Lost in the West

Lem Lamb

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February 5th. 2016

It's time to check out some back wood trails that I've traveled 35 years ago, and it was to easy getting around since the low lands are still frozen.



I use this cut-line for hunting white tails, Moose when I get a draw, and bow hunting elk. It went in 10 years ago, still in good shape as my pals & I trim the buck-brush back close to our stands.



Pretty much set up for spring bear hunting season.



Lots of rolly hills back here, good thing for packing tire chains.



Seen lots of wolf tracks this year.



This was my old hunting grounds in 1977, but to many other hunters showed up over the years, so now I travel it in the off season. Its a fairly long pipe-line that has some nice sized trees for putting up tree stands if one wants too.



One hunter built a hotel on the edges of it, but I see it fell over since it did not have a very sound base.



End-less pipe & cut lines every where, and furry critter tracks to boot since it makes it easy for them to get around. Much safer to use in stead on traveling the roads. I seen a area rib-boned off for logging.



My pal built this stand 7 years ago, and it has paid off many a times in the fall harvest season. some of the side timbers fell off due to wind, he pretty much handed it over to me since he moved away.



BBQ time as always. Hamburgers and old cheddar cheese on this outing.



I was planning on cleaning up a camper that was tipped over in this lake, but I see that F&W finally hauled it out.



That pretty much rapped up my day covering 3 ridges and many of the access points threw the valleys. 80 plus kms.



Now I'll move over to another riding area further West where I teamed up with a group from Ponoka last weekend. There are lots of trails opened up with the many ohv's that were running last weekend.

Pal Lem
 
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Lem Lamb

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The area has done us well over the years, but it will at some point see lots of ohv use in the following years. I'll be doing most of my posting on this thread over the following years, so no mention of riding areas, "mostly not the trails" to prevent the heavy weight units from showing up that at times punch out to low-lands when damp out side. I my self could care-less about any size unit that travels the back-woods, but the folks I ride with don't enjoy seeing big holes punched out so we our selves can no longer use the trails we put effort into keeping up.

Many times we bring our family and friends to ride with us, the units we bring are small quads with stock tires that struggle in the deep ruts left by the larger units, a "few" of our trails that we worked on have been chewed up so getting down them is very difficult, now we do tight quarter bush/bush zig zags runs that prevent SxS from traveling on them.

Don't get me wrong as all unit have there place, and the big tires and hp makes getting around easy, but we who drive light weight stock units with kids on 2 wheel drives struggle around these deep rutted up areas, its no fun pulling them out when we planned on a simple and easy day ride, so this is why we have moved back into the woods.

Takes a bit of time prepping a good trail, but well worth the effort when we can jump from cut block to block with out getting stuck, more time to sight see at slow speed works for us.

Pal Lem
 
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Lem Lamb

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Lmao. I just realized who you were. Never clicked in until the "Pal Lem"

Ha Ha. I'm trying to keep things low key so others don't find out I'm the kow guy over here... New ride with many adventures I hope wild1, and I seen your posts as you have things on the go up in your area. Hope to catch 1 or 2 in the following years. Bruderhim sand area on the West side along the pipe-line looked good from 2 wheels, and will be easier on 4 of them.

Cheers from Lem/ or pal that is.
 

Lem Lamb

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February 6th. 2016

Holly crap Batman, she was some windy on the foot-hills today, so I returned to the same area as yesterday since there is some thick bush to hide behind. Plus it gives me a chance to mark more over grown cut-lines that need touching up this year.



This section was pretty narrow 7 years ago, but the SxS folks put in the time to fix it up for the bigger units, and they pick high & dry ground so they don't spend their day running the winches.



Got lucky at find all kinds of buck brush camps along the edges of the bigger pipe-line right-aways.



This Hilton hotel set up is deep in the bush away from any decent trail.



It didn't take long to find many more wider trails that have been prepped while I was out of the area for a few years.

 
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Lem Lamb

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But there are many cut-a-crosses that are left for the smaller units when we go out with the kids.



This small quad run is 4 kms in length with many tight areas that don't seem to work for SxS's so this might be one of the reasons it never got fixed up. And it joins the big pipe-line at both ends. Very handy to access.



This is a continuation of it for another 3 kms when we fix it up.



This was the drop off to get onto the pipe-line, so we will fill in the ditch with old logs for the kids on there lighter quads to get down with out end-doing.

