end of Fool's Gold Route.
Fools Gold Route Map - Click Map to Enlarge

Map shows Cedar Spirit Grove to DeBeck Pass.
North Western Section Map - Click Map to Enlarge

Map shows the North Western portion of Fools Gold Route.
Central Section Map - Click Map to Enlarge

Map shows central section of Fools Gold Route.
Southern Section Map - Click Map to Enlarge

Map shows Southern section of Fools Gold Route.
Fools Gold Route Map - Click Map to Enlarge

Map shows Boise Creek section of route.
Topographical Northern Section - Click Map to Enlarge

Map shows North Western portion of Fools Gold Route.
Topographical Central Section - Click Map to Enlarge

Map shows central portion of Fools Gold Route.
Topographical Southern Section - Click Map to Enlarge

Map shows Southern portion of Fools Gold Route.
Topographical Southern Section - Click Map to Enlarge

Map shows Southern portion of Fools Gold Route.
Topographical Southern Section - Click Map to Enlarge

Map shows Burke Mountain trails.
Road Map - Click Map to Enlarge

We will be arriving at the end of Quarry Road

Road Map - Click Map to Enlarge

Map showing street names.