Arctic Adventure 5: Telegraph Creek

The road to Telegraph Creek is one of British Columbia's greatest roads, jaw dropping scenery, a hint of danger and a uncertain future. To steal a phrase every visit is potentially a last chance to see this great destination. So the http://OneWheelDrive.Net team takes a two day detour on our way to the Western Canadian Arctic. For the full article on this road visit: http://www.onewheeldrive.net/2009/08/13/challenges/

Director's Note:
I'm unsure how this video will be received. Sometimes when you sit down to edit a piece, the outcome is obvious. You start, you look at the footage and say, "Yes, this will be a bike review portion of the series." This is not one of those times, the outcome of the Telegraph Creek video is a total surprise to me.
For one, the pacing is different, taking the time to tell a story so this video is longer than the others. For two, it is a story of the area, featuring a road as destination. Lastly, there's a theme here, as we're exploring an area that seems to go from one industrial endangering crisis to another. The sad truth is, you'd best see this area while it survives intact. Or better see it, and tell other's what you've seen and take some time to look at the designs the BC Government and various mining interests have on the area:
There are 11 projects currently under the Environmental Assessment Review on Tahltan territory. These projects are:
- Galore Creek Mine proposed by Nova Gold Inc,
- Red Chris Mine proposed by bcMetals and Red Chris Development Corp,
- Mount Klappan Coal proposed by Fortune Minerals,
- Kutcho Creek proposed by Western Keltic Mines Ltd,
- Klappan Coal Bed Methane proposed by Shell Canada,
- Rok Coyote Eddon proposed by Firesteel Resources,
- Gnat Pass,
- Schaft Creek proposed by Copper Fox Metals Inc,
- Forrest Kerr Hydroelectric project proposed by Nova Gold Inc,
- Foremore Mine project proposed by Roca Mines Inc,
- GJ (Kiniskan) proposed by Canadian Gold Hunter Corp.
Which promise to vivisect the area. This is endangered beauty, before you even consider the fact that two of these projects, the Klappan Coal Bed Methane proposed by Royal Dutch Shell (currently on hold) and Imperial Metals' Todagin Mine, area targeting the sacred headwaters of the Tahltan People and birthplace of three vital salmon rivers 3 great rivers (The Stikine, the Skeena, and the Nass). Indeed, imperials plan is to dump tailings into the Iskut headwater chain which feeds the Stikine. With the Salmon already decimated, this seems criminal to even the most modest intellect.
So I present this video with the following encouragement; go out, ride the world, see great things, but learn about them and take the time to share what you learn.
- Neil Johnston

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Motorcycle
• Adventure
• KTM
• BMW
• R1200GS
• 990
• F800GS
• northern
• british columbia
• travel
• tourism
• destinations
• scenic
• roads
• byways

[TWadventurerider]

After your Arctic Adventure experience with the KTM 990, what are your conclusions about the overall reliability of the bike? It's obvious that it is one of the best adventure bikes, but is it a good daily commuter?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[onewheeldrive]

@TWadventurerider We have a full review based on the adventure on OneWheelDrive. Net. Long term reliability is something we can't speak to based on experience unfortunately, as we only had the bike as a loaner for a couple of months.

[TWadventurerider]

Two thumbs up!!!

Your Arctic Adventure series inspired me to purchase an F800Gs this spring. Been out exploring this beautiful province all summer.

Keep up the good work!

[onewheeldrive]

@TWadventurerider Thanks! Glad you're enjoying the bike. See you out there.

[quock3r]

great vidoe guys i'm from telegraph and i love that road

need some more vidoes of driving the telegraph road

[onewheeldrive]

@quock3r Thanks man. We probably won't get to shoot any more vids up that way for quite a while though.

[TheDanBC]

So, what will power your precious bikes in the future, solar power? Extension cords? Oh, and the metal your bikes are made out of came from...wait for it.....mines! Yes, the area is beautiful, but, believe it or not, has a rich mining history. Mining, resource extraction and development can co-exist. What would you propose for work instead? Welfare?

[mysweeteventhorizon]

@mysweeteventhorizon

The Stikine River Song store is an old Hudson's Bay Trading Post...and there is a bush trail, used back during the days of the gold rush, that runs to Atlin, B.C

This is the area of madmen and marauders....look up and read the stories of Albert Johnson, the Mad Trapper of Rat River and then 80 years later, Michael Oros...AKA, Sheslay Mike....both killed police officers and both were almost impossible to track and catch, virtual super-bushmen, both were killed by the Law.

[mysweeteventhorizon]

@mysweeteventhorizon

I wonder if the Stikine River Song is still owned by a guy named Dan...I hauled 24 batteries, massive 100 lb batteries from Whitehorse down to Telegraph back in '90...got down there and Dan weaseled me into taking them to his newly built 3000 sq ft cabin...through snow drifts...so we chained up and gingerly picked our way across a one lane bridge with one half of the duals hanging over the side, and then skidded the batteries in with two guys and a shovel....

[mysweeteventhorizon]

I lived in Whitehorse for 5 years back in '88 to '92. I used to run a truck down to Telegraph from Whitehorse once a month. I was some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever enjoyed, especially in the winter.

If you guys had turned right off the road about 30 kms west of Dease, just before the road goes down to the Days Ranch, you would have gone up to a breathtaking area near the Golden Bear Mine....

By the way...run this area in the winter....its a surreal dream-scape...

[talltanndn]

awesum  lol

[TWadventurerider]

Two thumbs up!!! Bought an F800Gs this year after watching your Arctic Adventure series. Got me real inspired to get out and explore our beautiful province.

Keep up the good work!!