Circumnavigating Okay Lake

Having ridden to work this morning, I decided to go for a quick blast to locate a new feature recently exposed by the extensive logging that Timberlands are doing around Okay Lake right now. It's been a while since I've been to Okay Lake (a year or so) and ridden the trails around it, so, naturally, I got a little lost at first. However, given the plethora of new logging access roads since last year, and the extensive "terra-forming" the logging co has done, it's not surprising. Many of the features and the visual cues that I have used to identify the correct trail to circumnavigate the lake using the Okay mountain road are...well, gone. I actually ended up at the lake before I'd realised I'd missed the left turn, as the entire first part of the trail is completely different.

Above: I rode in from the Boomerang - 142 junction and continued west towards the lake, completely missing the left (south) turn which takes you around the lake.  Below: the same shot, but from a northerly perspective.

 

Getting to Okay Lake, this is what I found...Much of the landscape has changed, with a paltry 3 or 4 tree-fringe around the east side of the lake.  The ride was great though with plush dirt and some mixed blast crush.  I'm sure enjoying that new front end on Siouxsie.

 

Above: There are several (7 or so) yarders and feller-bunchers dotted around this area, and on up the eastern slopes of Okay Mountain too right up to the snow line...

On turning west onto the new spur being constructed and following the contour of Okay Mt south, you come across more yarders.  Finally the goal of today's ride...A lone cabin, recently exposed by the logging.  You have to hike up a fairly steep incline for a short way to get the cabin.  This shot is from half way up the devastation...

 

 

 Below: Okay Lake shines like a jewel below from the same place the shot above was taken from.

The cabin was obviously once perched on a bluff surrounded on three sides by trees.  Unfortunately, none were left standing.  I suppose without legislation, the same would be true at Okay Lake below...

 The OK Corral cabin is rustic, but well constructed.  Whomever the owners are, they have created a great cabin.  I'm sure they'll be a little ticked when they seen their hidden gem is now exposed. 

 The view from the veranda is spectacular with Mt. Benson, Blackjack Ridge and Decosmos prominent, not mention the Strait and the mainland.  What a place to watch the sun rise with a warm coffee in your hand...Oh yes, there's a woodstove.

 Inside, it's well appointed.

 There's a guest book with frequent requests for interlopers to keep the place clean and to clean up after them. 

 The guest book has entries from at least 2008, and it makes for some interesting reading...including a run in with a cougar...

 

As it was getting late, I had to head.  I left everything just as I found it and hope that anyone who uses this does the same, including packing your own stuff out.  Judging by the notes left in the guest book, half the interlopers are respectful and value the generosity of the owners, and half are using it as a place to get blinded and behave badly. 

 

I found a new way back.  There is a new road called "Connector" which runs into "Hookup" which takes you close and north side of the lake hooking up eventually with 142 at the Boomerang Junction again.  There are many new roads in that section of Northwest Bay now, and more scouting to be done...