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Upcoming Wells Gray trip

Mentor

Mentor

Joined
Nov 27, 2004
Messages
3,124
Hello,

I’m looking for a bit of advice. I’m planning a backpacking excursion with my father in August, in Wells Gray park in BC, Canada. It will be approximately 10 days in length (not including travel time), and we will be carrying all supplies with us (no re-supply during the excursion). Neither of us have been to the area before, but both of us have years of outdoors experience, although I wouldn’t consider us experts. The park is huge, and it includes varied terrain, from deciduous forest to alpine and everything in between. I haven’t set the itinerary yet, but at present it looks as though we’ll be sticking to some old logging trails that vary in use and difficulty. If I had to rate things, I would say we’re going to be steering a medium course between low-intensity trail hiking and bushwhacking.

Having not hiked in the region before, and having not put together a trip of this length for some time, I’m looking for some tips from the more seasoned outdoorsmen on the forums.

Have any of you hiked Wells Gray before? If so, any tips or suggestions?

I’ll be bringing along my tried and true BK-9 (SAK in the sheath pouch), with a Grohmann no. 1 for small work and my EDC DDR-3. I’ve found this arrangement useful in the past; the BK-9 is there for any serious chopping or splitting work, the Gohmann is perfect for food / fish prep and just about everything else, and the DDR-3 is there because without it my pocket feels uncomfortably empty! Bearing this combination in mind, and noting that my father is not a knife nut, what would you recommend I equip him with? He has carried a Mora in the past, which makes sense to me, but it has finally succumbed to use and I will be purchasing him a new blade before we set out. I had thought to go with a Mora (or another Scandi grind – some of the Kellam stuff has been catching my eye), a SAK, and a reasonably sized camp hatchet. Of course, he will have the final say on this, but I’d be curious as to what you gentlemen would recommend to compliment my selection.

Finally, for those of you who regularly hike in bear country – Wells Gray has a sizeable Grizzly population, and a considerably larger black bear population. What would you recommend for noisemaking gear? My usual hiking haunts have black bear populations as well, and I have never had a problem using sets of bells hanging from the lanyard holes on my BK-9 sheath. Of course, I’m usually able to carry a shotgun or rifle on hikes in the areas I frequent, and I can’t do this in Wells Gray (it’s a provincial park). So, in the absence of this reassurance, I want to make sure that I optimize my noise-making choices.

Thanks for the help! I’ll be bringing along my digital camera, so you can count on some solid scenery and knife use pictures when I return.

All the best,

- Mike
 
I think the bells would do you fine. They will adequately warn the bears that someone's around and hopefully prevent any 'surprise' encounters. 99% of the time, bears are not interested in messing with people.

Personally, I tend to try and take a shotgun if there's bear potential (better safe than sorry) and if it's a provincial park, I just try and be a bit more discreet about how I'm carrying it. Of course this should not be construed as advice in any way, just a personal anecdote...
 
I was in Wells Gray a few years ago. Very lovely and very large.

For tens day, I think you will be fine with all the things you are bringing. I only brought a SAK with me but all my food and shelter was brought in with me. I spent only about 4 nights outdoors and the rest of the time car camping.

Do not bring any guns. The main trails and use areas have quite a few park rangers, workers, and volunteers maintaining the park and trail. And I would think most hikers will report you if you have a weapon! Just unusual for any hikers to carry a gun in a provincial or national park up here in Canada.

So to keep your trip to a 10 day trip and not a short stay in a local jail, I would just carry bear spray in a easily reachable carrier. It is legal and you will still get the sacartic remarks here and there like I do. I would be the first the carry a gun but I think you should follow the rules. And any gun concealed will not be helpful if you surprise a bear.

As for bear bells, I find them very irritating; I think camping in a small group with constant loud chit chat is best.

My 2 cents.
 
Thanks for the advice so far. For the record, as a Canadian and a criminologist, I certainly won't be carrying a concealed firearm - particularly not after transporting one from Ottawa to BC via airplane!

It seems as though there are different opinions on bear bells. I'll be the first to call them irritating, but I use them anyways. Are there alternatives that are effective but less irritating (aside from constant loud chatter)?

Thanks,

- Mike
 
I never bother with bear bells -- the critters can hear you breathing a mile away, unless it's windy and you're near a stream, in which case they aren't much use anyway. Take good rain gear -- it can be wet there, and make sure your boots are waterproofed.
 
And watch for grizz scat on the trail. It will smell like pepper spray, have bits of cloth and bells in it! :D

Codger
 
I live about 20 minutes south of Wells Grey so I know it a bit. Certainly am not any authority though. You could spend your life exploring the park and still come up short. Battle mtn and 52 ridge and the trophy's have good trails and routes and there are good maps you can get from the info centre or even on the net. The Trophy's are famous for the alpine flowers and there are several peaks with joining routes you can take.
Can't miss the waterfalls but many of them are even wheelchair accessable so you won't need much kit then.
My favorite is battle mnt. lots of historical indigenous lore that adds to experience( battle over cariboo hunting grounds)
Hope you have a good holiday if you have more questions feel free to ask.

BTW. Don't fret too much about the bears bring some pepper spray and you will be good to go.
Andy
 
I'd reccomend taking a large hatchet or axe; I've been there and worked in that type of area near Clearwater, and that along with a folding saw is your best bet.
 
Many thanks for the replies gents.

I will go with the hatchet. I had understood that August was not the rainy season per se, but I will err on the side of caution and bring along some additional rain gear.

I'll post some thoughts on the trip as well as some photos when I get back.

All the best,

- Mike
 
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