Limestone Mountain Lookout

A couple weeks earlier we had been touring around the backroads in the area, and made an attempt to locate the correct road to the Limestone Mountain lookout (51.8818°N 115.422°W ).  We managed to drive almost around the mountain, but found a dead end road that was still several kilometres and a couple of deep watersheds over.

After a bit of online research we found that the correct turn-off of the main limestone road was at a sign to LM6, one of many gas wells in the area. Coincidentally, my neighbour asked me just the day prior if I knew the way to the lookout!

Although the access road into the entire area is signed to indicate the huge gate at the entrance could be locked at any time without notice, clearly it was of little concern to the many many campers and RV’s set up in random locations along the river – very nice spots, and the price is right!

Knowing the correct route made the navigation easy this time, and we found that one could actually drive right to the top of the ridge, though this is actually several kms from the actual lookout.  The last km or so gets pretty rough, and ‘city’ vehicles may wish to park to avoid getting hung up in some rocks.  My truck was felling frisky without the camper on it’s back and bounced the way up no problem.

A group on quads arrived soon after us, and even brought up some wood for a campfire above treeline.  I noticed an oil leak coming from one of them, so it must have encountered one of the rocks on the way up.  That machine was loaded onto their ‘support’ vehicle for the trip down.  I was very pleased to see that after the departure of the fairly large group, there was not one scrap of litter or any other signs of their passage.

When researching the route, I had discovered that there was a geocache in the area, and sure enough, my two gps led me directly to my first ever ‘find’.

Much to my surprise, it turns out that my neighbor had found the cache just the day before.  There are a number of communications towers in this location, and from here it is still a few kms of very scenic ridgeline hiking to the fire lookout itself.  Too bad there is a line of power poles all the way as well.

Because of the location on top of a mountain, there is not a fire lookout tower, just a lookout on top of the tower cabin.

We had lucked out with the weather, and enjoyed spectacular scenery for 360*.  It was sure nice to be doing some hiking in some real mountains again!

One of the local residents was out catching some rays, and agreed to pose for a few photos.

I’ve been internet ‘challenged’ the last while, being on the road without my satellite gear, and usually out of Roger’s cell phone coverage.  Therefore I have not been able to keep up to date with other goings-on in the RV blogging world.  But I did notice a new addition to the Bayfield Bunch.  Welcome Eve to the fame of blog world!  Hope to meet you next winter down south!

Next post:  Back to BC – and some railroad driving.

 

Next:  Back to BC again!