Well I drove to Walker for the first time yesterday evening. The drive times thread was right on. It was just under two hours to get there. Fifteen minutes later I was in front of a sign for "Pat's trail" and Upper Mainline. Seeing nobody I knew, I pulled up Jakob's map and headed back out to hwy 9. Once I found Lake Covadurrpydurp road I followed it for 7.4 miles and found the left noted on the map.... and a locked gate.
I spent about fifteen minutes calling people. Contemplated camping by myself on the side of the road. Noted all the lines I could take over the ecology blocks if I wanted to get my other Grand through if I had it with me. Soon enough however, I was on my way back home.
When we hold work parties down here we have the wisdom and foresight to leave the gate unlocked (dummy locked as they call it) so that people can arrive whenever their journey lands them there. Last night was not a total loss as I enjoyed checking the drive and the area out a bit before I tow my junk up there.
The locked gate was obsurd and very disappointing. What an absolutely stupid, STUPID move. Typical DNR. I may return to wheel the place in the future. My ability to attend work parties up at Walker, well, let's just say I tend to learn from my mistakes.