Forum Index > Trip Reports > Buck Mountain from the Elbo Creek Trail (Olympics) 2/6/16
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seekapeak
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seekapeak
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PostSat Feb 06, 2016 6:28 pm 
We were just stumped on where we wanted to go this weekend, so we emailed our hiking buddy and said "hey, do you have any ideas" and he was kind enough to suggest Buck Mountain. We had never heard of it so starting doing some research. Found a trail talk report from fellow NWhiker "Pliny" so emailed him and we were rewarded with plenty of information to go check out Buck Mountain. Thanks Pliny for the detailed description, sketch and map! (just a quick note - we had also considered Mount Crag but Pliny told us the Rocky Brook Road is washed out 1.5 miles in (which we checked out after our hike - see photos of washout). Our buddy that suggested this hike also decided to join in our adventure so the three of us hit the trail this morning. We started at the Elbo Creek Trail off Rocky Brook Rd. The trail was in good shape and had a nice consistent grade. The trail peters out to a way trail which eventually dumps you on to the forest road. We followed the forest road and eventually hit three tower stations. The final station is the high point and listed on our gps as Buck Mountain (high point 3760'). We went into this hike with little expectations of views but actually the views were great! Our stats for the day. Miles approx. 9 total and 3200 gain. Video link of washout 1.5 miles up Rocky Brook Rd: washout video
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
The Elbo Creek trail takes you to the forest road
The Elbo Creek trail takes you to the forest road
Mount Constance
Mount Constance
Mt. Washington??
Mt. Washington??
The Brothers
The Brothers
On left (The Brothers), on right (Mount Jupiter)
On left (The Brothers), on right (Mount Jupiter)
Trusty map
Trusty map
We drove another 1.5 miles to check out the road washout (Rocky Brook Road)
We drove another 1.5 miles to check out the road washout (Rocky Brook Road)
hmmm.. what happened to the poor road!
hmmm.. what happened to the poor road!

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raising3hikers
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raising3hikers
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PostSat Feb 06, 2016 6:41 pm 
thanks for posting your trip. last week, i drove part way up the rocky brook rd wondering if the elbo creek trail actually went up towards buck mtn or not. i was also somewhat interested in mt crag but the washout had me turning around, too. since buck mtn wasn't my main plan, i didn't even try it. thanks again for the report

Eric Eames
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meck
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meck
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PostSat Feb 06, 2016 8:24 pm 
A short fun trip (with no avy danger!) and unexpectedly great views! It was a shame about road 2620 (quite a mighty gouge all the way down to the bedrock!). A few more (similar) pics, from south to north. The views were just so darn nice today!
Mt Constance
Mt Constance
Warrior Peak
3 labels
Warrior Peak
Cloudy Peak
1 label
Cloudy Peak
Copper Mtn (east of Buckhorn)
2 labels
Copper Mtn (east of Buckhorn)
Mt Townsend
Mt Townsend
Seekapeak surveying the territory
Seekapeak surveying the territory
Some other pics of the road washout
FSR2620 - Uh-oh, first indication that this was no normal washout
FSR2620 - Uh-oh, first indication that this was no normal washout
FSR2620 - first indication of roadway erosion
FSR2620 - first indication of roadway erosion
FSR2620 - Looking "ungood"
FSR2620 - Looking "ungood"
FSR2620 - hmm.... "double-plus ungood"
FSR2620 - hmm.... "double-plus ungood"
FSR2620 - this is gonna require a substantial fix
FSR2620 - this is gonna require a substantial fix
FSR2620 - The creek "culvert blocker"
FSR2620 - The creek "culvert blocker"

*Just say NO to Rent-Seeking, don't give up the concept of "ownership"*
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bobbi
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bobbi
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PostSun Feb 07, 2016 10:42 am 
what an absolutely great outing ... who knew! looks like great views up.gif you all are awesome! putting this hike on the back burner! is the washout of rocky brook road from Brinnon side or by mt. walker?

bobbi ૐ "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
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meck
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meck
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PostSun Feb 07, 2016 12:06 pm 
Hi bobbi, the road washout was on the Mt Walker/Elbo Creek side.

*Just say NO to Rent-Seeking, don't give up the concept of "ownership"*
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reststep
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reststep
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PostSun Feb 07, 2016 12:41 pm 
up.gif

"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
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bobbi
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bobbi
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PostSun Feb 07, 2016 12:45 pm 
thanks ... that washout looked dangerous! eek.gif also, the road on the brinnon side accesses the rocky brook falls! such a beautiful waterfall up.gif

bobbi ૐ "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
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reststep
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reststep
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PostSun Feb 07, 2016 5:40 pm 
I guess there is supposed to be an upper Rocky Brook Falls also. I have not been there but I might have to check it out sometime. And thanks for the labels on the pictures meck.

"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
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Bruce
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Bruce
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PostMon Feb 08, 2016 9:26 am 
one can drive to the upper repeater site via 2620 from Dose side....060 spur to site also from Rocky Brook Pass spur toward Crag 056 spur another interesting site

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reststep
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reststep
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PostMon Feb 08, 2016 12:19 pm 
Thanks Bruce. Good information. All of those roads are shown on the map "Hood Canal Ranger District (North Area) Olympic National Forest" they sell at the Quilcene Ranger Station. Are they signed? Have you Been to the Mt Crag snotel site? It might be a while before I get to Mt. Crag. The snotel site is presently showing 65 inches of snow. Then again maybe snow would make it possible to avoid any brush.

"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
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meck
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meck
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PostMon Feb 08, 2016 7:14 pm 
The washout that we saw was on the Walker/"Rocky Brook Road" side of 2620. We were a bit surprised to spot a Toyota pickup on the Dose side when we reached the upper FS road from the trail (they must have driven up from the Dose side). As we were coming back down from the summit, we came across them working on getting their truck unstuck from the snow, which was around 8-12" deep on the last 1/2 mile or so of the road before the Buck Mtn summit spur road. Thankfully they had brought snow shovels and appeared to have reasonably OK tires to get themselves extricated. I'd love to visit Mt Crag too, but would need a much earlier start for all of the road walking (maybe bringing a mtn bike for the return trip down).

*Just say NO to Rent-Seeking, don't give up the concept of "ownership"*
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seekapeak
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seekapeak
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PostSat Feb 20, 2016 4:34 pm 
Take two - this time with some blue sky and cool clouds! February 20th, 2016 (Thanks to Meck for introducing us to this fun little hike).

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bobbi
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bobbi
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PostSat Feb 20, 2016 5:25 pm 
yes! sometimes it takes more than two takes! great photos, especially the one of the two of you! totally CUTE up.gif another fabulous outing! will you please PM driving, trail info? thank you so much!

bobbi ૐ "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
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meck
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meck
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PostSat Feb 20, 2016 11:14 pm 
ooh, looks much colder this time! Great pics as always!

*Just say NO to Rent-Seeking, don't give up the concept of "ownership"*
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Bruce
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Bruce
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PostSun Feb 21, 2016 9:23 pm 
Reststep No ! don't recall having been to the very end of that road, at least in a long time. Do know the snotel is serviced by air.....usually in the fall

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Forum Index > Trip Reports > Buck Mountain from the Elbo Creek Trail (Olympics) 2/6/16
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