The Hut Lakes trail, located north of Squamish near Evans Lake, is one of the better, challenging runs close to the Lower Mainland. Although a few years ago it was pretty much a locker only trail, we found this time around that some of the harder sections had deteriorated in a bad way. They had smoothed out a bit and we actually managed to get a completely stock Suzuki to Upper Hut. Mind you, Shane could probably make that Sami fly if it had wings or maybe it was the horn... <g> In any case, hopefully the trail will deteriorate over the winter again.....To get there, hang a left off of HWY99 across from the Alice Lake Provincial campground. Follow this road, go over some railroad tracks followed by a bridge and go to the right after the bridge. Continue until you get to the Evans Lake camp and hang a left onto the dirt road, I believe it now has a sign that reads Levette Lake. Follow this for a couple of kms and you'll hit Levette Lake fork with a sign that says public beach or something to that effect. You want to hang a right up a side trail before the beach,,, basically stay right the whole way. Hut Lake has some camping in the area but it's small; still a nice spot though. Upper Hut is really small, with enough room for one group of maybe 4 tents crowded with trucks parked on the trail.

Phil and us (Andrew) met up with Ian and Ernie at the first set of ledges before the first of the lakes. Ian had already cleared, and they were in the process of doing a bit of stacking for Ernie's stock YJ. After a few tries he decided to get a tug rather than over-stack the one problem ledge with rocks; first time out and already not into over-filling holes, gotta like it. We met Shane, Mark and ??(sorry) at the first lake in some Suzukis. Found out that we were going to the top and Shane was in that Suzuki warming his horn for the run. What's with this horn thing????? He's got one of those air horns installed that scares the living shit out of every rock that's in his way so that they lay flat in front of him,,( or so that's how the Indian legend is going to go one day ;) We ran into the first obstacle some refer to as the 'Median' (a large ridge in the middle with two ditches on either side, the right side about 3' deep and the left a gradual climb with an embankment on it's left side). With some minor tire spinning Ian, Phil and myself made it up the right side, with Ernie and Shane going for the left side. We had to get Ernie to place his left tire up a little bit higher on the embankment and turn down at the last second , it's a pretty good angle for someone who isn't use to it yet. Just before the "gorge" area, there's some pretty good rock crawling for the lower trucks. Shane decided to jokingly "raz" Ernie a bit at this point (he was having some problems with the bigger rocks), but payback was on the way when the Sami started getting hung up as well...we all couldn't miss out on that opportunity! Unfortunately, the strap never did come out...All in fun.

Ernie made it to base of the "trench"...stock!!

T.B. rides some cleavage

Air time,,,,

 The gorge is made up of two sections the first is a 'deep' v-sluice that climbs at about a min of 35deg for about 15'. It's an easy one to slip into with your right tire only resting on a steep dirt ledge and your left one on a couple of inches of rock shelf. I actually fell in there a couple of years ago, at night, and ended up sideways, my buddy Jay fell in the same spot right after me...mind you the running salmon didn't help..those puppies are slippery :)

Ian's turn for a little air

Shane in the middle of "lift-off"

Phil on his way to the trench

The second part leads into a narrow section with 5' walls on either side and then a steep climb which in turn tilts you 'way' over to the right at a very steep angle, didn't check the angle toy for deg., it's definetly an attention getter the first couple of times. Ernie decided to park the stock YJ at this point and so did the Suzuki (not for long). The rest of us took turns with some minor line adjustments. Ian pressed the old ARB buttons at the off-camber section and Phil made it up open in his Bronco. Then we heard the horn,,,, the rocks didn't lay flat here though, doesn't work on gorges. Shane went for it and with some minor rock placing and spitting them out, placing, spitting, placing, spitting and some good, REALLY good air time (did I mention wings yet) he actually made it all the way,,,,,,,who needs horns!!!!!!

Andrew just exiting the trench

Shane does her in a stock "Sami"

Hut didn't let us down again... good wheelin', good scenery and good people - that's what it was all about....I'd do her again,,,the trail that is,,,, her too I guess!!!!!! Later.

 

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