Wokkpash/Churchill Mine Rd/Crossing Racing River

[danwar3]

Has anyone recently attempted to cross the racing river?

Would I be able to drive through with my f350 or ATV?

Hoping to drive to the end of Churchill mine road

[Rock Doctor]

That's a designated route, last time I was in there, you could drive a truck as far as the Racing, but quad only from there to the Mine.
It's been raining and water levels are a bit high right now. Might not get across with a quad.

[Jrax]

Several years ago in low-ish water I turtled when I got there with ATV, we ended up crossing with waders and walking and walking. There was a couple guys across with ATV's that were braver than I. If I do go back I will get my ATV snorkelled and go with someone who really knows what they are doing. Also would try to get a forecast every couple days if you get in there, if suspected lots of rain coming at least you know to get out now or expect to be in there for potentially longer period.

[Jrax]

Consider bringing waders as well and walking across it first to make sure you have a good line. We thought we found the right spot but it was deeper and chose another crossing point which would have been better if we went.

[danwar3]

Waders are a must.

Last year the rivers on the Yedhe were quiet deep and I had to talk across first and find a path for the ATV

I guess I will watch the weather and see what it looks like once I get there and then attempt to carefully walk across then drive the ATV

[drgame]

Was in there last year. Took quad but it stayed in the truck. Rivers were to high. . Walked across the wokpash and then walked across the racing. It was fast and high. I don't think I've ever been that scared before. One slip and the outcome would not of been good. Huge boulders in wokpash making hard to crosss.

[danwar3]

Was in there last year. Took quad but it stayed in the truck. Rivers were to high. . Walked across the wokpash and then walked across the racing. It was fast and high. I don't think I've ever been that scared before. One slip and the outcome would not of been good. Huge boulders in wokpash making hard to crosss.

interesting.

I wonder how bad it is right now.

I checked the weather and its raining a bit.....


found many many posts about hikers doing the Wokkpash loop hiking trail and they just simply walking across the racing river ... if they could walk it I could drive it.

Will update on how it goes in 2 weeks!

[drgame]

The wokpash loop is walking down the wokpash creek(trail) and then up the macdonald.

[Rock Doctor]

interesting.

I wonder how bad it is right now.

I checked the weather and its raining a bit.....


found many many posts about hikers doing the Wokkpash loop hiking trail and they just simply walking across the racing river ... if they could walk it I could drive it.

Will update on how it goes in 2 weeks!

I have not been up to Chirchil lately, but the Muskwa is high for this time of yr. In 2 weeks it could be fine, I've gotten stuck on the wrong side a couple times but managed to get back across after only a few days waiting for the water to come back down.

As for the hikers crossing, they have unlimited options of where they can try to cross. Island hopping and wide flats. You and your truck have a very limited window for crossing, within 300M of the road/Trail. Not saying you can't do it, I've done it dozens of times with trucks and quads (My father originally staked/claimed Davis Keays and Chirchill). Sometimes it's not the water that stops you, it's the bank on the other side :-)
Good luck, have fun.

[one-shot-wonder]

Northern BC has had a wet summer, rivers are running high. I am not the tallest guy, but tits deep crossings of major rivers are not that fun. Be smart and make the right choice when your there. Have a plan B

[Thunderstix]

You have to go up river a bit from where the road crosses. I have crossed it when it has been high enough for water to be flowing over the seat lol....

[barry1974w]

We towed a guy back across the racing a few years ago. He crossed and went hunting, then it rained. He waited it out for a few days then crossed on foot, we were camped at wokpash and went back with him and a long rope the next day, he waded back across and we towed him back.
Some of my friends were stuck on the other side for almost a week a couple years before that.
From what I understand there's a whole lot of nice gear in the racing river thanks to that crossing.

Have fun

[danwar3]

Thanks everyone for the input!

I just heard from a friend that's up there right now that The Muskwa is low right now...so I wonder if the Racing river is low too!

[walks with deer]

Last year I went up aug 25th it rained until I left on the 6th.

the crossing was beyond blown out and you could hear the boulders bouncing there was no way to drive across.

I was solo and no way would I have attempted anything with it.

