KVR Princeton to Brookmere by Bike | Assessing the Damage (BC, Similkameen)
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- I've always wanted to ride the KVR portion from Princeton to Brookmere and just when the opportunity came, a Nov 2021 storm devastated the trail. Nevertheless, I decided to go for it anyway, scrambling around the washouts if need be. Some parts of the trail were not too bad and some were REALLY bad, if existing at all.
Long live the KVR, the families, workers and its history
Thanks for taking us on this adventure
I am watching this video after your newer video of this area! Crazy and sad how devastated the trail is!
Thanks for the video. brought back great memories.
4 of us from the Calgary Road Runners rode the trail back in 1994 . We started in Castlegar on the Columbia and Western trail to Grand Forks then the KVR to Hope, We did it in 4 sections over 4 extended weekends. One of the best summers that I can remember. Sad to see the damage that has been done over the years the burnt bridges and the washouts.
This weekend I started at Brookmere and couldn't make it to Thalia, didn't have the nerve to climb over all those washouts. Still a great little ride, though eerily desolate. Thanks for showing the way in these KVR videos!
Yeah it's quite the trek. I don't think I could do it twice. 😂
Thank you for the heads up display of what has essentially destroyed the TCT at this time I did the rides you have done but when the world was younger as was I, and the roads were roads not creek beds. Amazing what damages rain storms can do.
I rode from Princeton to Tulameen in 2020 or 2021. I'm glad I got to do it before this happened. I could see at that time some flood damage. After the atmospheric river of Nov. 2021 I just knew it would be gone.
Awesome effort. Thanks for sharing the grim damage report. 🤙🌲
Thank you for this. I've always wanted to see this trail myself. Sad to see the damage
I worry that it is so bad, it may never be repaired (in the same location)
Thanks so much for your effort to put this video together. I am hiking the Trans-Canada-Trail to all three oceans and I am currently walking the KVR to Hope. I tried to get information on the severity of the damage between Princeton and Hope and found your video. Very helpful for my decision making.
That’s great! Are you chronicling your adventure anywhere?
officially KVR is closed Hope to Princeton. Big Washout 8 km south down from old Toll Booth. god only knows what has happened from Coq summit to Brookmere, I think it is gonna be really bad. and new trails built off grade. This drone footage is tough to watch.
Dang, glad I made it last year! It will be more of an adventure than ever now!
I'm so glad I did it last year. It was epic! Beautiful! I'm gutted to see it like it is now, I'm afraid it's gone forever. I was hoping to go back again.
Thank you so much for this! I was going to ride from Hope to Princeton and am looking for some Intel and this was so helpful!
Princeton east all the way to Castlegar is in good shape!
Did the ride last year in September, can't believe the change. Thanks for sharing.
I rode Penticton to Princeton this past summer with the intention of checking out the Princeton to Brookemere but when I saw the damage I just did the road which was under a lot of repair construction as well. I was a bit bummed out about it. On a good note, there's a recent Request for Proposal (RFP) from the BC government for an Engineer's report on the flood damage from Princeton to Brodie Siding so there's a possibility of repair in the future. Thanks for the video, great drone work.
That's good news about potential repairs!
GREAT VID dude , I know exactly the massive feeling of fatigue after a ride like this . Nature ALWAYS wins . These rivers look dangerous.
Thanks, John! Agreed, there is something to gain with a little suffering through nature.
Thanks for the recon! Great visuals. Rode this in 2018, hope there is some funding to get this stretch rebuilt.
Thanks , that is very helpful. A group of us was going to ride Hope to Princeton but have discovered that it is not doable. It’s a pity that none of this info is posted on the BC rail trail site . It looks like Princeton to Summerland is the next option.
That's a good plan. Princeton to Summerland was not affected by the same issues as the Hope to Princeton. In fact the whole section from Princeton->Summerland->Penticton->Kelowna->Midway->Castlegar is in pretty good shape.
Thanks for posting before we found out for ourselves
At least the NDP has a billion to rebuild a museum
I biked all the way from Tulameen to Princeton last year so lucky to have been able to get the experience before the floods
You were probably one of the last to bike it for a long time!!
This adventure was awesome, great work on capturing everything. We love drone shots and yours are just perfect. The washouts are mind blowing and your perseverance to continue all the way to Brookmere was superb! Were you picked up at Brookmere or did you cycle back to Princeton? Happy Trails and adventures ahead! Tom & Suzanne
I did cycle back to Princeton but travelled on (easier) gravel roads for some stetches. Getting picked up at one end would be much better!
just after they pulled up the rails years ago did a trailbike trip on the KVR to spences bridge ..... was awesome and took 8 hrs round trip
It might never again be as good as that sadly...
