Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail

Day 6

Old Homestead to Eliguk Lake

The day started out with a small stream crossing, through some more burn and some more mud. The muddy sections went a little quicker now as we have got a bit of routine going. Once passed the second airstrip and lodge the trail widens out. It is here the 3rd gen shifting started acting up. It turns out it had taken water in on the Blackwater crossing and need new oil. A trail side flush of the transmission oil, new oil added and it is up and running again.



























 
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Day 6 continued

The trail passes through the Lampart Ranch yard, which is gated; we walked in and asked permission to drive through. Permission is granted and we drive through a museum of old classic vehicles scattered about the range, from old Volkswagen window busses to 50’s pickup trucks, it was a little surreal. Crossing the Blackwater a second time except there is a bridge at this crossing! With the Blackwater on the west side again we made our way along its edge. After short time we passed another abandoned homestead.


























We arrived at the east end of Eliguk Lake with lots of daylight left, we had made good mileage that day and with great confidence decided to continue along the north shore of the lake. Oops. The trail had been cleared but was very tight; we think it was cleared for hikers, horses and quads. But we all were able to squeeze through. Some spots requiring a three point turn just to get around a corner. There was also a fair bit of clearing to do despite the amount someone had cleared previously this year.




It was along here the 3rd gen shifting started going bad again. This was the point we made the worst decision of the trip. The map we had indicated a camp site at the far end of the lake and we were just over half way there, it was about 4km from the one end of the lake to the other, so we hooked a tow rope onto the trip and 3rd gen and continued forward. The going was slow and we were losing light, the trail continued to get worse with some tricky sections.







We get to the far end of the lake and no camp site! Walk the trail for about 15min and got to a swamp section. We decided to turn around and head back to the meadow.

Once turned around the 3rd gen was hooked up to my truck to tow back. It was during this time I believe a sustained the damage to my rocker and rear passenger door. It was dark and hard to see the stumps and with the weight of the 3rd gen tugging from behind I went through some corners a little tight.

Arriving at the meadow we set up camp in the dark.



 
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Day 7

The next morning we decided to head back to Lampart Ranch, turn north and take the FSR to Vanderhoof and Prince George. It was Friday and our best odds of finding a shop on the weekend to do a proper flush on the 3rd gen’s transmission would be in Prince George. It would have been quicker to turn south to Anahim Lake but being a small community we were not sure there would be a shop open.

With daylight I was able to see the damage to the runner. I am surprised how I have accepted it both then and now a few months later. I do plan to get the door and fender/headlight fixed this winter. Oh almost forgot, right before we turned around I watched the 3rd gen get kicked into a tree and take out his tail light right in front of me. Being both tired and stupid, I tried the same line and I didn’t even get through the two trees, my driver’s side wheel hit the same root kicking me left and smacked the tree taking out my headlight and denting in my fender...




On the way back to the FSR I managed to high center the runner on a hidden rock. I saw the rock but it didn't look that big.












That is it for our experience on the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail, once in Vanderhoof the land cruiser (Alex) had to head back home and continued on. The rest of us spent the night in Vanderhoof and the next day in Prince George doing some vehicle maintenance, resupplying, laundry and such. Heading south to Williams Lake we turn west again and spent the next week in the Chilcotin and Bella Coola area.

 
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5th Gen Damage

Before:



Aside from the dent in the bumper I had managed to be damage free until we ended up driving too late at Eliguk Lake. In the dark and being tired I didn’t pay enough attention to the narrow trail. All of it was done on the way back to the meadow.











 
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That trail looks amazing. I am learning that I have a TON to learn as I start to explore areas with my new 2017 TRD OR.
 
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