Re: The Most Scenic
Author: almo
Date: 09-04-2008 - 22:08
If you guys like 4x4ing and get into the Canada side of the border, one great trail is the West side of the Fraser Canyon.
Starting at North Bend (Boston Bar), hit the trail up the Nahatlatch Valley. Turn at the first "intersection" after the Nahatlatch river bridge (trust me, you know when you are crossing it) and head towards Keefers. After Keefers, the road gets bumpy and slow, but you do end up eventually at the opposite side of the Cisco Bridges.
This is where the CN crosses the river on an orange/black bridge, and the CP crosses it's own bridge underneath. Spectacular vistas from all sides from so many angles by telephoto, all from one outcropping.
The trail is very primitive because at some point the road is on the BC Hydro ROW. It's maintained to a point that access is not an issue, but only the easiest repairs are entertained. Careful about Spring runoff, as the culverts usually are too small to pass debris, and you may end up far enough, only to be forced back.
I think part of this trail is the Cariboo Trail. Portions of it (retaining walls, fills and cuts) are quite primitive, and appear to be split stones small enough to average about 30-40 lbs, too small to be usefully worked by machine.
The best ending is the "reaction ferry" crossing back to the TransCanada side of the river near Lytton, BC. My father calls it a reaction ferry, don't know if it's the correct term, but this is how it works. It's a barge, or float connected to a rope tied to each side of the river. The ferry has a rudder that directs the passing current to force the ferry to either side of the river. Uses no energy!
almo