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Story 1:

How bad can it be, the road is only a few hundred feet away?  Yes, those are the immortal words of many and the exact words uttered when a few of the Backroad Mapbook team where out exploring ATV trails. 

We were in the popular riding area around Liumchen Creek in the Chilliwack Valley near Vancouver.  As usual, we decided to take the road (or trail) less travelled.  As the alder got thicker and the trail thinner, we were not sure whether to press on or turn back.  Looking at the GPS, we could see our starting point was not so far away so we pressed on. 

First came the precarious creek crossing where winches were used and some creative balancing acts got us out of the ravine.  Next up was the shale rock cliff crossing where each pass resulted in less and less of a track to follow.  Indeed the last one made it through …just. 

As we pressed on we encountered a few other obstacles until the trail seemed to open up again.  We picked up speed and stopped every so often so everyone could catch up.  This trick worked for awhile, but at one point things seemed different.  There was a certain stillness not usually associated with motorized recreation.  After waiting a bit, we decided to double back and low and behold, the rear rider was upside down and under his ATV.  How he ended up under a 1000 lb machine unscathed was certain a miracle.  How he got there was not…but that is another story.

Needless to say, we took this as a warning and proceeded much more slowly and carefully home.  Indeed our afternoon venture was one to remember.  And as always, the shortest route home is not always the easiest way.

Story 2:

Hey that’s my driveway!  We were sitting in the middle of South Peace Alberta country with fellow hunters when a farmer pulled up. 

At first he was a friendly sort asking us if we had seen anything.  The usual theatrics rang out about animals seen and missed.  So I headed over to play with the GPS, which I had hooked up to the lap top.  See before the Backroad GPS Maps, it was a lot more challenging getting good maps on your GPS.  I was using the Digital Edition of the Backroad Mapbook series in Alberta along with OziExplorer to navigate in this foreign land.  The bright light of the computer monitor attracted the attention of everyone and soon the conversion switched to maps.  Suddenly the farmer pointed at the map and started cursing about how we got his road on my computer.

Luckily, he was a friend of a friend and we explained how the maps work and that we were using new technology.  This certainly intrigued the group and before you know it we were guiding the locals into country they have never discovered.  Funny how being a map maker suddenly makes you an expert on country you have never even seen.

Story 3:

You can’t come through here!  At least that is what the construction worker tried to tell me. 

We were up at a friends wedding exploring the country side around Sun Peaks north of Kamloops.  After a day out on the bike trails (highly recommended for adrenaline junkies), we decided to take the backroad route back.  So armed with my handy dandy Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook and a GPS we headed east from the ski area.  Next thing we discover is a large construction zone had built up around the forest service road.  As I stopped to check my bearings a burly looking man started frantically waiving me to go back. 

Of course, I was not to be deterred and I asked him why he thought I couldn’t follow the public road over to McGillivray.  He kind of sneered at me and said I think you must be lost.  Although I had never been here before I said I don’t think so.  Thankfully I had the laptop hooked up to the GPS to verify I was indeed on the public road.  Showing this evidence to him was rather comical.  He sheepishly stepped aside and said you are right sir.  As we drove away he asked where he could get those great maps.  I gave him my card knowing I had made a sale…the hard way!