Watersprite Lake access update

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@PaulK - 342 Posts

Created: 9 years ago

Report from the party at the cabin the weekend of January 14-15.

We had a great stay at the hut on Saturday night. Really nice work on the building - comfortable, roomy and well equipped. We also had some spectacular conditions for skiing (good snow, sunny). We didn't notice any areas that require maintenance at this time. The road to the parking area right after the Skookum Creek bridge (at the gate, km 13.5) was an easy drive with 4wd and snow tires. We had chains but probably didn't need them. I would guess a 2wd + snow tires might have gotten up with a bit of effort. I can't say for sure what conditions will be like in a couple days after this week's weather...

PK

@PaulK - 342 Posts

Created: 9 years ago

Got back on Friday, January 27th from Watersprite Lake. Our vehicle was a Toyota Cruiser. 4WD was engaged from the highway due to the icy roadway. Mamquam FSR was plowed to the turnoff to Skookum power plant and a short distance up Skookum Branch to the power plant gate. There is a large plowed parking area at the gate and is marked KM 13.5. We skied into the hut on Thursday in just over 4 hours with overnight packs. I would not advise traveling further than the plowed road. Although the snow pack is about one half meter in depth on the road you can easily punch through and get stuck. There is a Facebook post this week describing a rescue of a stuck Toyota RAV4 at KM 16: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155045447144673&set=gm.1379679642083716&type=3&theater

PK

@PaulK - 342 Posts

Created: 9 years ago

Report from February 23rd. We drove to KM 13.5 which is the end of the plowed road at Skookum powerhouse. Continuous hard packed snow from there. Sections between KM 13.5 and KM 15 will likely melt out to bare ground if there's sun over the next week or two. Between KM 16 and the dam near KM 20 there is a good meter of snow. The Mamquam FSR is still icy in spots but we did not need chains.

PK

@PaulK - 342 Posts

Created: 9 years ago

March 15th: We parked at km 13.5, the road was decent going in. The clearance on my Rav 4 was just enough to keep from getting high-centered on the snow in the middle. We had a hard time finding the trail after crossing the swamp, but managed to eventually make our way to the lake. It was raining when we got in but quickly changed to snow, and the snow continued until we got back to the car, where it changed back to rain.

PK

@PaulK - 342 Posts

Created: 9 years ago

Report from the party at the cabin the weekend of April 2.

The group reported you can drive to KM 16 which is 2.5 km beyond the power plant at Skookum Creek and elevation of 840 meters.

PK

@PaulK - 342 Posts

Created: 8 years ago

Report from April 18, 2017 by Dave Scanlon.

The Mamquam forest service road is as usual full of pot holes.

Now for the fun part. I have a GMC tracker and have driven the road in it's entirety in 2 wheel drive mode. It can be done but some clearance is needed to get to the summer trail head.

For the winter access starting point an all wheel drive will do quite nicely, or a 2 wheel drive, and not a lot of clearance is needed. I would not hesitate to take my honda crv there. The road is snow free to the 15 1/2 K mark.

It being winter snow shoes or skies are needed.

There are no issues with alder at this point in time but as time goes by the alder will start to come back up as the snow melts.

From where you park go up hill. There is a yellow sign indicating the 16k mark. At the same place is a large grey candy cane vent. From here go straight. Do not go left. After about 45 minutes you will see an orange marker and yellow arrow, go left, after an hour, or so, you will see another orange marker and yellow arrow, go left down onto the flat swamp area. Now go east up to the end of the valley from here. You may or may not find a snow bridge over the river.

You will have to cross the river again.

Make your way as best you can from here up to the lake. The cabin is on your left on the knoll.

Please keep in mind that these travel times are all subject to how fast or how slow one goes and are not exact.