Difference between revisions of "2009-06-07 49 -122"

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m (2009-06-07 48 -122 moved to 2009-06-07 49 -122: Changed mind for where to go on Sunday.)
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[[Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 SeymourRiverPanorama.jpg|900 px]]
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{{meetup graticule
 
{{meetup graticule
| map=<map lat="48" lon="-122" date="2009-06-07" />
+
| map=<map lat="49" lon="-122" date="2009-06-07" />
| lat=48
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| lat=49
 
| lon=-122
 
| lon=-122
 
| date=2009-06-07
 
| date=2009-06-07
Line 7: Line 9:
  
 
==Location==
 
==Location==
San Juan Island National Park
+
At the base of Mt. Burwell, near the Seymour Falls Dam.
  
 
==Participants==
 
==Participants==
 
* [[User:Elbie|Elbie]]
 
* [[User:Elbie|Elbie]]
  
==Planning==
+
==Expedition==
* will need to ferry to Friday Harbour. Do it from Sidney or Anacortes?
+
===Getting to Lynn Canyon===
There are only two ferries going between the Friday Harbour and Sidney. This will be hard.
+
I wound up leaving UBC around 9, and biked to the SeaBus station downtown from there. I arrived just in time for a 29 minute wait for the SeaBus, and started regretting not having brought a book along with me. However, I was soon joined by two friendly cyclists, and we started talking about our destinations. They advised me to take the 228 to Lynn Canyon, which would take a large part of the elevation gain out of my ride. The two cyclists, veterans of the area, had a debate about whether I'd be able to make it past "the gate" to get where I wanted. Their verdict was yes. I was confused.
 +
 
 +
This was the first time I'd been on the SeaBus, and only managed to find the 228 stop just as the bus was about to leave. The driver looked irritated at me for pulling up in front at the last minute to put my bike on, but did not opt to drive me over.
 +
 
 +
On the bus ride up to Lynn Canyon, another friendly transit user struck up a conversation with me. Apparently I looked lost. He told me where to get off.
  
Plan A: (Sidney to Friday, Friday to Sidney -> not possible)
+
===Getting to the Watershed===
* 10:20 - arrive Sidney, go through customs, get in line for the ferry
+
Once off the bus, I took another look at my Google Maps directions, which turned out to be completely baffling. Surprise? Anyway, I decided to start following the mob of hikers, and was soon on a footbridge across the Capilano. Seemed right. I followed the trail from there and wound up at a confusingly busy information centre and picnic area, and no sign of the road Google thought I should be on. With the sun shining, it seemed everybody and their sister's child's dog was there. My plans to stop and have a solitary lunch were dashed, so I started looking around.
* 11:20 - ferry departs Sidney to Friday Harbour [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/pdf/2009Summer.pdf]
 
* 13:25 - arrive Friday Harbour
 
* 13:30 - need to be on the ferry to Sidney -- well, frak, this cannot be done. Hashpoint is 8km away.
 
* 14:00 - ferry departs Friday Harbour to Sidney
 
* 17:05 - arrive Sidney
 
  
Plan B: (Sidney to Friday, Friday to Anacortes)
+
Turns out I did not need to look far -- there was a signpost with a very convenient "Seymour Dam - 11 km" on it, pointing to a large paved trail. I set forth on my bike, alternating between biking at about 30 km, and taking photos of the wonderful British Columbian vistas while coasting at about 15 km. There were picnic areas about every kilometre along the trail, so I stopped at one for some crackers and lentil soup.
* 10:20 - arrive Sidney, go through customs, get in line for the ferry
 
* 11:20 - ferry departs Sidney to Friday Harbour [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/pdf/2009Summer.pdf]
 
* 13:25 - arrive Friday Harbour
 
* 14:00 - arrive at hashpoint
 
* 17:00 - ferry departs Friday Harbour to Anacortes
 
* 18:25 - arrive Anacortes
 
* then bike about 150km? And somehow make it to work for Monday morning? Yuck.
 