Other years it seemed easy.

I can text my buddy who lives there and get a update if you really need.

[sheep hunter]

[QUOTE=danwar3;1928994]interesting.

I wonder how bad it is right now.

I checked the weather and its raining a bit.....


found many many posts about hikers doing the Wokkpash loop hiking trail and they just simply walking across the racing river ... if they could walk it I could drive it.

Will update on how it goes in 2 weeks![/QUOTE

You don't cross the Racing doing the Wokkpash trail, the trail leads away from the Racing

[Thunderstix]

[QUOTE=danwar3;1928994]interesting.

I wonder how bad it is right now.

I checked the weather and its raining a bit.....


found many many posts about hikers doing the Wokkpash loop hiking trail and they just simply walking across the racing river ... if they could walk it I could drive it.

Will update on how it goes in 2 weeks![/QUOTE

You don't cross the Racing doing the Wokkpash trail, the trail leads away from the Racing

pretty sure you have to cross the Racing unless they moved it lol....can't get to the mine without crossing it.

[wsquared]

Hiking the Wokkpash loop, most people start from the designated route on the Churchill mine road. This involves crossing MacDonald creek, and getting to the trailhead at Wokkpash creek. The trail goes up along Wokkpash creek to Wokkpash lake. Then hike out the MacDonald valley back to the highway. Crossing Wokkpash creek or Racing river is not involved.

On getting into the Churchill mine site, you are crossing MacDonald creek, Wokkpash creek and the Racing River. I know of incidents on all three wrecking vehicles, and could have been tragically worse. Use caution, it takes very little rain to make the crossing dangerous, especially the Racing.

More info can be found at http://www.TourismNorthernRockies.ca (http://www.TourismNorthernRockies.ca)

[Thunderstix]

Hiking the Wokkpash loop, most people start from the designated route on the Churchill mine road. This involves crossing MacDonald creek, and getting to the trailhead at Wokkpash creek. The trail goes up along Wokkpash creek to Wokkpash lake. Then hike out the MacDonald valley back to the highway. Crossing Wokkpash creek or Racing river is not involved.

On getting into the Churchill mine site, you are crossing MacDonald creek, Wokkpash creek and the Racing River. I know of incidents on all three wrecking vehicles, and could have been tragically worse. Use caution, it takes very little rain to make the crossing dangerous, especially the Racing.

More info can be found at http://www.TourismNorthernRockies.ca (http://www.TourismNorthernRockies.ca)








OK very true. I am just used to calling the trip to Churchill the Wokkpash. We lost a nice lime green arctic cat for about 30 mins once and the guy couldn't swim. The cat tumbled downstream under water for awhile before a handle bar showed itself and then the rescue began....was a close call, but was total human error of not being able to read the water.

[Jrax]

wow! what was the condition of the arctic cat after the tumbling? did you get it running after?

[danwar3]

OK very true. I am just used to calling the trip to Churchill the Wokkpash. We lost a nice lime green arctic cat for about 30 mins once and the guy couldn't swim. The cat tumbled downstream under water for awhile before a handle bar showed itself and then the rescue began....was a close call, but was total human error of not being able to read the water.

That is exactly what I am worried about when I attempt to go across... good news is I'll have a GoPro to capture it all on film if this things do go bad :)

[Thunderstix]

Had to drain the crank right there on the beach unfortunately, and between all the other machines came up with enough oil to fill it up (flushed soon as back in Fort Nelson). Broke the throttle assembly off the handle bar, so made another one out of a pair of mini needle-nose vice grips and actually worked pretty good. The real danger was when we got our buddy to shore, we had to hold his wife back, literally, as she was going to finish the job that the river didn't get to finish....did I mention he couldn't swim......was kind of funny after the fact.

[danwar3]

Water level is currently lowest iv seen in 3 years. Making the attempt tomorrow to cross the racing.

