Cariboo Jack

Cariboo Jacqueline 2011

2011-04-03T14:14:00.000-07:00

On January 22, Dave Jorgenson (http://www.whitegold.ca/winter-trips.html) and I skied from Wendle and Bonner Lakes not far from Wells on the Bowron Lake Road on much of the legendary "Able's Amble" route, which cruises through some lovely meadows behind Valley Mountain before dropping back down to the One Mile Road near Downey Pass. Since we were taking an alternative route to the Cariboo Waggon Road from Stanley to Barkerville, we figured it deserved a new name, hence Jacqueline.

There was a LOT of snow and with just the two of us to look for and break the trail, it was physically demanding; I think we were out there most of the day! But there are some lovely vistas from that route. Some pretty big cut blocks, too.

Next year maybe we ought to loop back around from Wendle Lake to Devlin's Bench and take the Forest Rose-Valley Mountain Trail back to Wells ;-)

A "Cariboo Track" steps in for Cariboo Jack

2010-01-26T17:55:00.000-08:00

Minus 12C at breakfast; sunny skies ... a perfect day for a pleasant ski from Forest Rose Campground near Barkerville to the One Mile Road and meadows in Wells along the new bike trail. Isabelle and Spencer Knoke, Beth Collingwood, Yael Wand, Bill Horne, Bruce Self and Heather Peters ventured out with Stella and Mort as four-legged scouts.

One skier unfortunately had to turn back due to viral fatigue, but the rest of the party found the trail in better condition than expected. Aside from some icy "tree pee" in the narrow sections, the snow was excellent. Lovely to encounter three dog teams at One Mile heading towards Barkerville.

Thanks to Yael for the photos...

2010 Cariboo Jack cancelled :-(

2010-01-12T22:04:00.000-08:00

This year's Cariboo Jack, which had been scheduled for Saturday, January 23, has unfortunately been cancelled due to unfavourable weather and snow conditions for skiers on the Cariboo Waggon Road.

Sigh. I suppose we skiers are fussier than mushers, who can handle different conditions. But seriously, the central segment of this trail can be very tricky on XC skis when it's icy, so in the interests of safety, it makes sense to pursue alternate plans:

Skiers are invited to meet at Forest Rose campground (near Barkerville, just off the Bowron Lk Rd) at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 23 to ski to Wells via the new bike trail.

Snow conditions in Wells as of late Friday afternoon were cold enough to preserve a slim fluffy zone beneath the crust. The weather forecast for Saturday is cool and sunny with possibly some cloud...

Those craving a more marathon-like experience Saturday can have the option of carrying on to the Cornish Mountain trail network from the One Mile Road or from the meadow.

This will be a leisurely, family type of outing; bring snacks ;-)

best wishes,
Bill Horne

p.s. be sure to still check out events for the annual sled dog mail run here http://www.dogsledmailrun.ca/

Cariboo Jack 2010 dates

2009-10-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

We are aiming to hold another Cariboo Jack on January 23, 2010 in conjunction with the annual Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run. Stay tuned for more details ;-)

2009-01-26T21:27:00.000-08:00

2009-01-26T21:26:00.000-08:00

2009-01-26T21:25:00.001-08:00

2009-01-26T21:21:00.000-08:00

2009-01-26T21:20:00.000-08:00

Dave and Bill at registration in Barkerville - before the big chill.

Everyone made it!

2009-01-24T17:50:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Pete Wright, Kate Sulis, Beth Collingwood, Yael Wand, Allison Galbraith, Christine Kraayvanger, Rod Graham, Dave Jorgenson, Cheryl Macarthy, Olaf Gotthardt and Jeff Hanna for making it all the way to Stanley in cold, icy conditions.

"Hooo-wee!" "Yikes!" and "Brutal!" were some of the descriptions of the trail as skiers slid into the finish area.

Thanks to our volunteer shuttle team: Richard Wright, Bill Horne, Jason Griffin (I think I'm missing someone, but my fingers are still defrosting ;-)

Thanks also to Lothario "El Trackadoro" Vollmer and Const. Doug Erickson for diverting snowmobilers from the Barkerville-Summit Rock trail in the morning. Big thanks to Jim Kurta, Bruce Self and Heather Peters, the Hagen Creek Hardcores, for doing the safety sweep at the end of the day. And thanks to Beth Collingwood and Bill Horne for the firewood and goodies.

Special thanks to John Marien and Linda Moon for making the Stanley reception a warm one - with home made muffins even! And for staying so long near a smokey fire, an improvised open air sauna (courtesy of Bill), and increasingly chilly temperatures. Dave put in extra time at Stanley, too.

It's great to be part of a community where so many people are willing to pitch in and help make an event happen.

The trek is on ;-)

2009-01-23T08:45:00.000-08:00

Yes, the Cariboo Jack is taking place Saturday, January 24, 2009.
See the posting below (ignore the posting's summer date!) for the latest info.

2009 Cariboo Jack, Saturday, January 24

2008-08-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

Skiers traveling in one vehicle should aim to get to Barkerville around 8:45 a.m. Those who are coming in two or more vehicles may want to drop one vehicle near the old Lightning Inn (the one remaining building on the Stanley Road) in Stanley between 8:15 and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, then carry on to Barkerville.

This will help the shuttling and carpooling at the end. And any skiers from the Wells area who can rendezvous in Stanley to help shuttle people will be much appreciated ;-)

Registrations take place at Barkerville after 8:45 a.m. We are asking for a $10 donation to cover costs for the event. Meet at the town side of the registration centre.

Target starting time from Barkerville is just after 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 24.