  
Plan C: (Anacortes to Friday, Friday to Anacortes)
+
I eventually wound up at a turn off for the "Seymour Dam and Hatchery via Old Growth Trail", and set out upon it. It was a smaller, unpaved trail which followed the Seymour River. I hugged some old growth trees for my mom.
* bike 300 km to catch the ferries? Frak no.
+
 
 +
===Hiking Around the Watershed===
 +
[[Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 gate.jpg|thumb|left|The gate.]]
 +
The trail wound up at the Hatchery, about 3 km from the hashpoint. Walking my bike by the hatchery, I found the Seymour Mainline -- the road that Google Maps had told me to take. (Clearly, the hiking trails I was on are not in its database.) I followed the Mainline up to a large and intimidating -- and very closed -- gate advertising the area behind it as the city watershed.
 +
 
 +
Noticing the fence cut off a few metres west of the gate, I decided to hope that the hashpoint would be west of the watershed. I locked up my bike near the gate, and changed into my hiking boots. I took my backpack out of one my panniers and filled with it all my food, rather than leave it behind and try to bear-proof it.
 +
 
 +
I set forth with my GPS and found the fence indeed went northwards, not more westwards. I began trailblazing, following the fence for about a kilometre before it abruptly turned west. Seeing as I was still east of the hashpoint at this point, I continued following the fence. The terrain was fairly challenging, and I accidentally destroyed more spider webs than I'd care to admit to. I made an incredible ruckus stepping on twigs and moving foliage that I'm pretty certain all the wildlife in the area heard me coming pretty far in advance. I still made a point of singing and clapping my hands, just to be prudent.
 +
 
 +
[[Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 fenceEnd.jpg|thumb|right|The end of the fence. The signs at the end made it clear I shouldn't go any farther.]]
 +
I followed the fence for about half a kilometre, going over a small ravine in the process, before I suddenly came to the end of the fence. The watershed was clearly not closed off on all ends -- this fence just ''ended''. I stood there at the ending of the fence for about five minutes debating whether to proceed any further. I could have easily just started walking north from this point, but the signs left at that point really seemed to indicate that I should pretend the fence extended westwards infinitely. Since the signs had made it rather clear that north of this point was technically watershed area, I sighed and turned around. I'd came 1.7 km away from the point; it was 13:30, and the weather was still beautiful.
 +
 
 +
===The Journey Back===
 +
I hiked back to my bike, at a rate which accelerated considerably when I noticed signs of bear habitation along the way. My bike was untouched; I reorganised my stuff and went back to the Hatchery. I explored the area, and checked out more of the Seymour River. Eventually, the clouds took over and I decided it would be nice to get home for dinner. I biked back to the 228 bus stop that I'd gotten off at, and then getting my bearings, biked back to the SeaBus terminal from there.
 +
 
 +
I arrived at Lonsdale Quay to, of course, see the SeaBus departing. Soon distracted by a sign written in pseudocode advertising coffee, I began a search for its originating Cafe. After about 10 minutes of searching, however, it was not to be found. A pity -- I had appreciated the advertisement.
 +
 
 +
I wound up on the SeaBus not to long thereafter, and biked back to UBC from downtown. Got back home at 18:30, just in time to make some dinner after a nice expedition in the forests.
 +
 
