Grid Square CO60

2 locations - Keta Lake - Newcastle Ridge

Potential VHF rover sites in BC grid CO60. Be careful.
CO60 dimensions are 87.9 by 69.2 miles.
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Keta Lake, CO60xh97

Near city of Sayward, County, BC, Altitude 700
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2002-04-11
Comments by: Gabor VE7DXG

Keta Lake Rest Area and its north slope has easy access just off Highway 19.

Driving directions:

About 10km North of the Sayward turnoff towards Port McNeil. The road climbs, and after it flattens out, there is a major logging road intersection. Turn right and drive about 2 km. Road is somewhat cross-ditched, but 2 wheel drive will do it. There are 3 or 4 roads climbing the mountain side, they all seem to work. Pull over anywhere. There is a mountain across the valley to the South, but I worked into CN87 on up to 432 from here.

Newcastle Ridge, CO60xj36

Near city of Sayward, County, BC, Altitude 4200
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, Beam heading
Last update: 2003-10-05
Comments by: Mike K7MDL

This is a premier RF site but access is difficult. Newcastle has 2 microwave towers and the 146.700 repeater.

Driving directions:

You need 4WD to get to this one. The weather is VERY nasty up there.

You should plan on 2 hours from Sayward up the hill until the road is improved, and you should drive it in daytime only.

The site is marked on most local maps. Take the Island Highway from Campbell River and follow the signs to Sayward. Just before town turn left at the local Legion and follow Adam Main. It is about 10 km to the top.

The first 6 miles was overgrown in 2003 and hazardous to rooftop antennas. My average speed was 3 mph through this section. There were several culvert washouts. The last 4 miles more open, but there are a few washouts, and the eroded loose large rock road requires ground clearance and 4WD, particularly in the last few hundred feet to the top.

In 2003, new logging operations were being planned which might result in road improvements in 2004. The first steep section of road follows power lines and you must cross several deep cross ditches where culverts were removed when the logging roads were deactivated.

Take the first major left away from the power lines to the repeater site part way up. If you have to cross close spaced really deep ditches, then you missed the turn. The turn around is on the other side of these ditches.

Key GPS points (and turns) on the route to the top are N50' 21.759" W126' 08.555" (Start of road), N50' 22.146" W126' 08.261" (probably the turn off from the power lines) and N50' 22.238" W126' 02.747".