February outting to Ghost/Waiparous - Feb 12, 2011

[jaggedfish]

Hi all!

I am just starting to plan a Delica club outting (day trip) for February and am thinking the Ghost/Waiparous area would be a great place to check out. I will contact Carp for more info as to the best places to explore and update as things come together.

I am thinking the weekend of the 12/13. Can everyone interested leave a note here so I can get an idea of who is interested? Can possibly do the 19/20 too but lets try for the earlier date if possible.

Stay tuned!

[JHelzer]

the 12th works for me (people coming over on Sunday the 13th) and I think the 19th and 20th work as well. Any of those 3 days and I should be there, barring the regular kid-induced emergencies.

John

[madmazda]

I cant go the 18 19 or 20th cause I'm in red deer doing a motor cycle stunt show at the motor bike show there

[Jungle Jon]

I should be able to do any of those days, depending on whether or not I can get someone to look after the kidlets.

[Carp]

I will be able to make it on any of the dates mentioned. I am going out there this weekend. I hear that the transalta road is just about impassable. Lots of drifting snow. I'll take some pictures.

[jaggedfish]

Well... I'm excited to see a number of people interested in coming out! I am hoping Carp will return with some good news about the Ghost area. In the event of there being problems with access, I will see where else we can go as a Plan B.

I think we should make the Saturday the day for the outting so we can include all who have replied so far. I will finalize all the detail of time and place this weekend and keep an eye out for the weather and conditions. Either way, we will make something happen for that day barring blizzard conditions. Hopefully the weather will hold for the next week and we can have an awesome time out there somewhere. I will, of course, be bringin my camera gear and will also be trying out my new GoPro HD as well.

Hoping JHelzer's oil issues get resolved, interested to hear about Madmazda's motorcycle stunt show and any other things that have happened since our last meet.

Cheers!
Ian

[JHelzer]

I don't remember how old your youngest was Jon. Maybe you'll end up bringing at least your older boy along.

If she isn't working, my wife and kids will probably be along for the ride with me.


John

[jaggedfish]

Hey all! 5 more sleeps until our outting! With the exception of today, it looks as thought the rest of the week should be relatively warm. I am hoping this will equate to decent access into Ghost. Carp was going to head out there this past weekend so I will check with him on how it looked out there.

I suggest we meet at the same location we did for our last offroad trip - the Coop grocery store on Richmond Road just east of Sarcee Trail SW. The Coop is just east of the Canadian Tire. This will give us easy access to Highway 8. If there is anyone who comes from a different direction, I plan to make a stop at the truck stop on the west side of the intersection at Hwy 22 and the Trans Canada Hwy (Hwy 1).

Because of the shorter days (daylight), I suggest a meet time between 8 and 9am at the Coop, leaving the Coop at 9:15. We should be able to get to the truck stop to meet anyone wishing to hook up there and get on our way around 10am. This should give us some good time to play in the snow and have some fun as well as stop somewhere for a picnic lunch.

If you have FRS radios, bring them. That way we can be in radio contact enroute, and especially handy while off-roading. Shovels, tow straps, high lift jacks and anything else you have would be recommended in the event we need to "unstick" anyone. Extra food is always a good idea in Winter too. Cameras, if you have them.

I also recommend filling up with diesel prior to meeting but if you are running behind, we can accomodate a fill-up as a full tank is a must.

I hope to see lots of Delicas and smiling faces! Cheers!
Ian

[JHelzer]

I'm still hoping to be there. It is now up to Greyhound and the maintenance gods to get me on the road by Friday.

The seal between my vacuum pump and alternator failed and barfed out all my oil through the alternator and on to Calgary's pristine roads. Have a new alternator assembly on the bus from Coombs today. With luck it will be here by Thursday and Kirkham can slap her back together again.


John

[JHelzer]

Jaggedfish, Carp, White Mule, Jungle Jon, Madmazda....I need something better than JHelzer for a user name.

[naterade]

Interested but unsure on the date - as per usual, I have a million things on my plate at the moment.

I'll keep an eye on this thread and join if I can!!

[Carp]

I got up this weekend and went for a trip up to the icefields on Saturday and decided to drive through Nordege and the forestry trunk road south. It is not a serviced road in the winter and the snow was deep! We slipped into some deep stuff at about 10 PM and spent an hour and a half getting out

IMGP0859res.jpg (115.36 KiB) Viewed 7640 times

We camped in the van around Ya Ha Tinda and drove down to the Trans alta road and into the ghost. We were able to drive in about 15 k before reaching an area to drifted to cross.

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On the way back out we got to give some fellow a pull out of some deep snow.

IMGP0900res.jpg (165.73 KiB) Viewed 7640 times

I believe that we would have better luck taking the wiperous valley road in as far as we coan make it and if it ends up being not far then we can tour up the trans alta road as well.

[BCDelica]

Wonderful photos Carp; vehicle extraction by headlight and headlamp (with a simile on your face), and pulling a lifted and snorkeled toyota free. Good times!

Two awesome things I miss about Canada!

Cheers,
Kev

[jaggedfish]

Wonderful photos Carp; vehicle extraction by headlight and headlamp (with a simile on your face), and pulling a lifted and snorkeled toyota free. Good times!

I second THAT! Anyone that can maintain a smile while stuck at 10pm in the middle of no place has my vote. Awesome!

I believe that we would have better luck taking the wiperous valley road in as far as we coan make it and if it ends up being not far then we can tour up the trans alta road as well.

I am happy with that plan! Kinda what I was hoping for. I think that will give us plenty to explore for the day. I am excited to get out there!

Would be great if you can make it out Nate! BCDelica... there's still time to get a flight...

One further note to Saturdays plans... if you are planning on meeting at the truck stop, please let me know. If no answer, we will circle thru and see if anyone is there, then head out to the playground for some good times!

Looking forward to getting as many out as we can!
Cheers!
Ian

[madmazda]

cant wait to go play in the snow.... hope we can get a few out....