 +
==Photos==
 +
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px" >
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 canadaPlace.jpg | Passed by the Mouse Over Day meeting place on the way to the SeaBus terminal.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 elbieSeaBus.jpg | Waiting for the SeaBus.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 riceLakeRd.jpg | About a block away from where I got off the 228, where Google Maps ceased to provide logical directions.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 capilano.jpg | Crossing the Capilano River.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 signs.jpg | There was good signage to Seymour Dam.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 bikeTrail4.jpg | On the bike trail that went parallel to the Seymour Mainline.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 bikeTrail1.jpg | Where I had lunch.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 bikeTrail2.jpg | On the bike trail.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 bikeTrail3.jpg | It was a very beautiful bike trail.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 signDam.jpg | Crossing the Seymour Mainline to go to the Old Growth Trail.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 oldGrowthSign.jpg | Arriving at the Old Growth Trail.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 animalWarning.jpg | Entering Old Growth Trail.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 hiMom.jpg | Tree-hugging!
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 oldGrowthTrail.jpg | Old Growth Trail.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 oldGrowthTrail2.jpg | More of the trail.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 flowers.jpg | Flowers on the forest floor.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 seymourRiver2.jpg | View of the Seymour River.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 hatcheryTrail.jpg | Trail to the Seymour Hatchery.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 hatchery.jpg | The Hatchery.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 dam.jpg | The Dam.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 creek.jpg | I crossed many creeks.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 gate.jpg | No entry to the watershed.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 followFence.jpg | As if ''one'' fence would stop me?
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 construction.jpg | There was a lot of construction around the dam.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 incompleteFence.jpg | The fence wasn't even finished in most areas!
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 fenceHike.jpg | Although it was well-established where it needed to be.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 hike.jpg | The terrain of the hike.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 elevationGain.jpg | The elevation gain wasn't ''that'' bad.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 fenceEnd.jpg | The fence ended here.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 noTrespassing.jpg | But it was clear that I shouldn't continue on.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 damView.jpg | View of the dam while hiking back.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 hikeView.jpg | View of mountains while hiking back.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 seymourRiver.jpg | The Seymour River.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 moreOldGrowth.jpg | Back on the Old Growth Trail.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 tallTrees.jpg | The trees were about 40 metres tall, on average.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 lookingUp.jpg | The trees were so tall I had to lie down to see the canopy.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 backBikeTrail.jpg | Back on the bike trail.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 cyclistTrees.jpg | Cyclist in front of the trees, sorta gives a scale on the shorter trees.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 almostCapilano.jpg | Heading back to the bridge.
 +
Image:2009-06-07 49 -122 coffeeSign.jpg | The sign was effective at making me want coffee, but I could not find the cafe.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
==Ribbons==
 +
{{No trespassing | latitude = 49 | longitude = -122 | date = 2009-06-07 | name = Elbie |image = 2009-06-07 49 -122 noTrespassing.jpg}}
 +
{{gratuitous ribbon
 +
    | color = gold
 +
    | icon = Mountains.PNG
 +
    | latitude = 49
 +
    | longitude = -122
 +
    | date = 2009-06-07
 +
    | achievement = Trailblazer Achievement
 +
    | description = hiking over 2km through forested terrain with a grade of 40 to 80%, for the
 +
    | name = Elbie
 +
    | image = 2009-06-07 49 -122 hike.jpg
 +
}}
  
Okay, forget this hashpoint. :( Not possible by bike.
+
[[Category:Not reached - No public access ]]
 +
[[Category:Expeditions]]
 +
[[Category:Expeditions with photos]]
 +
[[Category:Elbie]]
 +
[[Category:Coordinates not reached]]
 +
{{location|CA|BC|MV}}

Latest revision as of 23:01, 9 August 2020

2009-06-07 49 -122 SeymourRiverPanorama.jpg

Sun 7 Jun 2009 in 49,-122:
49.4552086, -122.9767424
geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox


Location

At the base of Mt. Burwell, near the Seymour Falls Dam.

Participants

Expedition

Getting to Lynn Canyon

I wound up leaving UBC around 9, and biked to the SeaBus station downtown from there. I arrived just in time for a 29 minute wait for the SeaBus, and started regretting not having brought a book along with me. However, I was soon joined by two friendly cyclists, and we started talking about our destinations. They advised me to take the 228 to Lynn Canyon, which would take a large part of the elevation gain out of my ride. The two cyclists, veterans of the area, had a debate about whether I'd be able to make it past "the gate" to get where I wanted. Their verdict was yes. I was confused.

This was the first time I'd been on the SeaBus, and only managed to find the 228 stop just as the bus was about to leave. The driver looked irritated at me for pulling up in front at the last minute to put my bike on, but did not opt to drive me over.

On the bus ride up to Lynn Canyon, another friendly transit user struck up a conversation with me. Apparently I looked lost. He told me where to get off.

