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

Everyone made it!

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 ;-)

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

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

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

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