Here is the info on the Wellburn/Greybeards Enduro course for 2012.
A “riders” video of the event.
Access:
Drive through the town of Cowichan Lake. Past the arena on the west side of town. The first left hand LOGGING road is the entrance. It will probably be locked. If so, I am not sure if you can slide you bike under the gate or ride around the gate. You *might* be able to get access to the area by going under/around the gate Johel Cresent.
GPS File:
Wellburn Greybeards Enduro.gpx
Map:
There is a karst cave a couple of km above Skutz Falls along an old logging road.
Access:
There are two ways you can get there:
When trying to find the trailhead look for the two cutdown trees right on the side of the road. There will be a bit of flagging marking the trail. The trail is not very worn in, so look carefully. Its about a 5-10min hike up the bank. You will start to hear a creek and then see a ravine. A steep little trail goes into the ravine, then into the cave.
If its snowy or wet you might want to take a rope to use as a hand line, as the last part of the trail is steep and there are no handholds.
Difficulty: The main loggin roads are easy. If you ride up from Skutz falls its moderately steep and washed out. A bunch of rubble but rideable.
Map:
GPS File:
BearCreekSkutzFallsCaves.gpx
My new friend “A” took me along a backroads route from Shawnigan to Skutz falls. Its a nice loop around Waterloo Mtn. Good for a dirt bike or ATV – full size 4×4 might have a bit of a problem on the last section through to Skutz falls.
Access: Ride to the north end of Shawnigan out the Old Port Renfrew Road.
Ride Time:About 4-5 hrs round trip.
Difficulty: The main loggin roads are easy. From the top of S Main (?) to Skutz falls is an old double track that turns to washed out rock and rubble as it goes down into Cowichan river valley.
Map:
GPS File:
Shawnigan-Skutz Falls.gpx
Pete’s Pond
Long Lake Dock
In 1944 a Patrol Plane crashed near the top of Mt Boldoc, south of Cowichan Lake, near Gordon River. The plane struck the summit of Mt Bolduc, where the tips of the wings were torn off, it then continued over a gully and crashed into a lower summit.
Access: Go to Cowichan Lake, west of Duncan. Go to the end of the paved lake south road, past Mesachie Lake, past Honeymoon bay – where it turns into a major logging road. Go south on the logging road to Gordon River. Just before Gordon River camp (basically and Orange smashed up car on the side of the road), take the left turn off – this is Harris Main. Go along about 1/2 km to a right hand turn on Mt Boldoc Forest Service Road. Drive up and up as far as you can go, near the top, a spur will take a sharp left, follow this up and around the summit. When the road turns to fresh blast rock keep your eyes peeled for flagging on the left. Ornage and yellow flagging in the trees (see picture below). Pay very close attention – I drove by it twice.
NOTE: if you want to find the wing tips, you will have to go further along the road, near its end. Hike through the slash to the top of the mountain. At the point where the clearcut meets the forest at the gulley, walk into the woods. There are two wing tips, one wigher up almost at the top, and another, a little wasy down into the gulley.
Ride Time: about 1-1/2 to the top from Cowichan Lake. The hike in takes about 5 minutes.
Difficulty: Easy logging roads. Short trail from logging road to the engines and main crash area. If you want to see the wing tips you will have to drive up the road further and hike through slash up to the summit of the mountain.
Map:
Here is a map which shows the route from Gordan River. You can get at Gordon River from Cowichan Lake or from Port Renfrew.
GPS File:
Mt Bolduc Plane Crash.gpx
See Also:
http://www.ww2f.com/living-history/36316-mt-bolduc-crash.html
http://www.cowichanlake.ca/bus/forestcoop/crashsite.html
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMAE_Mount_Bolduc
Approaching Gordon River Camp. Harris Main is to the left. Gordon River to the right. On Harris Main, there is a sign that says “TR7″, but that’ll probably be blown to bits later this summer.
The Mt Bolduc Turn Off
A view of Mt Bolduc
In the middle of the night on Nov 10, 1944, a B-24 took off from Abbotsford Airfield on a routine night navigation mission. It never made it home. While over Vancouver Island the plane crashed into the top of a mountain near Flora Lake. The entire crew was killed.
Access:
Flora Lake is halfway between Lake Cowichan and Nitnat. Take either road around Cowichan and make your way to NitNat. When you hit the Bamberton intersection, turn right towards Bamberton. Go north on the Carmanah Mainline. About 8-10km up, turn left over a bridge. Follow the road towards Flora Lake. A few km before the lake an old road veers off to the right, up the mountain.
Ride Time:
A couple of hours from Cowichan to the top.
Difficulty:
The road to the base of the mountain are active, well maintained logging roads. The road up the mountain is unused, but in good shape. About half way up, it becomes deactivated, so there are a number of draigage ditches. Dirt Bike and ATV, no problem. Small 4×4 should be able to make it. Alders will keep the paint job on your truck fresh.
Map:
GPS File:
Flora Lake Plane Crash Waypoints.gpx
Reference:
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/KH-108.html
Pictures:
