Fort Mcmurray----SIX LAKES

[Can-Do]

the pack out what ya pack in goes for everywhere..put the beers in those little foamies on packed really tight in those soft sided coolers..ooo but yall knew that!

the trick to packing beer cans is 1 rap of DUCT tape around each can...wether they are loose or tight the tape will keep the thin tin can from rubbing through...works 100% of the time

 

[Can-Do]

Is the name of this lake, Rock Lake, or is it short for Larocque Lake? How is the crossing at the Ricardson River?

Bruce

it is Larocque...we just call it Rock for short. and im unware of the river conditions this year, i havnt been up there yet this year.

 

[Can-Do]

I'll be going up june 11th to the 14th can't wait i've been going up there for the past 17 years seen alot of changes. We use to have to unload where the aurora turn off is now.

do you know Dave Piche by chance? i simply ask because your heading up the same time we are....and his relatives live in Ft Mac which come with us

 

[AB RANGER 007]

could you bring those cans back to me..i can pm you my address hahaha..didnt see many cans but did see a burnt dog sled..that was weird

Last year on my return trip from the Firebag River I stopped to check out some of the cans and I found 8 full ones out of a 24 case that some one had lost, the rest were scattered all over the side of the trail. Someone must have been peed off that week end.

Bruce

 

[pipes]

here's a few pics from last year when i had my kiodak 450

great Pics.............

 

[Puba]

What time of the year have you made your trips.

Bruce.

Any time from the May long weekend through till the fall. I like June and July the best. Even if it does rain there is never any mud because the area is all sand and minimal skeeters. Fishing is great and the lakes are crystal clear. Nothing better than a full day of riding in the hot sun and sand then get back to camp and have a nice swim in a cool lake then a fire and beer's.:d

 

[SLEDJED]

Heading to Jackson early in July. Usually make a few trips a year. The road gets rough as the summer goes on. These trips take alot of planning and prep to be successful. It's alot of work to get all your gear, supplies, and a enough fuel ready to travel 300+ km's on a ATV and survive. I'm glad that isn't easy or everyone would do it, and that's the best part of the Richardson back country. As for the garbage and cans, it's not all negligent outdoor enthusiasts, the road is actually a winter road that runs to Fort Chipeywan and on to Fort St. John. So it sees alot of vehicle traffic over the winter from both industry and the locals from these communities as the restock supplies before the road closes in the spring. Not that thats an excuse. And just an FYI for you folks who do enjoy this beautiful area, take care of the area, stay on the trails, pack out your garbage, do all you can to leave the area BETTER than you found it, and stay off the dunes with your ATV's (they ARE a protected ecological reserve). There is lots of serious talk with Alberta Environment, SRD, and the First Nations about closing this entire area from motorized vehicles.

 

[AB RANGER 007]

Heading to Jackson early in July. Usually make a few trips a year. The road gets rough as the summer goes on. These trips take alot of planning and prep to be successful. It's alot of work to get all your gear, supplies, and a enough fuel ready to travel 300+ km's on a ATV and survive. I'm glad that isn't easy or everyone would do it, and that's the best part of the Richardson back country. As for the garbage and cans, it's not all negligent outdoor enthusiasts, the road is actually a winter road that runs to Fort Chipeywan and on to Fort St. John. So it sees alot of vehicle traffic over the winter from both industry and the locals from these communities as the restock supplies before the road closes in the spring. Not that thats an excuse. And just an FYI for you folks who do enjoy this beautiful area, take care of the area, stay on the trails, pack out your garbage, do all you can to leave the area BETTER than you found it, and stay off the dunes with your ATV's (they ARE a protected ecological reserve). There is lots of serious talk with Alberta Environment, SRD, and the First Nations about closing this entire area from motorized vehicles.

frbstr, thank you for this post. I have, searching on my computer, and with my GPS Mapping Software. spent 2 winters, lots of hrs in the Richardson Backcountry, and have found alot of information about this area. there are three Wildland Provincial Parks,the Maybelle River, the Marguerite River and the Richarson River, as well as one Ecological Reserve, the Athabasca Sand Dunes that are inside the Maybelle River Wildland Provincial Park. As well numerous IR's. All this information is available from the ALBERTA GOV. web site.
If any one on here is interested in this area search for, RICHARDSON BACKCOUNTRY, Access Managment Plan. ALBERTA, SRD. (lots of good stuff).

Bruce.

 

[gforce]

yes there are 2 sets of dunes up there ..you are not allowed to ride on one..that is the one we went to..kinda cool..looks like a desert..and the other is the richardson dunes..where you could..seen guys on racing quads there as they were coming out..they musta had buddies packing fuel for them..maybe packing a spare tire would be a good idea too..seen people with a 14' alum boat heading there too..when they got to a gate that is only wide enough for a quad they simply unloaded it..carried the boat thru sideways and lifted the trailer over the gate..took them about 5 min and they were on the way..

 

[SLEDJED]

I did (intentionally) for get to mention the riding dunes. I dont want to promote to many people to head into the area. lol. As for bringing boats, we take 12 and 14 foot aluminum boats and motors on every trip. Fishing is the many activity for us. Nothing better than landing walley's all day or hauling in the "lunker", seen 30lb jack in our boats on occasion. Here's a pic of scuba with a few, the bigger one was around 16lbs if I remember correctly.

 

[SLEDJED]

last picture was a bad one, here's a better one.

 

[SLEDJED]

Just found some pics on the computer of the dunes. These were taken last July as we flew over them on our way to North Charles lake on a fly in trip. Also added a few pic's of north charles, it's located 8km south of the territories border, spent 7 days.

 

[Can-Do]

looks like people haven a bath in the lakes...sure hope theres no lye in that soap your useing?...

 

[AB RANGER 007]

Just found some pics on the computer of the dunes. These were taken last July as we flew over them on our way to North Charles lake on a fly in trip. Also added a few pic's of north charles, it's located 8km south of the territories border, spent 7 days.

frbstr. the pictures of the Dunes are GREAT, thanks. Are these two pic's of the Athabasca Sand Dunes Ecological Reserve?
I removerd the Lat/Long from my post.

Bruce.

 

[SLEDJED]

these are the none riding dunes.

 

[teamgreen]

frbstr, why did you go with such a goofy looking group of guys?

 

[AB RANGER 007]

Just found some pics on the computer of the dunes. These were taken last July as we flew over them on our way to North Charles lake on a fly in trip. Also added a few pic's of north charles, it's located 8km south of the territories border, spent 7 days.

frbstr, that Charles Lake is sure a Long one. Is there a lodge that you stay at or just free camping that you take up with you?

Bruce.

 

[SLEDJED]

We went with Mikisew Sport Fishing out of Fort McMurray. Everything you need is already there, Cabins, bbq's, propane, fridges, boats, motors, fuel, everything, just need food and bevy's. They have 10 locations at different lakes around the north east here. Here's their website,Welcome to Mikisew Sport Fishing and experience Northern Alberta’s finest flyin fishing adventures., check them out.

 

[j335]

nice pics, were probably gonna fly to a couple of those lakes this summer. If you see a blue Cessna 185 with a red prop, that's probably us!

 

[sparky660]

Have any of you stayed at net or blueberry lake? If so how much farther up the trail is it from Six Lakes?