China Head Mountain

GPS Coordinates are 51.16672907409297, -122.3981009107607. Link on Google Maps

When we were planning our BC trip, China Head Mountain was the number one destination to tackle. Two previous attempts failed. In 2016 we circled the Poison Mountain and couldn't find the connection to China Head Mountain. In 2019 we scouted the area again to find the Forest Service Road. This year, our son joined us with his RAM 1500 and we made it to the top.
We drove from Whistler via Pemberton and Lilooet to Pavillion. From there, we took the Pavillion-Clinton, Jesmond and High Bar Road that connects to the ferry over the Fraser River. Past Pavillion, the roads are not paved anymore, but mostly in good driving condition.

To the west of the Jesmond Road is the Edge Hills Provincial Park and to the east is the Marble Range Provincial Park. Much of the land between the Provincial Parks is cattle farm land. Hard to miss the cattle guards and the cows that don't always move out of the way.

Deer along the road are easy to spot. However, keep your eyes scanning the mountain sides. Way up we saw Bighorn Sheep.

The Big Bar Ferry was just big enough for our two vehicles. While crossing the Fraser River, we asked about the status of the landslide a few hundred meters above. In a nutshell, the construction has ended and the salmon can make it passed the fast flowing slide area on their own. We found a more official and detailed document from Watershed Watch.

Immediately after the ferry, the mostly single lane road climbs up into the mountain. The terrain is all sand and the view down into the valley is breathtaking. At that time, we didn't know how "breathtaking" the drive down will be.

After about 3 kilometer on the sandy shelf road, we reached the forested area. 40 minutes later, we arrive at the China Head Mountain Forest Service Road. We met a group on dirt bikes returning from the mountain.

The road quickly turned into a true off-road trail. Sharp turns to avoid boulders and a myriad of trees. Many downed by storms and cut with chain saws to keep the trail clear for vehicles.

The view on top was amazing. The wind was strong and not ideal for a picnic or overnight stay. It was time to head down again.

Accident
On the way down, we stopped at an accident. One person was injured with a broken arm. He got to the hospital and everybody else made it back home. Without going into any further details, there are a few things we learned from this incident. The two riders had the Garmin inReach Emergency Beacon and already push the 911 button. We have the SPOT X device with the same feature.

This observation is strictly for remote outdoors situations and based on the accident.
When you push the 911 button on the Garmin or SPOT, it takes at least two hours until help arrives (helicopter). Read the document when you renew your subscription.
When you are injured and immobile, there is a good chance that your body goes into shock. This can be caused by many factors like trauma, blood loss, heat or cold weather. When a person is in shock, organs aren't getting enough blood or oxygen. If untreated, this can lead to permanent organ damage or even death.
An emergcy medical kit is only as good as your first aid knowledge.
When you travel in a group, one vehicle may be damaged and requires towing. The damaged vehicle may block the path. In this case, one motorbike had no rider. A vehicle rescue the following day may be required.

We found out later that a helicopter was dispatched. The local 911 emergency was not aware of any accident or rescue operation in the area. They responded with standard replies that are based on cell phone connection and clear address locations. A GPS coordinate will not work.

The most important factor is the first aid knowledge. Ursula and I have basic first aid knowledge. Our son has the Occupational First Aid Level 3 (OFA 3) certification and could help. We have Thermal Reflective Emergency Blankets that are crucial when the temperature drops. We carry lots of water for drinking and cleanup. We have 70%+ alcohol to disinfect and clean tools or hands (not the wound). We have a first aid kit. We have energy or chocolate bars. It took an hour to get the injured person stabilized and the motorbike loaded on the RAM 1500.
There was no confirmation from the Garmin InReach about expected arrival time or course of action. The severity of the injury forced the decision to evacuate the person and transport to the closest point where we had phone connection. This was the Big Bar Ferry, a one hour drive from the accident location. A 20 minute phone call with 911 and over an hour of driving, the person was met by an Ambulance. The place was along a paved highway at a Provincial Park camp site
We still had to deliver the motorbike to the campsite of the two bikers. The second biker returned later than anticipated and had to drive in the dark. A dirt bike is not well equipped for night and highway riding. We met him around 11 pm. Gas stations in the area are closed at this time, so no gas unless you carry a spare canister. No food unless you bring it with you.

Looking back, the two bikers were really lucky. They got the medical attention and the motor bike recovered. For them, this ended as an adventure with memories they will be able to talk about for many years. For us, we returned home past midnight, knowing that we could help and make a bad situation better. There is one thing we learned from this. A useful first aid knowledge is the most important asset. Getting injured in the outdoors means that a person has to be triaged to survive two to four hours or more. Weather conditions may delay a rescue. Our son has the knowledge, we may be challenged. This is the one thing we intend to fix, take an Outdoor First Aid course to be ready for next years adventures.