Find Meager Hot Springs on Google Earth

Google’s satellite images around Whister have been upgraded, but the high quality images do not extend as far as the Meager Hot Springs (see the previous blog article about the Hot Springs). Even the new bridge across Meager Creek is not visible so it is hard to determine exactly where are these features. While we were there I ran a GPS track of the road from the parking lot, across the bridge, and through the forest to the pools of the Hot Springs. By exporting that track in the GPX format, it can be superimposed on Google Earth. The 2D images below are taken in Google Earth, but I invite you to download my GPX file (link to download below), and then while you are in Google Earth, open the GPX file. This will allow you to see the entire area in 3D, and explore the mountains and icefields that are high above the location. My GPS track is accurate to within a few meters.

Junction of Meager Creek with the Lillooet River

GPS track showing location of Bridge & Meager Hot Springs

You may download the GPX file here.
Try it. Google Earth is free from Google.
Simply use open in Google to open that GPX file.

If you click on that link and see a page of text, save it as a text file. Remove the dot txt at the end of the file so that it ends with dot GPX. Google will need to see the GPX extension to be able to load this file.

The region is interesting for many reasons. Backcountry skiers and climbers use this as a staging area for trips to the Pemberton Icefield (to the southeast) and into the Meager Group. The new bridge and the soothing pools of the Hot Springs are most welcome. BTW, these hills are steep, wild, and very high. Don’t attempt to explore if you are not equipped  and trained for a backcountry adventure.

Meager Creek Hot Springs

Meager Hot Springs are right beside the wild Meager Creek and at the foot of the mountain massif known as the Meager Group.

Meager Group with Mt. Meager in the centre

Mount Meager itself is well known to geologists because 2400 years ago this volcano erupted and spread ash as far away as Alberta. The mountains all around the hot springs are very steep and high and are still home to huge glaciers. Although not much of that is visible down at the level of the creek, this area is known for frequent major landslides and flash floods. Visitors are cautioned to be aware of the risks and if necessary to be prepared to move to the well-marked ‘refuge’ locations that are safe from slides.

The site is beautiful, and the pools are restful. The constant roar of the creek and its dynamic flow actually becomes white noise that is part of the springs’ calming magic.

On Sunday, when we drove to Railroad Pass on the Hurley River Road in search of snow to ski, and found none, we decided to drive to the hot springs. After the bridge was washed out in 2003 the Springs were closed. A new and very robust bridge was built and the facility re-opened late last summer. In the past it has had a reputation of wild parties. This year, we found that there was an attendant who was using a pressure washer to clean the algae off the largest pool, and collected a $5 fee from each of us. We saw only seven other people. The site was tranquil and beautiful.

To visit, take the highway NW out of Pemberton (north of Whistler) for 25km. Watch for an intersection and turn right. A short paved road crosses the Lillooet River and continues on a dirt road along the north side of the river. 9 km farther is the intersection with the Hurley River Road —  a rough summer road that is the  quickest way to travel north to the South  Chilcotin. Don’t take the Hurley River Road. Stay left and continue on the Lillooet River Forest Service Road for 38km. The road is fairly rough but you will not need 4×4. There is a primitive (but attractive) camp site and then the intersection with the road along Meager Creek. Turn left on the Meager Cr. Branch and a rustic wooden bridge crosses the Lillooet River. It is about 6km farther to the parking lot for the Hot Springs. There is a short walk across the new Meager Creek Bridge to the path to the Springs. The Springs are about 600 metres along this path.

The geothermal activity in this area results in another, more remote, hot springs called, Keyhole Falls/Pebble Creek hot springs. I have heard that access requires some route-finding that might appeal to the adventurous. Also, high above the Springs is a major geothermal electricity generation project.

How to swath tall grass with a lawn mower

The mower is an old, but still sound, Snapper. I chose it years ago because it was a great vacuum and could bag everything on the lawn. At this location, I don’t enjoy lawn maintenance and all I want to do is spread the too-long cuttings.

The chute is made from a recycled ice-cream bucket. Material flies out of the chute at high speed. If you try this, please be careful that the ejecta does not hit anybody or anything vulnerable. (The camera, which is close to stream of material exiting the chute, is on the end of a pole so the cinematographer is not in danger). The wheels of the mower has the deck at a high setting. If the grass is wet, it helps to have the chute-side of the mower over an already-mowed section so that it is easy for the air to mix with the grass.

Last ski of the season above Cypress Bowl

Yesterday we had to walk a ways up the ski runs from the parking lot  to find snow. On the upper slopes and glades we could find some lines to ski. I’m not holding the camera in the gnarly bits — I needed my hands for the ski poles. So the moving ski stuff is fairly tame… but this will give you a sense of what is left of the winter up there. Next week if we want to ski we will have to go into the higher hills up North. This filthy snow gummed up the base of the skis. If we go to bigger mountains and above the tree line in the days ahead we’ll probably have cleaner snow.

Bionx electric power assist bicycle

Have you ever felt that you’d like to use a bicycle for transportation because it would be good exercise and is environmentally friendly — but the hills are just too much work for your level of fitness? Dona, my friend on the Sunshine coast has a bike modified with a Bionx electric power assist. I knew she used it regularly to ride the road in and out of of Gibsons for groceries and more. While that route has lots of little hills, I wondered how it would do on a bigger slope. She showed me.

In case you think that because you are a boomer you left this kind activity in your youth, you can take heart knowing that Dona will receive her Gold Card later this year.

For more information on BionX, follow this link. This is the 350 watt kit that was installed on a Giant bicycle purchased for this purpose. The installation was done by Paul Rudolph at Spin Cycles in Gibsons, BC.

Snug Cove – Water taxi from Granville Island

Meeting folks from the mainland as they arrive on Bowen Island is part of island life. This is down on the floating section of Government Dock in Snug Cove. I was waiting for the water taxi from Granville Island to arrive on Friday (yesterday) evening at 7:10 PM. The trip from downtown takes 30 – 35 minutes. When the weather is calm it is a enjoyable speedboat ride across Burrard Inlet and into Howe Sound.

On the Government Dock – Snug Cove

I was on the Government Dock in Snug Cove at 5:24 to meet the 6 PM Water Taxi about to arrive from Granville Island. I enjoyed the sun at my back and the rainbow over Queen Charlotte Channel.

Skiing the Mt. Strachan Rock Garden

There is still lots of snow above 3500′ but the 500′ above the parking lot is becoming patchy. Here we’ve found the last ribbon of snow on this south-facing slope — it is protected by the trees on the west side. It is also raining softly. My friend (in the video) is stopped in the first shot to pick up 2 toonies and a loonie that a skier must have lost in a fall last winter. At the end of this sequence, the slopes that appear in the background are the north-facing runs of Black Mountain.

There is still snow to ski above Vancouver

If you look at Cypress Bowl from downtown Vancouver, you may see a ski run that seems to go straight up to the summit. It does, and it is the steep run under the top lift. Here we are just beginning to skin up that pitch under the lifts.

Upper Mt. Strachan 2009 May 10

While the snow under the lifts is somewhat chopped up, some new snow fell on the hill this week. We found some smooth spring snow in   the glades to the west of the lifts. This short video shows some of that; and the point where we scooted down to the line by those lifts.

The Frog Chorus tunes up – Grafton Lake

Digital recording at Grafton Lake

I arrived at this rocky point just before 8 PM, yesterday. I hoped that soon the frogs would start tuning up for the evening’s concert. You will hear the road sounds from the main highway across Bowen Island. At its closest it is about 250 m on the left of the stereo field. Other than converting to MP3, and a fade-in and fade-out at each end, this file is unedited.