Interior Roads crews were working at both ends with dozers this week but unfortunately one broke down so that has caused a bit of a delay, a dozer is still working from the Pemberton side.

Forestry had finished clearing up the winter avalance debris last week and are working on brushing and grading their section of road on the Gold Bridge side.

Today a huge avalance came down from Green Mountain and has buried the road in deep debris.   All work has stopped until it has been assessed and is safe to continue work.  Tree planters and work crews are stuck behind the avalanche but luckily no one was caught.  Another avalanche came down on the East Hurley too. Updates will continue on this website as they happen but don’t plan on driving over for the long weekend.

A petition has been started to have the East Hurley maintained  Click here to sign the petition

Below is an image showing the Green Mountain Avalanche Paths from a previous year

I SURVIVED THE HURLEY CONTEST – CONTEST CLOSED FOR GUESSING!

Guess the day the Hurley will be open to vehicle traffic and be in the running to win a
“I Survived The Hurley” T Shirt and Bumper Sticker!

Update regarding the avalanche fly over scheduled for April 16……..

The Ministry of Transportation trip to assess the Hurley River Rd  snow pack and avalanche risk for the week of April 16  was cancelled last minute.  Ministry of Transportation officials advise that when the avy techs get a chance they will assess the Hurley  for avalanche risk.

Ministry of Forests officials advise the brushing out of the road from 1 km to 12 km will begin soon.

Follow up with various Ministry folks is continuing and ongoing weekly by Bridge River Valley organizations and officials.  Updates will be posted as they are received.

UPDATE

Hurley Update on Tuesday May 8th

Interior Roads will put two machines on the road for snow removal – one at each end.
Still waiting for clearance from avalanche technicians.
Waiting for update from MOF re avy clearing on the steel bridge to GoldBridge section.

UPDATE on Wednesday May 9

Road from Steel Bridge to Gold Bridge. (Min. of Forests section)
Brushing started last Thursday (3rd).
The avalanche path at 12 km was opened over the weekend.
Still some rough sections where 4 x4 is recommended but with warm weather on it’s way the road should be in good shape by May long weekend sometime.  This is for the section from Gold Bridge to the Steel Bridge at 17km only.  No news on the summit section yet which is the section with the most snow clearing work required.
The grader tender for the road opens today (9th) and MOF plan to start grading this section on Monday (14th).
Please do NOT drive up the Hurley to see what progress is being made as the road that has been cleared  is in rough shape and you will be causing more damage and will get in the way of heavy machinery working.  When the road is open it will be posted here, thank you!

UPDATE on Friday May 11

Interior Roads have started clearing their section of the road.

I Survived The Hurley T Shirt

Update from the Ministry of Transportation

The MOT area manager is going out with the Avalanche Techs next week to have a look at the road and get snow depth data.  The maintenance contractor (Interior Roads) will get the information and plan their clearing work should the conditions permit.

Please keep in mind that it has been a high snowpack year and the avalanche hazard has been high.  There is also a huge pile of avalanche debris to remove off the road at 12km from Gold Bridge.  Another issue that may limit the ability to open the road is the winter grooming.  Grooming compacts the snow and can be hard to cut through which slows things down.

If conditions permit, we will endeavour to have the road open for the start of the May long weekend, however safety concerns and actual conditions may effect our efforts.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Unfortunately, with the lack of snow down to the valley bottom, the Gold Bridge side of the Hurley is not accessible by snowmobile.  The road is dirt from Gold Bridge to the Downton Main and icy until the East Hurley.  Travel is not recommended!  Travel from Pemberton to Bralorne via the East Hurley is open on snow covered roads.

We need some snow in the Bridge River Valley!  The good news is there is lots of snow in the higher elevations and lots of sledders and skiers were out enjoying the sunshine and snow this weekend!

Planning on sledding over for the Winterfest Celebration on Feb 18th?  Check the Winterfest  website for snow updates closer to the day and keep those snowy vibes coming our way!  This event will be worth the drive around via Lillooet and Route 40 if sledding over is not possible!

The following was posted on the Canadian Avalanche Association Public Bulletin today  “An avalanche cycle is underway in the Southern Chilcotins/Duffey Lake Rd, likely associated with mid-December persistent weaknesses and rapidly rising warm treeline temperatures.”   Avalanche danger is rated HIGH check the bulletin below, click on all the tabs and educate yourself about what’s going on out there. This is not a normal winter!

