Tuesday, May 09, 2017

Riding Pickles on Powell Lake

Approaching the Pickles barge ramp on Powell Lake.
Sounds funny, but that’s the name of a Western Forest Product’s site on Powell Lake. I don’t know origin. Maybe it was the nickname of an old timer in nearby Henderson Bay, or some obscure gastronomic event.

We took advantage of a sunny spring day to head out with our barge and quads. Pickles is about twenty minutes from our cabin and we’ve watched with interest as road builders reopened the barge ramp and blasted their way through granite cliffs.

Burning slash in 2008 after first logging at Pickles.
Pickles is an isolated block. Roads offer limited riding, but there was a unique draw. After building ends, roads are left to settle for several months. That lets you ride through the beautiful mature forests with its robust understory before logging begins.

We didn’t have our barge when Pickles was first logged. Because quick growing alders had blocked the roads, this was the first time we could ride Pickle's old and new sections.

Our barge at the Pickles dock looking up the east arm of Powell Lake.

Wayne on one of the old cleared logging roads.
On the north-south road there were views of Goat Island, First Narrows and Chippewa Bay. Loggers even had a roadside bench at the most spectacular spot. The most extensive road building was at the end of the east-west section. Here road crews had to blast their way along granite slopes (easily heard from our cabin). Trees logged during the road building process won’t go to waste. They are stacked and ready for removal when logging begins.

Looking north with First Narrows in the middle and Goat Island on the right.

This is the second time we’ve been able to ride new roads to experience mature forests up close. The first was at nearby Chip South. As a part of the reforestation process, new harvests in previously logged areas occur after about ten years. This allows new trees to grow and “green up” in the open areas. Western Forest Products is a responsible company that carefully manages our forests on Crown land.

A new section of road with logs waiting ready for removal.

If you want to ride in the Powell Lake region, you can contact Western Forest Products to get current information about logging activities.  In addition to the hotline listed below, there is a @WFPRoadInfo Twitter account, a Stillwater Operational Information Map (pdf updated monthly), and online information page.

Stillwater Forest Operations
201-7373 Duncan Street
Powell River, BC V8A 1W6
Office: (604) 485-3100
Road Hotline: (604) 485-3132

I invite you to come visit Powell River and enjoy quad riding in our glorious backcountry. For information about quad riding in our area click on the ATV category or visit my other blog Powell River Quad Rides. -- Margy

11 comments:

  1. Hard to beat the view. I'd have liked to see it myself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It wasn't from that high up, but it was pretty panoramic. - Margy

      Delete
  2. amazing how beautiful your surroundings are... if only it was closer to where I live.. sighhhh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We were just lucky to find this area while on vacation in 2000. - Margy

      Delete
  3. Gorgeous location to visit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the ones near home. The barge is a great way to travel, but not very fast. - Margy

      Delete
  4. Those sweeping landscapes are mesmerizing and really beautifully captured. Nature can be both thrilling and calming. Thanks so much for linking in with "Through My Lens"

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for hosting the site where we can share. - Margy

      Delete
  5. Pickles - what a fabulous name and so beautiful xxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm going to have to ask around to see if I can find out how it got its name. - Margy

      Delete
  6. It's an interesting part of the world!

    ReplyDelete

We welcome your comments and questions. - Wayne and Margy