Forum Index > Trip Reports > A Day of Flooding and Pestilence on the Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
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Nancyann
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Joined: 28 Jul 2013
Posts: 2314 | TRs | Pics
Location: Sultan Basin
Nancyann
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PostThu May 17, 2018 9:12 pm 
Almost exactly a year ago we visited the Lower Mad River Trail for the first time, and were thrilled to find an amazing display of Tweedy's Lewisia. This year was a little disappointing, because many of the flowers were still in the bud stage, and wilted from the 85 degree heat. More importantly, we discovered that the Mad River, living up to its name, was crashing down the canyon in a wild rage, and at about 2 1/2 miles, it completely overtook the trail. Someone had scrambled up a huge boulder to get past, but the footing was too unsafe for me, so we turned around.
Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
Here is where it overtook the trail. We tried wading through, but the current was too strong, and there was a possibility of getting swept down the river.
Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
On the way back, the river had encroached further on the trail in just an hour.
Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
Here is where we encountered the pestilence; snakes right on the trail! Two bull snakes and one rattlesnake, which rattled its tail and flicked its tongue as it started crawling towards us. hairy.gif When we got back to the trailhead, a gentleman with a backpack the size of a house was getting ready to head up the trail for an overnighter. When we told him about the flood and pestilence up ahead, he put his backpack in his truck, called his wife on his satellite phone, and turned around and left. We did see a lot of flowers though, and here is one I need help identifying. smile.gif
Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
Tweedy and friend
Lower Mad River Trail
Lower Mad River Trail

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zephyr
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Joined: 21 Jun 2009
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Location: West Seattle
zephyr
aka friendly hiker
PostFri May 18, 2018 8:59 am 
Nancyann wrote:
Two bull snakes and one rattlesnake, which rattled its tail and flicked its tongue as it started crawling towards us. hairy.gif
What the heck? Don't you reckon the flooding river put him in a sour mood? I imagine seeing three big snakes together at once must have been a little nerve-wracking. ~z

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gb
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gb
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PostSat May 19, 2018 7:11 am 
How deep do you figure the water was on the flooded part of the trail? Last year it was also flooded for about 100' but the water was only calf deep. The flower is Clematis occidentalis. You can also find it on the Snow Creek trail and a few others.

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Nancyann
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Joined: 28 Jul 2013
Posts: 2314 | TRs | Pics
Location: Sultan Basin
Nancyann
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PostSat May 19, 2018 7:33 am 
gb, we tried to step in it, but it was over our knees, and the current was too strong to proceed safely. Thank you for the flower ID! I also found this flower in the Pasayten last summer.
Wildflowers along the trail to Cougar and Hidden Lakes 6/19/17
Wildflowers along the trail to Cougar and Hidden Lakes 6/19/17
Wildflowers along the trail to Cougar and Hidden Lakes 6/19/17
Wildflowers along the trail to Cougar and Hidden Lakes 6/19/17
zephyr, it was a little startling to see those snakes, especially the rattler. It was probably a little cranky because of the high water!

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gb
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gb
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PostThu May 24, 2018 8:02 am 
The river was still overrunning the trail yesterday and by water marks was only about 8" below the high water mark. I agree that wading this would be too dangerous. It is swift and the way it is set up if you fell you would be swept into the main river, which is raging. I guess this is only 2.3 miles in.

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Forum Index > Trip Reports > A Day of Flooding and Pestilence on the Lower Mad River Trail 5/15/18
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