There was widespread evidence of that today with 4 people injured in 3 separate avalanches.   Two avalanches were triggered by skiers on opposite sides of the Valley this afternoon. They are lucky to have been rescued just before nightfall. Big thanks to Pemberton Search & Rescue for getting here so fast to assist on Sunshine Mountain after finishing a rescue on the Duffey Lake Rd.  Bralorne Volunteer Fire/Rescue dispatched a ground team quickly but the heli was on the scene first.  TLH were not involved in the second avalanche but did assist with the rescue in Eldorado.

AVALANCHE BLOG  - includes photos from today’s avalanche on Sunshine Mt

AVALANCHE BULLETIN – Bookmark this page!

Play safe out there!

We have a logo!   This  logo will be used to promote the Hurley Road and to raise the funds required to maintain this website.  Hurley merchandise – t-shirts, ball caps etc,  will be available for purchase in Gold Bridge and on this site soon!

The “Follow Via Email” button is working!  You will find it on the right side of the page, enter your email address and new Hurley posts will be delivered to your in-box.  A great way to not miss out on any Hurley news!

Sledders have been arriving in Bralorne daily from Pemberton to meet the new owners of  The Mineshaft Pub, Carolanne & Chris and to enjoy a tasty lunch!    New Year’s Eve at  The Mineshaft Pub is not to be missed & reservations are required!  Scroll down to see the amazing menu with 3 choices for each course!  Accommodation in Bralorne is selling out fast, contact the pub to book your room & to make a reservation for dinner.  Tyax Lodge is also holding a New Years Eve party (details below) to re-open for the winter heliski season!  Kathy from BC Cats has been grooming the road from Pemberton to Hope Creek and the road is in great shape!  Wishing everyone a very Merry & White Christmas!

Please note: Unfortunately due to the late  logging season, snowmobile access from the East Hurley to Gold Bridge is not available until the snow comes!

THE MINESHAFT PUB AND GRILL  NEW YEARS EXTRAVAGANZA

COME JOIN CHRIS AND CAROLANNE RING IN THEIR FIRST NEW YEARS EVE BRALORNE SYLE. THE MINE SHAFT WILL BE OFFERING A THREE-COURSE MEAL WITH A CHAMPAGNE TOAST AND GREAT ENTERTINMENT FOR ONLY $29.00

… 1ST COURSE: CHOICE OF
GRILLED STRAWBERRY AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

SLOW ROASTED BRUCHETTA WITH WILD MUSHROOM RAGOUT

CREAM OF WILD MUSHROOM SOUP

2ND COURSE: CHOICE OF

SALMON WITH AN APRICOT SOY GLAZE SERVED WITH QUINOA AND SEASONAL VEGTABLES

BEEF TENDRLOIN SERVED WITH FINGERLING POTATOES AND SEASONAL VEGETABLES

HERB CRUSTED CHICKEN, STUFFED WITH PEAR AND CAMBOZOLA AND SERVED WITH A WILD MUSHROOM SAUCE

3RD COURSE: CHOICE OF

DEEP CHOCOLATE TORTE

LEMON CREAM CHEESE MOUSSE

BAKED APPLE AND RICOTTA TART

SEATINGS WILL BE OFFERED AT 6:00 PM, IN THE RESTAURANT AND 8:00 PM IN THE PUB. TO RESERVE PLEASE CALL THE PUB AT (250) 238-0150    *   BOOK EARLY TO ENSURE AVAILABILITY!

Environment Canada has forecasted heavy, warm precipitation for the Hurley Road next week!  Conditions on the snow road will deteriorate quickly if freezing levles rise.  Be aware that the Lillooet River can rise and flood the Upper Lillooet River FSR quickly!

An intense and very moist Pacific front may stall over the extreme southern part of the BC Coast from Monday through Wednesday. The pdf attachment below  shows the current model forecasts of total precipitation and the rising freezing level. Early winter season rain-on-snow events can also cause significant snow-melt and flooding.

Warm moist Pacific air over-riding Arctic air in the interior valleys may lead to periods of freezing rain. This scenario will be monitored closely by forecasters at the Pacific Storm Prediction Centre.  Special Weather Statements or Warnings may be required if the computer models remain consistent with this forecast through the weekend.

Areas of particular concern for the Squamish Lillooet Regional District  are Upper Pemberton Meadows (Hurley Road), Mt. Currie corridor, Upper Squamish and Paradise Valleys.  Thanks to incoming SLRD Area A Director Debbie Demare for this update.

Heavy Precipitation Potential Nov 21-23