Elkford Conditions 2018/2019

[snopro]

I remember dad telling me about that I'd love to go find it sometime! Doug you keen for a ride when there's more snow?
I remember dad saying they'd pack a bunch of grilled cheese sandwiches and stuff em in the rocks for 20 minutes while they had coffee and it would get warm enough to melt the cheese. Pretty neat to see. What ever caused it to start?

We had heard lightning? Someone else told me a forest fire. Not sure.

 

[ferniesnow]

I remember dad telling me about that I'd love to go find it sometime! Doug you keen for a ride when there's more snow?
I remember dad saying they'd pack a bunch of grilled cheese sandwiches and stuff em in the rocks for 20 minutes while they had coffee and it would get warm enough to melt the cheese. Pretty neat to see. What ever caused it to start?

It would be a nice outing Aaron. We definitely need and will get more snow. Keep in touch.

It was started by lightning and I'm venturing a guess when I say 50 years ago. When we got here we had heard 30 years ago and we have been here for close to 20 years now. Time goes by fast when you are having fun!!

 

[Director]

Ive been across Fording from the Cataract side and we tried to find a way across to Elkford.. Dropped some drainages and found a coulple roads but the willows got pretty thick and day was short so had to head back up to the AB side..
Be cool to see the coal seam smoulder, especially to come over from the AB side and grab a burger in Elkford as SnoPro mentions.. GoogleEarth time..

 

[ferniesnow]

The alders are pretty thick in Aldridge Creek and way over grown. I have always wanted to start cleaning it up from this side but just never got there. Too many other things to do. Over the years, the main problem with getting into Elkford once one is out of the Aldridge drainage has been the plowing of the road for logging or BCHydro work.

Late summer, after the runoff and the creek is low would be a good time to use quads to ride and hike and clear them suckers.

 

[MOUNTAIN MICKEY]

In the early Elkford days we had guys that lived in Calgary ride their dirt bikes over and work their shifts and ride back to the Alberta side, load up their trucks and head home. Alberta side was closed down by deactivating the pass by falling lots of trees,
Funny how stories about the burning coal seam never seem to change. When I came here in 72 it was said that the coal seam had been burning for 50 years already. Guess we will really never know for sure. I have a few pictures of looking right into the hole and seeing the fire, Rocks around the entrance very hot--easy to cook on. We could drive our jeeps and trucks up really close in those days. We used to take the kids up there and tell them that's where the devil lives. Also stories around about "missing" people being dumped in there ????????? When taking visitors on quad rides we always point the area out and quite often can see smoke coming out.

 

[Mackdaddy14]

Anyone been riding Elkford lately? Can one access any of the areas other than Mear? Looking to go this weekend, deciding on Elkford or Fernie. Cheers!

 

[ThrottleOps]

People have been into mear and smith as far as I know. I can ride from the house and am choosing to load up and drive to fernie if that tells you anything

 

[ferniesnow]

I also live in Elkford. I have ridden 20 days in Fernie and 2 days in Elkford. So I am thinking the same as ThrottleOps.

 

[Mackdaddy14]

Thanks guys, Fernie it is!!

 

[ferniesnow]

Rode from the house for something different today. Being an old timer up here we were able to find some sweet untracked deep in the trees. Most of everything is rode out hard. In the quiet trees on the east side of Smith Basin, I probed 50 and 70 cm. I couldn't believe it! We were at 2210m (7250 ft.). I have never seen so many rocks above Mear Lake. Actually scary to be dodging rocks at this time of year.

 

[LBZ]

Rode from the house for something different today. Being an old timer up here we were able to find some sweet untracked deep in the trees. Most of everything is rode out hard. In the quiet trees on the east side of Smith Basin, I probed 50 and 70 cm. I couldn't believe it! We were at 2210m (7250 ft.). I have never seen so many rocks above Mear Lake. Actually scary to be dodging rocks at this time of year.

I think I heard ya go rippin by.
Disappointing snow report for February.

 

[ferniesnow]

I think I heard ya go rippin by.
Disappointing snow report for February.

The trail is quite a bit behind your place. Up around the water tanks and the big hill in and out of Boivin. Maybe if your hearing is good you may have.

 

[LBZ]

Oh yeah I hear guys going up that hill behind the water tower all the time. That’s the way I go too.

 

[ferniesnow]

Oh yeah I hear guys going up that hill behind the water tower all the time. That’s the way I go too.

Interesting.

 

[Mackdaddy14]

How’s the riding in Elkford?

 

[ferniesnow]

How’s the riding in Elkford?

IMHO, there is more untracked in Fernie and the trail is a lot smoother.

 

[Mackdaddy14]

Thanks