@@LifeIsAdventureChannel sadly yes , but always have that memory ...... still remember the last trains to go thru back in the day
A real shame, biked thru the kvr several times. Cant see them ever repairing all that damage
Yeah that’s my fear as well. In lots of places there is nothing to repair - there’s nothing at all left!
Great video, thanks for doing it and brining the damage to life. I was planning on doing it last year but the heat dome put a stop to that plan and now the damage means it will be a long time before I can. Is there away to ride between Brookmere and Princton using roads and the KVR? Using roads to avoid the washed out sections? People live in communities around there so I am assuming they can still drive around there.
Yes it is possible to ride on Coalmont Road to skip damaged KVR sections.
Getter done 🤠
Thank you for the exploration and the great video! Is there any chance you plotted or marked on a map all the impassable points? And could share it? I’m Hoping to ride through but want to plan detours first
I don't have an exact map but the only truly inaccessible part is Princeton to Coalmont. The KVR washed into river at many sections leaving steep slopes on either side. It's not even worth popping onto this section in the middle because there are so many washouts. Coalmont Rd runs parallel and makes for a straight-forward detour. Everything else - Summerland to Princeton and Coalmont to Brookmere is at least 'passible'.
Good stuff 👍
I will miss the tressel but I guess it had to go idk
welp, that's the end of one of the most beautiful sections of the KVR I guess.
Hello-Are you going to video/Drone view the Copper Canyon Mine trestles and tunnels near Princeton also the Merritt section , Not sure how far north can see that section after 2021 storm
I’d love to but I understand some major trespassing would be required.
So sad :( we rode the KVR from the burnt out trestle at the north end all the way to Tulameen before they removed that one bridge. Looks like it was replaced
Yep, that section you rode is the best by far!
the water actually didn’t take that much land out, when they were making it safer they purposefully took more land out to make sure people didnt try and build/put smt to get onto it.
Interesting. Thanks I didn't know that.
Great video and very useful information for we KVR riders, thank you!
Any chance you know how the section between Summerland and Princeton is doing?
I've heard people biking it this year and there is no damage from last year's storms.
I rode Princeton through to Summerland in May 2022, only one small washout that meant wet feet (near Summerland). Trail condition is a bit rough in places (sandy) but completely passable.
Thanks for the reply. I rode it again late Aug 2022 and found it was in the same rideable condition as 2021, including the same washout detour.
How were you able to get through all the wash out areas? Bushwacking?
Actual bike carrying/packing?
I had to completely skip a couple short sections right outside of Princeton and right before Tulameen as there would have been serious/dangerous river fording. Other than that, yes, just bushwhacking/bike carrying pushing through. It's pretty straight forward to carry bike up to coalmont rd at most points as it parallels the KVR in this area. Tulameen to Brookmere is bushwhackable.
Thank you for documenting the horrendous washouts on the KVR. I walked half of the Coalmont line east 5 years ago and did the Coq Lakes to Shylock stretch on bike last year. Can you do me a big favour and document the KVR on the Brookmere to Juliet sections? Climate change is bad.
I actually did this recently. Check here: czcams.com/video/Wum1Coei8O8/video.html and czcams.com/video/8ouRoR9U1iU/video.html and czcams.com/video/3OvZ2kDLvgM/video.html and czcams.com/video/4oS_cIssX6o/video.html
I would love to take my horse on the KVR trail if its possible. Obviously the undamaged parts.
I actually saw horse tracks on some parts. You should do it!
So....what's the situation in this segment of KVR as of May 2024? Has everything been repaired or is it essentially still impassable?
Exactly the same as you see in video. I have not heard of any repair plans.
@@LifeIsAdventureChannel Hiking trails even in provincial parks don't seem to get repaired either. I walked from Blackwall peak to Cayuse flats in Manning last year. Right near the end the trail was totally gone crossing a creek. A little way back an old logging road led up from the highway to the trail and I got out that way.
I rode from MIdway to Hope in 2009 and the ATVs really chopped up the railbed going from Brookmere to Hope. Some of the current damage looks like it will never be repaired/rebuilt because of the scale.
I noticed a lot of motorized traffic on the good parts of the trail on the weekend. Would be a great cycle-only route.
@@LifeIsAdventureChannel It was intended to be a non-motorized trail but local communities disagreed.
Not sure why non-motorized should get exclusive rights. Considering the original train was motorized.
The worst part? None of this will EVER get repaired...
😭😭😭 It's so sad
Has anyone ever seen the Coalmont Hotel open?
I was wondering the exact same thing! Apparently there are no rooms available but the bar is open.
@@LifeIsAdventureChannel I have only ever seen the closed sign but never tried the door.