Wheeling General Discussion

[Doozer]

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Not sure if this is the right place for this. Recently got a 2010 Pathfinder and was thinking of hitting some trails in it this weekend. It’s stock. Would McLean Creek be a good place to start? I’m not well experienced and likely going to be on my own. Are there any other recommendations?

I don't know much about Maclean Creek but I've heard it's a good place to go. You sound like you're in the same boat as me, give me a heads-up next time and we can go together. I'm just starting out too, going mostly on my own.

Depending on your timeline, you could try out by Ghost too. Go through Cochrane, turn onto highway 40, take the turn to Ghost and you get some good views and it's manageable for stock vehicles. If you make it to the dry riverbed you get a decent payout.

My ride is mostly stock too, so you shouldn't have any troubles as long as your tires have a bit of grip.

[frozenrice]

I did the Ghost Lake area earlier this summer when I had my Ridgeline. The hardest part was the bank down to the river bed….
I have heard mixed opinions of McLean but will give it a try to see for myself. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes if I make it out.

[ercchry]

McLean always ends poorly if you are not prepared

[frozenrice]

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McLean always ends poorly if you are not prepared

School me. What does properly prepared entail?

[ercchry]

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School me. What does properly prepared entail?

Recovery gear, route planning (good luck without consulting a veteran McLean area user, as official maps are useless), a friend in another truck… or at least a winch, preferably a vehicle with at least 35s so you don’t beach your diffs constantly… snorkel comes in handy out there too

[frozenrice]

Sounds like McLean isn’t the place to go then. What other area do you suggest for starters?

[ercchry]

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Sounds like McLean isn’t the place to go then. What other area do you suggest for starters?

With how long it’s been I couldn’t even possibly guess at current closure or trail erosion to offer that guidance. Maybe start with some BC rec site overnight camps? The ones they have marked as 2wd can fluctuate between perfect gravel road to something that resembles a trail without anything that’s going to get you stuck. They have an extensive database of rec sites:

http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca/Mobil...lt_mobile.aspx

[frozenrice]

Thanks. Not really looking to head out that far on such short notice. I’ll keep everything you mentioned in mind for another time.

[SJW]

If it's Mclean bring a quad or a lifted vehicle. Just sayin.

[DonJuan]

McLean requirements should be 35's, locked diffs, winch and friend with winch. Trails go from easy to nightmare really quick. It gets torn up by yahoos daily.

Waiprous is the better bet. Easier trails and usually a way around bad sections. The hard trail to the falls was nice and easy (8 years ago). Then again, I had a Hilux Surf TD, locked up and on 34's.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

If you’re not going with a second vehicle make sure you’re prepared to hike out to a main road no matter where you go. I probably wouldn’t go out alone without bare minimum a winch, traction boards, good knowledge of how to self recover yourself and lots of daylight. I’ve been in a situation where both vehicles got stuck at the same time and luckily a random came by in a huge side by side in Waiparous and was able to free one so we could use it to free the other. I’ve also come across someone alone in a Jeep stuck for more than 8 hours in McLean creek that we could not free his vehicle with two ATVs and another Jeep and had to drive him back out.

[DonJuan]

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If you’re not going with a second vehicle make sure you’re prepared to hike out to a main road no matter where you go. I probably wouldn’t go out alone without bare minimum a winch, traction boards, good knowledge of how to self recover yourself and lots of daylight. I’ve been in a situation where both vehicles got stuck at the same time and luckily a random came by in a huge side by side in Waiparous and was able to free one so we could use it to free the other. I’ve also come across someone alone in a Jeep stuck for more than 8 hours in McLean creek that we could not free his vehicle with two ATVs and another Jeep and had to drive him back out.

+1 Amen +100 for Traction boards and a good jack.

Exact scenario happed in McLean Creek. Both well prepped trucks got stuck at the same time and just far enough away that the winch didn't reach. Thankfully guy with big side by side and 4k winches front and rear happened by and was able to free us. Haven't been to McLean since.

[SJW]

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If you’re not going with a second vehicle make sure you’re prepared to hike out to a main road no matter where you go. I probably wouldn’t go out alone without bare minimum a winch, traction boards, good knowledge of how to self recover yourself and lots of daylight. I’ve been in a situation where both vehicles got stuck at the same time and luckily a random came by in a huge side by side in Waiparous and was able to free one so we could use it to free the other. I’ve also come across someone alone in a Jeep stuck for more than 8 hours in McLean creek that we could not free his vehicle with two ATVs and another Jeep and had to drive him back out.

I resuced a couple yesterday on a steep slope that had flipped their quad. It rolled on top of both of them. I made sure she was ok, he was fine. Winched their quad right side, let them know i'd quad out with them. Got my son turned around on the steep terrain, got to bottom and they had already dipped. First time on quad for them and they were from Kamloops.

WTF?