Lothar Vollmer and Doug Erickson will be diverting snowmobilers from the Barkerville-Summit Rock section of trail until 11 a.m., so the last skiers must leave Barkerville by 9:30 at the latest. (Thanks Lothar and Doug!)

This is much more of a "trek" than a race, so count on a pleasant day's skiing an historic trail. Conditions may be fast; some are planning to use wooden skis for additional friction; skis with edges may be advantageous! Fishscales might be a good choice, too.

We expect cold weather, so please bring layers; check here for latest forecasts: http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/CABC0316

There will not be a reception party at the Lightning Inn like we had last year, but I plan to be recovered enough from bronchitis to be there in Stanley with a fire and hot drinks to welcome incoming skiers ;-)
Bill Horne

p.s. be sure to check out events for the annual sled dog mail run here http://www.dogsledmailrun.ca/

Pics from 1st Annual Cariboo Jack

2008-01-27T00:08:00.000-08:00

Fresh snow, agreeable temperatures, no injuries or lost skiers...it was a classic trek! The warm welcome from Larry, Barb, Sean and Bryn at Stanley made a perfect ending to a beautiful day.

Congratulations to all the skiers who made the trek:
Kate Sulis, Ellen Woodsworth, Dave Jorgenson, Beth Collingwood, Bill Horne, Ron Watteyne, Joe Patton, Sheila Fleming, Uta Schuler, Percy Hanna, Arnold Kilsbey, Yael Wand, Jason Griffin, Dennis Bogle, Pete Wright, Mike Boly.

Breaking News for Cariboo Jack

2008-01-25T13:53:00.000-08:00

1. Unless you already have your own shuttle organized (e.g. parties arriving in two vehicles), please meet by the Lightning Inn in Stanley on Saturday morning at 8:15 so we can organize rides to Barkerville. This way enough people can leave their vehicles in Stanley where the ski trek ends. We will have a couple of volunteer vehicles from Wells on hand to help with this.

2. Registration at Barkerville will start at 9 a.m. Our scheduled ski departure time from Barkerville is 9:30 a.m., not 10 a.m. as reported in the newspaper.

3. If you are late arriving in Barkerville, please sign the waiver and check in at the shelter at Summit Rock; registration fee is $10. (If you're really late, you'll meet Fran and Jo coming down from Summit Rock on snowshoes!)

4. Please be sure to call Bill Horne (250-994-2332) or email him (bhorne at netbistro dot com) if you haven't already done so. It helps us a lot to have an accurate head count before Saturday morning ;-)

5. Skate skis will not work for this trip! Please bring gear you can comfortably ski on for 4-6 hours.

6. You can check area weather forecasts at http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/CABC0316

Cariboo Jack aka Wong Man Ding

2008-01-10T16:25:00.000-08:00

“Around 1868, Wong Man Ding, nicknamed “Cariboo Jack”, walked from Yale up the Cariboo Road to 150 Mile House, on to Quesnel Forks, Keithley Creek, and over the mountains to Swift River and Stanley…in 50 years, Jack only left the Stanley area once, spending a winter in Prince George.”

From the book, . . . And So . . . That's How It Happened: Recollections of Stanley-Barkerville, 1900-1975 by W. M. Hong, Edited By Gary & Eileen Seale.

Photo courtesy of the Hong Family.

Welcome to the Cariboo Jack!

2008-01-10T11:33:00.000-08:00

The First Annual Cariboo Jack Ski Trek from Barkerville to Stanley will take place on Saturday, January 26, 2008, departing Barkerville at 9:30 a.m. (not 10 a.m. as mistakenly printed in the newspaper)

Skiers will follow the same trail taken by the annual Gold Rush Sled Dog Mail Run along the historic Cariboo Waggon Road the following day, a distance of approximately 25 km. By travelling this route from Barkerville to Stanley, skiers will honour local and regional history, as well as the gold rush history that brought British Columbia into Confederation 150 years ago.

This is a non-competitive event that requires stamina, and participants will be inspired by the examples of those who travelled to the Cariboo goldfields via the Snowshoe Plateau, and the many workers who came north on foot, such as Wong Man Ding, aka “Cariboo Jack”.

This section of the Waggon Road travels up from Barkerville over a shoulder of Elk Mountain, and rolls past a variety of historic sites, including the famous Jack O’ Clubs Ditchline and Ella Lake before descending past Milk Ranch Pass and travelling the trail paralleling Lightning Creek past Van Winkle and ending in the Stanley townsite.

Anyone considering entering the Cariboo Jack must be prepared for challenging terrain and unpredictable snow conditions. They must be in excellent physical condition, self-sufficient in terms of supplies and gear, and able to ski 25 km without undue stress. A list of recommended gear is posted on this Blog's sidebar.

This is a beautiful as well as historic trail; some sections seem to tunnel through lichen-draped subalpine fir. However, nearly one half of the route is uphill: from Barkerville to Summit Rock and Ella Lake. Because of the significant elevation changes and distance, it is not an event for beginners.

A shorter, follow-up event, the Barkerville-Wells Ski "Dash" will take place at 1:30 pm January 27 - simultaneously with the Sled Dog Mail Run "Dash". This is a basically flat sprint from Barkerville to Wells over an 8 km course.

Snowmobilers are asked to avoid the Barkerville-Stanley trail on Friday, January 25 and Saturday, January 26 in order to ensure the safety of tracksetters and skiers.

Interested skiers may contact Bill Horne in Wells at 250-994-2332 or by emailing bhorne at netbistro dot com. Organizers ask that all skiers preregister; registration costs $10.