Getting to the Watershed

Once off the bus, I took another look at my Google Maps directions, which turned out to be completely baffling. Surprise? Anyway, I decided to start following the mob of hikers, and was soon on a footbridge across the Capilano. Seemed right. I followed the trail from there and wound up at a confusingly busy information centre and picnic area, and no sign of the road Google thought I should be on. With the sun shining, it seemed everybody and their sister's child's dog was there. My plans to stop and have a solitary lunch were dashed, so I started looking around.

Turns out I did not need to look far -- there was a signpost with a very convenient "Seymour Dam - 11 km" on it, pointing to a large paved trail. I set forth on my bike, alternating between biking at about 30 km, and taking photos of the wonderful British Columbian vistas while coasting at about 15 km. There were picnic areas about every kilometre along the trail, so I stopped at one for some crackers and lentil soup.

I eventually wound up at a turn off for the "Seymour Dam and Hatchery via Old Growth Trail", and set out upon it. It was a smaller, unpaved trail which followed the Seymour River. I hugged some old growth trees for my mom.

Hiking Around the Watershed

The gate.

The trail wound up at the Hatchery, about 3 km from the hashpoint. Walking my bike by the hatchery, I found the Seymour Mainline -- the road that Google Maps had told me to take. (Clearly, the hiking trails I was on are not in its database.) I followed the Mainline up to a large and intimidating -- and very closed -- gate advertising the area behind it as the city watershed.

Noticing the fence cut off a few metres west of the gate, I decided to hope that the hashpoint would be west of the watershed. I locked up my bike near the gate, and changed into my hiking boots. I took my backpack out of one my panniers and filled with it all my food, rather than leave it behind and try to bear-proof it.

I set forth with my GPS and found the fence indeed went northwards, not more westwards. I began trailblazing, following the fence for about a kilometre before it abruptly turned west. Seeing as I was still east of the hashpoint at this point, I continued following the fence. The terrain was fairly challenging, and I accidentally destroyed more spider webs than I'd care to admit to. I made an incredible ruckus stepping on twigs and moving foliage that I'm pretty certain all the wildlife in the area heard me coming pretty far in advance. I still made a point of singing and clapping my hands, just to be prudent.

The end of the fence. The signs at the end made it clear I shouldn't go any farther.

I followed the fence for about half a kilometre, going over a small ravine in the process, before I suddenly came to the end of the fence. The watershed was clearly not closed off on all ends -- this fence just ended. I stood there at the ending of the fence for about five minutes debating whether to proceed any further. I could have easily just started walking north from this point, but the signs left at that point really seemed to indicate that I should pretend the fence extended westwards infinitely. Since the signs had made it rather clear that north of this point was technically watershed area, I sighed and turned around. I'd came 1.7 km away from the point; it was 13:30, and the weather was still beautiful.

The Journey Back

I hiked back to my bike, at a rate which accelerated considerably when I noticed signs of bear habitation along the way. My bike was untouched; I reorganised my stuff and went back to the Hatchery. I explored the area, and checked out more of the Seymour River. Eventually, the clouds took over and I decided it would be nice to get home for dinner. I biked back to the 228 bus stop that I'd gotten off at, and then getting my bearings, biked back to the SeaBus terminal from there.

I arrived at Lonsdale Quay to, of course, see the SeaBus departing. Soon distracted by a sign written in pseudocode advertising coffee, I began a search for its originating Cafe. After about 10 minutes of searching, however, it was not to be found. A pity -- I had appreciated the advertisement.

I wound up on the SeaBus not to long thereafter, and biked back to UBC from downtown. Got back home at 18:30, just in time to make some dinner after a nice expedition in the forests.

Photos

Ribbons

Notrespassing.gif
Elbie earned the No trespassing consolation prize
by almost reaching the (49, -122) geohash on 2009-06-07.
2009-06-07 49 -122 noTrespassing.jpg
Mountains.PNG
Elbie earned the Trailblazer Achievement
by hiking over 2km through forested terrain with a grade of 40 to 80%, for the (49, -122) geohash on 2009-06-07.
2009-06-07 49 -122 hike.jpg