Mackenzie Trail BC - want to do it?

[Ubiety]

I recall Bella Coola had the worst mosquitos I've ever seen, but that was on the coast,
the Caribou is much higher, Colorado style, closer to the stars and all.

On our AlCan trip the mosquitoes were not that bad (knock on wood). There was one spot before The Yukon where they were relatively small but were thick and bouncing off of our helmet face shields just standing there. We did not stick around long. Later is always better for bugs in our experience; one of the reasons that we do our annual trip in Sept.

Ok, will save a post. Attached is the latest and greatest GPX file. I hope route colors are making it to you! My routes are purple and all lead out from Quesnel; there is a new one which is the bailout point near the Kluskus Village. This is the route EO took to go get gas mid trip. Added a bunch more waypoints including where EO camped each night and some of the water/bog crossings they showed. I turned all of the EO route chunks red and all the others black (left for reference). Added more mountain peaks because I am me and think those could be good reference points or at least give us the real name to yack about... Its a work in progress and continues to improve.

GPX viewer

 

[Ubiety]

The built in OB viewer here does not do a good job of showing everything in the GPX. Give the file a try in Gaia or Google Earth or you favorite nav software. I'm going to reorganize the structure of the fie a bit and made that will help...

 

[shortbus4x4]

I spent part of one summer at my grandparents gold claim near Central AK and can remember how big and ferocious the mosquitos were. You did your business in the outhouse very quickly. Definitely will need long sleeves and mosquito netting.

 

[Ubiety]

Just watched this video; some different perspectives. What is interesting is their video starts with this sign and I have seen the same in other videos - this sign is what I think of as the beginning when it is really a good way into the trail - just about where the red EO tracks start in the GPX file (by Pelican Lake). Based upon the "you are here" on the sign I have been able to mark it in the GPX file.

Our planning should include some common mech stuff and fluids. They did a lot of winching but did not see any tree cutting or mosquito netting... And Max Tracks, probably a necessity.

I thought the "grease'" in grease trail referred to the mud; not so. Read the sign!

 

[Ubiety]

Another good series that I have seen before; very informative. Just started re-watching and already they have helped me mark Sylvia's Truck Stop on the map. And they call the sign in my last post the "trailhead". I am thinking more and more that sign is the beginning for 4x4 folks.

A thought. I'll start a Google Sheet workbook to track stuff. Would be good to have provisions, supplies, needs all visible and accounted for.
Have a diff breather tube extender kit in the virtual cart and should add some Max Tracks. I need to figure out a way to cloak lift/rims/tires/snorkel and the checkbook so wifey does not notice these NEEDED upgrades. I am talking NEED and not WANT here ;)

Well at least I have something to do ;)

 

[Munga Brown]

Another good series that I have seen before; very informative. Just started re-watching and already they have helped me mark Sylvia's Truck Stop on the map. And they call the sign in my last post the "trailhead". I am thinking more and more that sign is the beginning for 4x4 folks.

A thought. I'll start a Google Sheet workbook to track stuff. Would be good to have provisions, supplies, needs all visible and accounted for.
Have a diff breather tube extender kit in the virtual cart and should add some Max Tracks. I need to figure out a way to cloak lift/rims/tires/snorkel and the checkbook so wifey does not notice these NEEDED upgrades. I am talking NEED and not WANT here ;)

Well at least I have something to do ;)

This is the series I've seen in the past. Good stuff all around.

 

[Ubiety]

[/QUOTE]
This is the series I've seen in the past. Good stuff all around.[/QUOTE]
Super informative, enjoying the voice over explaining what and where is happening. Decided re-watch was good investment of time. A lot of the other videos are only action clips with no unifying story. ☹

(App .54 test)

 

[Ubiety]

Here is another good web resource; write up on CA site by the ALRE?

Gravel Travel Canada - Mackenzie Heritage Trail

Canada's Source for Overland Routes

www.graveltravel.ca

Here is a test pic post (from above article)

App .54 test

 

[Roamoverland]

Gene Wilder is Willy Wonka in the original movie. If you have not seen the original you really should, especially if it is your favorite!

Willy Wonka - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Who’s Gene Wilder....OMG. Gene Wilder is my spirit animal

 

[shortbus4x4]

Here's a write up on the trail in 2009. They used a few less horsepower than we will.

ALEXANDER MCKENZIE HERITAGE TRAIL...QUESNEL TO ANAHIM LAKE BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

Our horses grazing at Tsacha Lake The Alexander McKenzie Heritage Trail....June/July 2009 Quesnel, BC to Anahim Lake, BC 200 miles one wa...

horsetrekkingtheworld.blogspot.com

 

[Ubiety]

Interesting note on times. Expedition Overland’s GPS data is time stamped mid/late August and Off-road Origins signed their name in a cabin putting their start date at beginning of Sept.

In EO’s series they slept at an airstrip and a family came out in the morning. I think these are the Chadwells where the off-road origins guys rented and signed the cabin. It’s all in the GPX.

 

[Ubiety]

Latest and greatest GPX files. Added purple route or two to highlight routes of ingress/outgress to the MT. Added a few more waypoints - Sylvia's Truck Stop!, bogs, water crossings, etc.

GPX viewer

 

[shortbus4x4]

Bringing this back up now that the Covid shut downs are over. Any interest in doing this? My summer of 2023 is booked but thinking maybe August/September 2024 timeframe.

 

[Ubiety]

Maybe… Gotta go to YT and look up some videos to recall just what we would be getting ourselves into ;)

 

[shortbus4x4]

Maybe… Gotta go to YT and look up some videos to recall just what we would be getting ourselves into ;)

Lots of mosquitoes, dead fall, and bragging rights to conquering a tough trail.

 

[shortbus4x4]

Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail 2016

In August of 2016 myself, my wife and three friends took a two week trip in Central BC. The first week of that trip was spent negotiating the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail. It took six days to travel from Titetown Lake to Eliguk Lake; we were unable to complete the section after Eliguk Lake...

expeditionportal.com

Alexander Mackenzie Trail - 2013

I have been contacted by a Cruiser owner in Kamloops wanting to do the Alexander Mackenzie Trail in September 2013. A group of us did the trail from East to West in 2010 which is written up in Toyota Trails. I said I would post on this Board to see if there is any interest in doing this...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Redruby]

Is this still a go, if so what’s the date?

 

[shortbus4x4]

Is this still a go, if so what’s the date?

Probably the last two weeks of August or the last week of August/first week of September 2024. I plan on going all the way to Bella Coola and riding the ferry back to Vancouver. Thinking 3-5 vehicles for this. Of course this all depends on fire and rain, too much of either and it will be a no go.

 

[frankspinz]

If anyone has been in 2023, I'd love to hear from them. We are planning an August 2024 run with 4 or 5 trucks from Québec. Some of us will then head up to Tuktoyaktuk ...

 

[frankspinz]

Probably the last two weeks of August or the last week of August/first week of September 2024. I plan on going all the way to Bella Coola and riding the ferry back to Vancouver. Thinking 3-5 vehicles for this. Of course this all depends on fire and rain, too much of either and it will be a no go.

There will be a traffic jam on the trail ! ;) Keep us informed of your planning . Cheers !