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Posted by Jim
on July 26, 2011, 10:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Whitecourt Hunt"
70.73.172.66
Posted this on another thread in response to the question - but this is much newer one so I will put it here as well..
Hi Guys,
I have found two ways in, one from the north which is a pretty quick quad ride to the site, and from the south which is a little longer and has a couple potentially challenging (need a boat to cross the beaver ponds) river crossings if you miss the bypasses..
I went through the same process you did, apparently the guy won't unlock that gate for anyone.. and the next way in (going south on 43 from there) in is now private..
The north access point is RR115B - however this road runs parallel to 43 - as you go southeast on 43 from the edge of town, the first right going to the forest interpretative center is 115b - skip that, and take the next exit (right).. then take the immediate left - which is still 115B - then do the right curve so you are heading south - this is RR 115.
About 3.5km south the road curves a 90 to the right and heads west – immediately after this curve the road turns into TR 590 – Take the left and turn south onto RR 120. (the left is right after the curve and at the bottom of a small hill) Follow this for almost 5km until it ends – turn left and head east on a road I don’t know the name of for a couple KM – you will hit a stop sign..
To the left you can park on the side of the road or wherever and unload.. To the right is a new acreage subdivision.. from this stop, quad right – take the left after the first lot – stay left until the road does a 90 right – go up the hill into the lot there (go straight south up the driveway when the road turns west) – and keep going – the trail head is on the right of the clearing same as the drive... (next acreage along after the 90 right also has a hill – but no trail)
Follow this trail for less than a KM and you hit what I think is called the old winfall road.. Turn right on the road.. (proceed 210deg) half a km down is an oil pipe, turn left.. Try not to get stuck in the big mud hole here (can bypass this by going back to where you came out to the winfall road, and just cross it onto the trail – and then take the right) A few hundred meters past the mud hole there is a 4 way junction – turn right – (or straight though if you took the bypass)
Head 185deg for .55 km and then take the left junction when it splits
Follow this at 120deg for .55km and you should have passed the site’s permitter signs, and be at the little clearing that marks the crater site it’s self..
The protected area is very clearly marked, just make sure you are the correct side of the line before you pull out any equipment, you are free to access the site it’s self to see it however.. (not allow to disturb the protected area in any way) I just make sure I park outside the area, and don’t even short cut though it with gear..(proceed down the trail for sites to park the quad and search)
And also the right you hit just after the clearing doubles back to the trail you just took the left on (stay right at first junction to find the junction you turned left on closing the loop)... And be warned there are a ton of connecting trails in there – good for not getting lost on foot, you can’t walk a KM from the site without crossing at least on quad trail – but can be confusing after dark on a quad.. Bring the GPS...
Email me for Google earth screen shots if you want them..
And I should be back in the fall.. I had a pretty good 3 weekends on site this spring.. My total recovered weight is close to a pound.. 42grams is the largest however, the elusive 100gramer is still waiting for me!
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