Team triumphs in first attempt at bushwhack

Dispatch from Morgan Beasley — July 16, 1997

Morgan and Michelle rest their feet before heading up Palmer Creek

Today we started out across the river from Gold Arm. We made a 5-kilometer crossing in only 50 minutes. On the other side there was a logging camp that was abandoned. We made it to Gold Arm and we proceeded further up the Arm a few kilometers, but were slowed by currents from Gold River.

After a time, we got to rapids and could go no further so we turned around and headed back down the Arm. We found a suitable camp about a quarter mile down the stream.

After setting up camp and unpacking the boats, it was decided that we should scout the entrance to Palmer Creek — the dreaded bushwhack. Me, Dan, and Michelle hiked 2 miles on the road to the entrance of Palmer Creek using an old fire road that soon ended — so we went into the bush not sure of what we would find.

Up the ridge in Palmer Valley, we found a marsh that was a couple hundred feet higher than the creek. Here we found a great game trail that we followed a long way. At 7 p.m., we turned back and followed the game trail all the way back marking it as we went. We followed for a long way, through the marshy area and beyond. It turned out this game trail brought us out directly on the main road we had started on.

We returned from the camp feeling like triumphant heroes having bushwhacked 3 kilometers up Palmer Creek.