CRATER MOUNTAIN CN99xe :2293 m (7523ft)is located near the divide line between CN99 and DN09 at -120.08121 degrees west by 49.17913 degrees north.It is a remote, challenging and difficult location to get to by truck or suv.Crater mountain is located south west of Keremeos 19 km in the Paysaten wilderness area.You can google satellite map the above coordinates and can see the upper part of the road to the top of the mountain and the lake. Access is over the Red Covered Bridge off hwy 3 at Keremeos,BC, from there you proceed right on the Ashnola river road approx 5 km to the ashnola river canyon look for a clearing and the forestry service road going off to the right on an angle.If you are not familiar with off roading in mountainous regions I would not bother trying to get up to this site.The road to the top is not well marked and there are other roads that you will encounter.Stay left at both road junctions.This will keep you on the right road.If you come across some one on the road, ask for directions so you do not get lost.Once on the forestry road you will notice that it is quite steep and the road is covered with loose rock and sometimes trees block the road and have to be removed.There is a small clearing at one of the hairpin corners where you will have to back up a couples of times to make the corner.A good view of the top and where you are going is available from here.From this point on the road gets much worse.The trees narrow in on the road which is now two goat tracks in the rock and dirt.Scratches from the trees make a mess of your vehicles paint job and the rocks and bumps play havoc with your suspension.The road progresses through a narrow draw where the road has been washed out at one time.There is just enough room to fit a 4x4 truck down into the wash out and back up the other side upon which there is a hard left turn that is sloped and requires all your attention so you do not fall back into the wash out.If you make a mistake there is a good chance you will need a winch to get out!After getting by this road obstruction the road proceeds up into the lower alpine and grass lands.The road again becomes quite rocky at this point ,note:you may run into motorcycles or atvs at this point as this area is popular with the ATV crowd.Proceeding west up the south side of the mountain the grade is quite steep up and goes across a shale scree for about 200 meters.You will have to use the side of the mountain for the passenger wheel as the shale has fallen down on the road narrowing its width to about 5 feet.The road drops off on the other side sharply about 6 ft so you will need to proceed across the scree with extreme caution and in 4 wheel drive.At the other side the road continues up hill at a steep rate and winds up through the grass lands to the top.The views of the Cascade and Coastal mountain ranges as well as the Cathedrals make it all worth the difficult drive.The mountain has a small lake on top and large grassy parking area.There is no look out but there are the remains of old shacks that had stood at the top in the past.Crater mountain is very remote, you will need to take food,water and survival gear.ALLOW A FULL 10 HOUR DAY to get to the top and back out to Keremeos.Your vehicle will HAVE TO BE 4X4. YOU MUST have good off road or at least mud/snow tires.Along with that it is advisable to have a winch,chainsaw,shovels,wood support beam,wood stop block and rope,chains and good spare tires.IT CAN SNOW any time of year on this mountain.The road is only snow free during July and August.Yes I have been up there to the top and operated radios for a while one late afternoon.More pictures to follow..73s
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