Skookumchuck H/S, St. Agnes

[Bulldozer]

Feb. 22/08 . Just heard from a buddy that just returned from Skookumchuck/St Agnes. All is well and road open. More snow in Pemberton than was present at the hot spring. Very wet, lots of puddles to navigate as you traverse to and from tubs. FYI= Road into Sloquet H/s VERY CLOSED.

[Bulldozer]

2nd soak of a 4 hotspring tour, check out the new video link at Photobucket... http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/ff317/Vancouverite1/Skookumchuck%20Hotsprings/

Edit of dead link... Photo and Video from May 08

[Bulldozer]

Did a quick overnighter to St.Agnes, Nov 19-20/08, road in was O.K. if not a little rougher than usual. Covered tub was being repaired and was not usable. Caretaker informed us it would be available by the week-end. Wet snow falling with heavy at times rain at the hotspring. Snow was falling in Pemberton and Whistler.

[Bulldozer]

Once again an overnighter to Skookumchuck on March 10th and 11th/09.
Road in is in good condition, some rather bumpy sections. Nobody collecting
the camp/soak fee. Soaked under a full moon with the ice glistening on the deck around me.
Was very cold, -10/-15C at night but once the sun came over the mountain everthing was nice.

[BNMac]

Brrrrr.... -10? Yea, soaking's fine, getting out is cool too as long as there's no breeze.

Thanks for the update - sounds like you've started the soaking season in style.

--Bruce...

[Jeff Allen]

Bruce, it has to be about -30 F before our friends north of the boarder ask, "Do you feel a chill"...

[Kim_S]

Jeff, we feel a "chill" when it's 80 degrees higher than 30 below . Yes, I'm a climatic wimp!

[Bulldozer]

-10 doesn't seem as cold as it use to, but I grew up using the Fahrenheit system and then we switched to the Celsius scale.
How does it go....our 0 C is your +32F, somewhere down the line in the minus we merge together again but I can't remember when, think it's at -40. My minus -10 is a plus +14 for you.
Recieved an e-mail from a friend @ 8:30 tonight. He's says that the road has taken a turn for the worst. Because of the constant rain, the road has deteriorated in several areas starting from 5 km marker to the hot springs, and is impassable by a 2wd car. . 2wd not recommended and good clearance suggested. This should not last long as several villages are located beyond the 5 klm. mark.

[Jeff Allen]

That's right -40 is where they meet.

14 is a little chilly. The lowest temp I've slept in a tent outdoors was -1F..

Thanks for the road update Tom...

[scotief]

Hey i'll be heading here on the 20th of april. has anyone been down the road in the last couple weeks. just trying to find out about the road. Also any one been to meager creek lately. im trying to find out about that road to. thanks

[Bulldozer]

Scotief;
The road into Skookumchuck was freshly graded this week from the Hwy to past the hotsprings. The access road into the Skookumchuck grounds was also graded. A caretaker has been put in place, he should be there.
I am not sure of the road into Meager yet, anyone else? My guess is the road would still have snow on it, at least in sections. Hope that is gone by the first week of May(my next venture out) Hoping to do a 4 springs tour.

[scotief]

Thanks bulldozer, How about the road into sloquet. Anyone been there. I want to go there also but i know that is less traveled road. Thanks for any help

[Bulldozer]

When I was up in mid March I was told the road to Sloquet was being used frequently by the people from Kiwett(sp). In doing so they had managed to keep the road fairly open. But a poster at another hotspring site who was up at Skookum at a later date than I was told the road was not passable due to snow levels.

Just a heads up for anyone going to Skookumchuck/St Agnes hotsprings.
A new caretaker has been posted at the site. A day use area parking lot
and a camping area has been established. There is now 2 gates and
camp($10) and day-use($5) fee are being collected.
The road from Pemberton has been recently graded as has the access
into the hotsprings site.

[Bulldozer]

Well the Easter Week-End was a busy one for the new caretakers of Skookumchuck H/s. I was told of some 20 vehicles being turned away at the gate. Various reasons, but for the most part the grounds were full. Some claimed they did not have the required $5 soaking fee or the $10 camping fee. Some conflicting reports of one loud person or group, of German or Russian descent being obnoxious. Yelling that they were glad they were not Canadian, I’da been glad if they’da just left. The crew on site managed eventually to have them leave. Otherwise from most, not all reports(one) on the net, a pleasant time was had.
Who invented work when we have Hot Springs to soak in ???. Ahhh, my turns coming quick enough, won't be a week-end though.

[Jeff Allen]

After that a soak would be needed.

Go have a soak or two and report back...

[Bulldozer]

All packed Jeff, Ready to roll in a matter of hours. Unfortunately I have to wait for my employer to say it's O.K. to go. If your in the nieghbourhood come the first week of May I'm doing my annual tour.

[Jeff Allen]

The only thing stopping me is that I'm waiting on a passport right now. 1st one ever! Now I don't have to have permission from the state to leave the state. Because the state of the state takes presidence over the affairs of the state, unless the affairs of state take presidence over the state of affairs of state? (I've been cooped up here too long)

So now I may have to use it and take a jaunt up your way the next time I'm out west!!

They don't let us out of Iowa very often, as we may never return!!!

[soaksdata]

What are the border crossing rules as of April?
I thought that passports were required if traveling by air but not driving till this summer(June?).
Does anyone know for sure?
I wanted to fit a trip in before the deadline if possible.

[Bulldozer]

Soaksdata;
I believe the passport requirement does not take effect until June 1st/09 for Land,Sea and Air.
Getting into Canada will not be the problem from what I see. Getting back into the U.S. will be the stumper.
From what I gather even the U.S. traveller going home to the U.S. will require a passport to cross the border.
Be it by land,sea or air as of June 1st/09. Prior to that all you need is some form of I.D. stating where you are born
or reside. I've been using my expired passport for years and a drivers licence. I just recieved my new passport a couple months back.

Some websites googled...
http://www.gonorthwest.com/Visitor/planning/border/border.htm

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1082.html

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html This one I think has the better info.

Personally, most of any trouble I've had at the borders is southbound into the U.S. The northbound crossing at Osoyoos/Oroville Hwy 97 has a bad reputation for nasty crossing agents. I know I don't like them.

Ohh and the area surrounding the Bellis Fair shopping mall in Bellingham... Speed Trap. The police dept must be feeling the crunch of less visitors as is the mall. Fill your tank before coming to Canada, we are sitting at about $3.75 a gallon or .99 cents a litre today. Nearest I can see in Blaine Washington the gas is at $2.35 a gallon.
They do have sniffer dogs at the borders. They will sniff out a long forgotten roach of Kona from back in the hippy dayz. Won't care if it's a classic car and it musta been left there by the previous owner.

[red4life]

Hi Bulldozer
I noticed you were talking about going up the first weekend in May
You might want to try and find out if the Indians have the Hot springs closed that weekend.
Were were up there last year and we couldn't get in I believe they said that they have the hot springs reserved for the 1st weekend every year in may for Tribal Ceremonies