[sheep hunter]

Good luck !! I wouldn't cross unless the water is clear and you can see the boulders

[Jrax]

Good luck! looking forward to hearing how it went

[Rock Doctor]

Didn't have any major plans, so I went for a look on Friday.
Wokpash is a little sketchy and the Racing is suicide.

https://postimg.org/image/z674o14rd/ (https://postimg.org/image/z674o14rd/)

https://postimg.org/image/8739sviah/

[Jrax]

Didn't have any major plans, so I went for a look on Friday.
Wokpash is a little sketchy and the Racing is suicide.

https://postimg.org/image/z674o14rd/ (https://postimg.org/image/z674o14rd/)

https://postimg.org/image/8739sviah/

Looked like great weather! Interested to hear how danwar3 made out. High due to warm weather or rain?

[ASPEN]

Didn't have any major plans, so I went for a look on Friday.
Wokpash is a little sketchy and the Racing is suicide.

https://postimg.org/image/z674o14rd/ (https://postimg.org/image/z674o14rd/)

https://postimg.org/image/8739sviah/
stunning country !:)

[danwar3]

Was unable to see any of the bolders, water wasn't clear at all. Areas looked 6 feet deep but were actually only 3 feet...

This river crossing is not for the faint of heart. Only EXTREMELY experienced riders should crossing the racing. Heck the wokkpash as Rock Doctor said was a little dangerous. If you haven't driven in deep water before this is not the river to try...

I am pretty sure I saw you on Friday Rock Doctor... you had the RV near the big park sign?

The only way were we comfortable crossing was if we knew how deep it was... how did we find out?

I walked across the Racing River.

Got it all on video with my GoPro.

The current and force of the river was very, very strong. When I needed a break mid crossing to rest my legs I would stand sideways with the current so less force would be on my legs. I have walked across many rivers before Similar to ones on the Yedhe but this one is by far the most dangerous and scary.

Crossing on the atv the water was up to our Knees... that's deep deep water. The current was so strong that at one point I was turning the wheels 100% to the left and give'n it and the current still was pushing me downstream FAST.



Pics..video...and proof coming soon.

[danwar3]

https://s19.postimg.org/gjtc0o14v/GPTemp_Download.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/gjtc0o14v/)


https://s19.postimg.org/fy4d4k62n/GPTemp_Download.png (https://postimg.org/image/fy4d4k62n/)


https://s19.postimg.org/roncj256n/GPTemp_Download.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/roncj256n/)


https://s19.postimg.org/983yp7zr3/GPTemp_Download.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/983yp7zr3/)


https://s19.postimg.org/iv7gyxsqn/GPTemp_Download.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/iv7gyxsqn/)

[danwar3]

Link to the rest

https://postimg.org/gallery/2rdzevkzk/

not in order but you get the idea!

[Rock Doctor]

Was unable to see any of the bolders, water wasn't clear at all. Areas looked 6 feet deep but were actually only 3 feet...

This river crossing is not for the faint of heart. Only EXTREMELY experienced riders should crossing the racing. Heck the wokkpash as Rock Doctor said was a little dangerous. If you haven't driven in deep water before this is not the river to try...

I am pretty sure I saw you on Friday Rock Doctor... you had the RV near the big park sign?

The only way were we comfortable crossing was if we knew how deep it was... how did we find out?

I walked across the Racing River.

Got it all on video with my GoPro.

The current and force of the river was very, very strong. When I needed a break mid crossing to rest my legs I would stand sideways with the current so less force would be on my legs. I have walked across many rivers before Similar to ones on the Yedhe but this one is by far the most dangerous and scary.

Crossing on the atv the water was up to our Knees... that's deep deep water. The current was so strong that at one point I was turning the wheels 100% to the left and give'n it and the current still was pushing me downstream FAST.



Pics..video...and proof coming soon.

Yes, that was me by the sign, it was as far as I was willing to drag that 30' trailer, lol. Even turning it around there was pretty tight.
I take it that was you with the moving Van/Trailer? I gotta say that I would never have thought to see a vehicle like that in there across the McDonald ever again:eek:

The water has come down significantly in the last week. The road into Smith River AF Base is very good (Crooked and West Lakes access with trucks is no issue). The trail into the Liard River Corridor is good but lots of Willows. Not many hunters up the Muskwa/Tuchodi, but tonnes up at Skooks Landing.