B25 Update#2: Update Me and I'll Update You...

Since my last post on the B25  wreck back in January a few kind souls have come out of the woodwork to offer some more information on the potential location of the Mitchell's final resting place.   Firstly I was sent archive photos of the wreck site on Mt. Whymper back in early February, and, yesterday, I had contact (via the blog) with a second individual who has got very close to the wreck site and offers a slightly different location than the old coordinates suggest.  It's all very intriguing.  But first the photographs (click to enlarge)...

 

Copies of National Archive photos which were sent to me from Michael Taylor.  These are shots of the wreck's location on Mount Whymper.  While forest cover over the terrain will have no doubt changed in the 70 odd years since the crash, the deeply contoured walls of this box canyon like valley will no doubt still be visible.  The quality is poor, and consequently any attempt to match them with GE is pure guesswork...

 By scouring Mt. Whymper with Google Earth, it is possible to find several locations which may, or may not be (!), the likely location for the wreck.  But one intriguing match is nearer the peak itself...

There are lots of potential look-a-likes around Mt. Whymper and scouting out using Google Earth can be frustrating...But this one does look familiar...no?  However, looking north west as it does, it contradicts some evidence below...

 

Other pictures from Michael, all of which suggest some sort of elevated valley with a shear terminus - and again, those strong almost vertical contours suggesting falls and snow-melt canyons...:

 

 

Above: If the notations on this phototraph are to be believed regarding Mt Landale and El Capitan peaking above the Whymper ridgeline, then this photo was taken from north of Whymper looking south...which opens up a whole new can of worms... 

 

It's hard to see any detail in this north facing elevated valley, but if the notations on the pictures above are to be believed, then this could be the rough location of the wreck site...As I said, frustrating (but intriguing too).

 

 

 

Today, I got the following updates from a reader, Lindsay Elms, which is very helpful and offer a potential insight into a more exact location based on the fated rescue mission by the blimp:

 

The crash site is at the 840m level NE of where you have the arrow...I went to the Blimp crash site a week ago which is a couple of hundred metres from the bomber. AT the time we didn't have the exact details of the bomber (and couldn't see it). I hope to go in soon (we have special permission from the timber co to go in via Jump Lake.)Both the Blimp and Bomber sites are historical war graves even though there were no dead at the blimp crash.
Lindsay Elms
www.beyondnootka.com

 

If Lindsay is right, then there are a couple of likely sites...Click to enlarge:

Both of these sites work for two reasons: one: Lindsay's elevation matches the photos, and, two, the southwestern facing elevated valley is steep and would indeed show views of El Capitan and Mt Landale above the Whymper ridgeline...

 

 

Well, there you have it folks.  If you are reading this and you have more info that I can use to update this so the Lindsay's, Michaels and the rest of us can find this crash site, then please share it.  Lindsay, Michael keep in touch and (here's where I grovel), I know two guys who'd love the chance to tag along via the Jump Lake watershed area if given half a chance...No pressure ;)

Andy's Vicarious Ride

Well, as some of you know, The Real Motorcycle Diaries have dried up for the past six months or so.  Andy is very busy right now, so I decided to have a ride for him, visit some of his old haunts and then to post them.  I know, generous, but what can I say: that's the sort of guy I am...

Initially, I was going to fish for Andy, catch some trout and eat them for him, but, alas I ran into a snag halfway there. 

Above and Below: The gate was on a bridge: I have never noticed this gate before.  The two locks are not the usual Logging Co type, and I expect they are BC Hydro installed?  Anyway, there is no way through to Rhodo from Boomerang via the hydro line trail now, boys.  142, 155 and left is now the only way.  The gate is surprisingly low and you can see that quadders have had no luck getting through, though someone on a small dirtbike would be able to drag one under if they were so inclined.  Not me folks.

 So it was necessary to turn around and scrap that plan. Poor old, Andy, no fish! (Yes there is THE other way, but, well it was getting late...)  What do do?  Well creativity is my middle name (or is it torture? - I can't remember, which is another thing I love about getting older), so I decided to go to some of Andy's favourite haunts and remind him of some plans we have, some of the views he is missing, and just generally rub his nose in it  tempt him out again next weekend on a real ride.

Then I remembered one of Andy's goals: summiting Mount Decosmos.  He has a picture of a potential creek crossing route.  So why not find that and check it out?  Backtracking along the Hydro trail I found the clearly defined single track trail heading south.  It led to this.

Above and Below: Hmm.  I remember quibbling with him about this from one of his pics, saying I felt we could cross this.  Erm No.  Too bad because there is a veritable four-lane logging road highway on the other side which takes the rider to, yes, you guessed it, De Cosmos.  Ahh, but what's that on the right?

Just off to the right is a newly minted quad trail.  It's not too bad as described in my vid below...

The road on the other side...

Above and Below: the four lane highway to Decosmos...

The creek crossing doesn't look too bad, but, being as I was alone, it was late, I didn't cross.  Two people for help, and it's a snitch.  So it was back to the hydro-line trail and off to one of Andy's favourite (and if truth be known -coveted) spur view point trails.  It's quiet little number off the Blackjack trail.

Above: Decosmos tempts the Vicarious Andy...Below: the Very Excellent Viewpoint, with some excellent sandy climbing trails for awesome fun too!  I'm only sorry I couldn't fling some playfully from by big fat rear tyre at Andy while rocketing up there. 

So there you have it.  Andy caught no fish, didn't get to DeCosmos, and didn't get my rear tyre sand fans in his face.  Well you can't have it all, folks.  Especially if you're stuck at home.  Hopefully see you soon, hermit boy :-)