 

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It warmed up a bunch when the sun come out, and made it easier to spot openings where old cut/ slash-lines were.



And I found another bear bait station from a few years ago.



I dropped down to the low lands to find a wide track area that would be tuff for all units as it leads to the beaver dams, so good to catch it before spring thaw when it will return to sponge swamp that my unit can't travel.



I use to run this hill on my onda 350, but now it has a wash out in it.



And a fatality when thing went wrong. This marker is at the base as it was the matter of time that something was going to happen here. lots of others have been hurt here and many units have become tin-cans when they come tumbling down.



This is number 3 hill that has clamed just as many quads too, so all of the first 3 are off limits when traveling with elders, no kids back in here since there are many side hills and a few small creek crossings that are punched out pretty good.



I took the ring trail to get around the hills, then from the far North side I found these tall trees that can be seen from the hwy on top of the hills.



I did not continue Northerly as it would be tuff this time of season to climb out of the hole down bellow, and there is a 0.5 km side hill that is trick even for a smaller unit.



This is along one of the oil-field roads, and is not for commercial use as the farmer allows those that want to have a drink only. the cup is on the top right hand corner of the board. Not water trucks allowed.



This is another narrow quad trail threw the spruce and pine trees, lots of fun for kids on the smaller units as its dry track back in here.



Lots of zig-zags in tight quarters.



Found another older bait station that was left behind.

 

Lem Lamb

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Headed up on the second set of hills to over look the grazing lands down below, this big pipe line area is closed for cattle lease. only open in late fall threw the winter to latter part of spring.





I back tracked out of there to the other section of the pipe-line where there is easy riding for the chittlins. one spot to help them out, but it is good to go in the dry season.



This is my long time friends cabin that he owned, but he sold the place as I need to track down the new owner so we can use it as a warm up area in the fall and winter.


Had a pretty good day less the wind on the hwy to & from, but it was nice in the trees at +4c as I gained another 90 + kms over a 10 hour stint.



Best time spent in the woods since there ain't nothing on TV any-ways.

Pal Lem
 
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Lem Lamb

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Yep sold the KTM so no more 2 wheels. Bought a sxs and having a blast.

I hear yha wild 1 as I to took a lick'n this summer on my bike too, you might of heard, so 4 wheels for idling around and still game planning on what to do with both bikes. One for sure is going out the door as it will get me into trouble, and the left over unit will be for secondary hwy stuff, "maybe" that is.

Congrates on the new unit wild 1 as we might cross paths at some point along the way. Many of my planning rides will be local, with the option of Edson, Hinton, GP in all directions, Kakwa Falls in the fall season, and maybe some stopping grounds in BC.

Always pal Lem... Ha Ha...
 

Lem Lamb

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Actually I haven't heard. Bad wipe out?

Ha Ha. It was kinda like the wild hogs wipe out like woody, but my face is ok...
Bumped up the clavicle bone like Conner Mac-David, and plastic on the kow split open. LOL Dam fairing bubble didn't do well, but she fixed up for round 2.

Shoulder is doing well with quad work out, and very happy to find the easier in live adventures a-head.
 

Lem Lamb

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I find just the comfort of the ride

I agree, now that my pal got me too slow down and enjoy sight seeing from the best out-door tv given too humans.

First and second gears will get worn out on the new ride, need to come up with a name for the unit too. It's sure easy throwing the little 420 around, a few pounds heavier then 350 I had but still has some of the same handling traits which is good.

I ran tire chains back in 1998 on my Yamaha 400, and I'm glad I stayed with it for all these years as I only need to use the winch once over the last 2 days.
 
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Lem Lamb

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Looks like warm temps for the Rocky Mt House area at +8c for Monday, and +11c on Tuesday. So Monday is looks like a go since middle age brother wants to head out west.

We havn't come up with a time to meet yet, but it looks like we will be linking up at hwy corner 22/53 at gravel pit on West side of hwy. This is where all the big rigs un-load.

I'll chime in latter today when we plan on meeting at the corner.
About 100 kms from Lacombe or Sylvan Lk, and 22 k from Rocky Mt House.

Pal Lem.
 
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Lem Lamb

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3 riders so far, we are linking up at hwy 22/53 gravel pit at 10 am. Big Blue Dodge with stock trailer. 3 red Honda quads fully rigged with boxes.

If anyone is interested, you can text me at four 03-352- 354 nine

Pal Lem
 
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