Widgeon Creek

Event: Widgeon Creek Hike
Date: September 13, 2003, 2:00 am
Duration: 1 Night, 1Day (estimated)
Distance: 25 Kilometer (estimated)
Directions: See maps below
Parking: Munro Lake Parking Lot
Required Equipment: Compass, topographical and trail maps, altimeter, 10 essentials of trekking, food for at least 2 days, non-cotton clothing, blister-proof footwear

From the Munro Lake parking lot, we proceeded North along the road at night as we got underway at 3:00 am. I stashed some food at the Widgeon Lake Recreation Site, at the end of the Widgeon Slough off of Pitt Lake, so I would not have to carry it the entire way as we were to return this way. It started to drizzle and the rain did not let up until I was almost back at the Munro Lake parking lot.

At the Widgeon Lake turn off we took a wrong turn and followed the trail towards Widgeon Lake; this was not our intention. The entire area was strange as huge boulders were distributed throughout the forest. Some were as big as houses. Due to extreme tiredness of one of us, we had to stop for a nap. I laid down under a huge boulder and fell asleep for a brief period of time. When I awoke dawn was breaking.

When we realized we were on the wrong trail, we turned back towards the bridge over Widgeon Creek, which is out. Partway there I decided to head down to Widgeon Creek, which I could see down below. On the far side of Widgeon Creek, about 100 meters beyond the creek, was the road we were supposed to be on. I proceeded on from here alone.

Sure enough the road we should have been on was on the other side of Widgeon Creek, however it very overgrown. I headed north on it for a few kilometres. Due to poor visibility (fog and clouds) I left the overgrown road where I thought the route I intended to take was and crossed Widgeon Creek. I was able to hop from rock to rock and did not get any wetter than I already was except I slipped in the creek and water entered my SealSkinz.

I had to follow Widgeon Creek upstream for about a kilometre as I had crossed it prematurely. Eventually I came to a tributary leading to Widgeon Creek and followed it North-West. It started out as a gentle slope but soon got steeper and steeper. Soon I was scratching and clawing my way up through slide alder and bent cedars against the grain as the creek bed was far too steep. At about 2400 feet the route levelled off somewhat. At this point I calculated that I did not have enough time to reach my objective within my time limit and turned back. Going down was much easier as now I was going with the grain of the slide alder and cedar.

Back down to Widgeon Creek I went, across it and back to the overgrown road in the pouring rain. Three quarters of the way back to the bridge that is out over Widgeon Creek I met 3 guys that were hiking the Fool's Gold Route for 3 days. We startled each other in the thick salmon berries of the overgrown road. We chatted for a few minutes and then headed off in opposite directions. 10 minutes later I found a watch lying on the overgrown road, still warm from the wearer's wrist. If one of the 3 guys ever reads this, email me and I can return your watch if you can identify it.

Eventually I got to the end of the overgrown road and the bridge that is out over Widgeon Creek. I cautiously crossed the remains of the bridge. At a further along creek crossing I changed my clothing to dry ones and had a good meal. From here it was a long trek back to the Munro Lake parking lot. I remembered to pick up my stashed food and had another snack. I arrived back at my motorcycle after 16 hours of hiking, minus a short nap under the huge boulder.

Notes:

One interesting thing about this route is that it goes by a location of an old ice cave. It probably isn't there any more, global warming and all. If you were coming from the Quarry Road direction and you took the fork to the Widgeon Valley Camp, the cave was past the wash out and to the east. There is a mountain to the east with a shear rock exposed face. At the bottom was a ravine. The best we could determine was that the snow avalanched off the rock face and into the ravine and created the ice cave. You could walk in along way until it was hard to see. Open holes along the edge of the ravine let it light so you hike in to the end of the cave. A fellow on the crew studied air photo maps of the area and that is how he discovered the cave. He also lead us to wooden roads constructed of cedar planks elevated off the ground which were used to haul out cedar shakes cut at the top of a mountain at the turn of the century. (to the east of Quarry Road near the lower Rec site)

Southern Section Map - Click Map to Enlarge

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

Map shows Southern portion of Fools Gold Route.
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.

Other interesting reading about the area:

http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/megaraptor/Labyrinthodonts.htm