Swan Hills road conditions?

Mamid · #1 05-11-2020, 02:42 PM

Heading out for the long weekend!

Wondering what shape the roads are in north of Swan Hills?

Know rain can really make that area a bit of a nightmare!

Any boots on the ground willing to upload some pics?

Thanks

NewGuard84 · #2 05-11-2020, 04:10 PM

I was looking into this general area this past week/weekend and opted for another spot (at that time anyway) with a few considerations in mind:

1. I was south of there two weekends ago and the roads closer to Fox Creek were still fairly slippery, to the point I was half hunting and half "extreme" 4x4ing to avoid getting stuck with a capable SUV and good tires.

2. I was reminded by a wise older hunter with a lot of experience in that area of the higher elevation and lower temperatures in Swan Hills, meaning the spring thawing/drying/greening there may be behind other parts of the province.

I would call local businesses in SH and area to try and get some comments and plan to use care and discretion on the roads. Also, long truck washes usually happen after trips up that way

Gboe8 · #3 05-11-2020, 04:54 PM

It’s pretty muddy off the main roads.

walker1818 · #4 05-11-2020, 07:54 PM

Whitecourt got a bunch of snow on Monday last week, so I'm guessing the roads in that area are still quite slick and probably worse out by Swan hills.

Anthill · #5 05-12-2020, 08:47 AM

We were out south and west of SH on Saturday. Roads were fine for the most part. Off roading would get dicey. The candylions were staring to bloom

Redneck 7 · #6 05-12-2020, 09:12 AM

Just spent 5 days out in that area bear hunting. Roads are manageable but there are a lot of over flowed roads and mud holes in the bottom of hills. Worst was back in house mountain and tower mountain. Deer mountain has a couple mud holes on the road but still manageable. Good luck!

Grizzly303 · #7 05-12-2020, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walker1818

Whitecourt got a bunch of snow on Monday last week, so I'm guessing the roads in that area are still quite slick and probably worse out by Swan hills.

Whitecourt roads were pretty good actually was out there Saturday. Edson fine too. The odd slick muddy road

Mamid · #8 05-14-2020, 08:57 AM

Thanks for the intel chaps!

Heading out this afternoon or early Friday!

Have a great long weekend!

hwy_6363 · #9 05-19-2020, 12:57 PM

I was in the area on Sunday evening. Was dry when I went in (other than several soft spots and heavy ruts in some areas). It started raining about 8:30pm and picked up in hurry. Driving out at 10pm was not fun, at all. With the weather forecast this week up there it'll be a no-go.

NewGuard84 · #10 05-19-2020, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwy_6363

I was in the area on Sunday evening. Was dry when I went in (other than several soft spots and heavy ruts in some areas). It started raining about 8:30pm and picked up in hurry. Driving out at 10pm was not fun, at all. With the weather forecast this week up there it'll be a no-go.

Was up that way this weekend also (Sat and Sun).

The roads were the driest I have seen in a while but I left sooner than you.

I also ruled it out for this coming weekend, given the forecast. Those white knuckle extreme 4x4ing moments can be stressful

bobwayzie · #11 05-21-2020, 02:14 PM

So does anyone know what the roads are gonna be like this weekend? Probably garbage eh?

Dean2 · #12 05-21-2020, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobwayzie

So does anyone know what the roads are gonna be like this weekend? Probably garbage eh?

Take a quad, park on the good gravel, quad from there. Never saw the point in beating the heck out of the truck when a quad will go in and out with little to no effort.

wildwoods · #13 05-21-2020, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean2

Take a quad, park on the good gravel, quad from there. Never saw the point in beating the heck out of the truck when a quad will go in and out with little to no effort.

That’s my philosophy too. Except the Rhino is much better than a quad

SageValleyOutdoors · #14 05-21-2020, 05:01 PM

We’re out here right now. As can be expected with this rain (and now snow/sleet) the roads are terrible.
But hey - at least we’re cold, wet, and not seeing any bears!

wildwoods · #15 05-21-2020, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageValleyOutdoors

We’re out here right now. As can be expected with this rain (and now snow/sleet) the roads are terrible.
But hey - at least we’re cold, wet, and not seeing any bears!

Just wait her out till Saturday. Me thinks she’ll be a magical day

NewGuard84 · #16 05-22-2020, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageValleyOutdoors

We’re out here right now. As can be expected with this rain (and now snow/sleet) the roads are terrible.
But hey - at least we’re cold, wet, and not seeing any bears!

I hope the white knuckle 4x4ing went well and that you brought some "apple juice" (scotch) to warm up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildwoods

Just wait her out till Saturday. Me thinks she’ll be a magical day

If the forecast goes as planned for central AB, I was thinking this also.

Dean2 · #17 05-22-2020, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageValleyOutdoors

We’re out here right now. As can be expected with this rain (and now snow/sleet) the roads are terrible.
But hey - at least we’re cold, wet, and not seeing any bears!

Unless I had a good dry place to stay out of the rain and a nice tarped over fire pit to enjoy a Rye, I would be driving back to Whitecourt and checking into a nice hotel with an attached steakhouse, and bar till this lousy weather blew over. Justrt in case, hard to be the Steaks at Mountainview Steak and Pizza in Whitecourt, been great for 40 years.

Hope you at least get to see some Bears, rain no problem, cold and windy, they don't move around much.

Gboe8 · #18 05-22-2020, 03:59 PM

About three inches of snow and more coming beer is tasting good in camp. Roads are very muddy.

bobwayzie · #19 05-22-2020, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gboe8

About three inches of snow and more coming beer is tasting good in camp. Roads are very muddy.

Ouch, that's brutal

Mamid · #20 05-25-2020, 11:48 AM

Little update from our trip from the 14th -16th of May.
Saw a good few bears but didn't connect with the two bigger ones we saw.
Lots of movement in the evening, slow during the day. Not as green as last year but we did go up a week later last year and the spring was a littler earlier so that plays a part.
Roads very good considering but the little wet spots we did hit got a little dicey.
Literally cannot imagine what it would be like after that downpour last week!
Don't get trigger happy and double check your ID, saw at least 2 grizzy bears!
Will try and squeak another trip in once it dries up a lot!

NewGuard84 · #21 05-25-2020, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mamid

Little update from our trip from the 14th -16th of May.
Saw a good few bears but didn't connect with the two bigger ones we saw.
Lots of movement in the evening, slow during the day. Not as green as last year but we did go up a week later last year and the spring was a littler earlier so that plays a part.
Roads very good considering but the little wet spots we did hit got a little dicey.
Literally cannot imagine what it would be like after that downpour last week!
Don't get trigger happy and double check your ID, saw at least 2 grizzy bears!
Will try and squeak another trip in once it dries up a lot!

You said it, can have dicey spots in the best of times... good luck in bad weather!

This looks like a pretty close encounter with this grizz?

Gboe8 · #22 05-25-2020, 03:57 PM

Roads dryed up a lot by today. Still a few pretty bad spots. And when you got high up it was really bad.