Previous :: Next Topic |
Author |
Message |
Jetlag Member
Joined: 17 Aug 2010 Posts: 1410 | TRs | Pics
|
|
Jetlag
Member
|
Thu Sep 18, 2014 1:21 pm
|
|
|
dougwalsh64,
Last year at this time there was a decent bit of water several hundred feet below the pass on the approach, but nothing from the pass up to the lookout.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Redwic Unlisted Free Agent
Joined: 23 Feb 2009 Posts: 3292 | TRs | Pics Location: Going to the Prom(inence) |
|
Redwic
Unlisted Free Agent
|
Thu Sep 18, 2014 1:23 pm
|
|
|
Agreed. I would say that you might as well expect no water sources beyond the switchbacks leading up to Mebee Pass.
60 pounds lighter but not 60 points brighter.
60 pounds lighter but not 60 points brighter.
|
Back to top |
|
|
WolverineWay Member
Joined: 13 Aug 2018 Posts: 10 | TRs | Pics
|
John, I'm not sure if you're still tracking this post, but I made a trek up to Mebee the "back" way from the W Fork Methow River/PCT and descended via East Creek. I wrote a trail report on WTA.org. Let me know if this is helpful. I'd love to help get this route more passable again.
Cheers,
~RyanR>
|
Back to top |
|
|
lookout bob WTA proponent.....
Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 3045 | TRs | Pics Location: wta work while in between lookouts |
|
lookout bob
WTA proponent.....
|
Tue Aug 14, 2018 6:36 am
|
|
|
WW...what a great TR. I visited Mebee 10 years or so back and was the first one to have visited in 8 years! I'm so glad John Scurlock and company are taking care of the last L5 in Washington. I very much liked your WTA report and hats off to the gent who fixed the shutters. Thanks to YOU for your report and details of your hike to Mebee. When I went, there was still a wooden sign off the PCT to mark the trail to Mebee Pass. There was no trail from the pass to the lookout. I hope the lookout continues to get work and that the FS eventually replaces the East Creek Bridge. That trail is unlikely to receive anyone's attention ( as is the upper East Fork of the Methow) because of the distances involved. I would love to do a guerrilla log out of the upper Methow trail and am proposing it to some crazy sawyers who might just do it.
Thanks for your report.
"Altitude is its own reward"
John Jerome ( from "On Mountains")
"Altitude is its own reward"
John Jerome ( from "On Mountains")
|
Back to top |
|
|
KarlK Member
Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 584 | TRs | Pics
|
|
KarlK
Member
|
Tue Aug 14, 2018 11:23 am
|
|
|
Lookout Bob, count me in.
I and others have been trying to wrangle a way to get a new bridge put in across Granite Creek. We thought we had made a breakthrough of sorts when Tom Mix*, a guy who has built many bridges to forest service standards in "his" ranger district, offered to build us a bridge over Granite Creek for free.
The initial reaction of "our" district ranger (Mike Liu, a terrific guy) was positive, but a host of issues intervened and Mike is now retired.
We are hoping to meet and establish a favorable working relationship with the new district ranger.
*Tom & his friend Del Sage do amazing work for Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, an organization I'm proud to be a member of. BCHW does a tremendous amount of trail work, and when my knees go south, I'm a-gonna get me a horse.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Brushbuffalo Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2015 Posts: 1887 | TRs | Pics Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between |
WolverineWay wrote: | I wrote a trail report |
Ryan, your report is excellent and very helpful. Indeed, finding an abandoned or little-used trail is a satisfying thing to do, even if ( or maybe especially because) following it is filled with adventure as you found on this traverse.
Interestingly, I rode my bike up the Methow fork trail the 8 miles to the PCT junction in August of 2005 with no problem. This was after the burn but before the dead trees really started coming down and certainly before the brush devoured the trail.
When our party of Friends of Mebee Pass Lookout cleared the East Creek trail in 2013 to get to the lookout, the trail was pretty good again, but then in August a torrent flooded the section of trail where the big avy path is. This was after the trail work but before we did the lookout repair in September, and with minimal use I can imagine it is as hard to find as you describe.
It would be terrific if the West Fork Methow and East Creek trails could be maintained to their former good status. Your report might be the incentive for a start.
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
|
Back to top |
|
|
RodF Member
Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 2593 | TRs | Pics Location: Sequim WA |
|
RodF
Member
|
Tue Aug 14, 2018 1:39 pm
|
|
|
KarlK wrote: | I and others have been trying to wrangle a way to get a new bridge put in across Granite Creek. We thought we had made a breakthrough of sorts when Tom Mix*, a guy who has built many bridges to forest service standards in "his" ranger district, offered to build us a bridge over Granite Creek for free.
The initial reaction of "our" district ranger (Mike Liu, a terrific guy) was positive, but a host of issues intervened and Mike is now retired...
*Tom & his friend Del Sage do amazing work for Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, an organization I'm proud to be a member of. BCHW does a tremendous amount of trail work, and when my knees go south, I'm a-gonna get me a horse. |
Two weeks ago, Tom and Del organized a footlog project in Olympic NF. It was completed in 3 days with the participation of PNTA, WTA and Gray Wolf Trail Crew (our volunteer group is officially affiliated with BCHW because we have long been able to get so much more accomplished in partnership with them). They plan to replacement a major trail bridge this fall, and a major footlog next summer. They're an amazingly capable team!
Mebee LO, as the sole surviving L5 in the state, may be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places? Please ask the district ranger to discuss this with the forest archaeologist. It might be helpful to contact Region 6 for consultation on this question.
"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir
"the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
"of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt" - John Muir
"the wild is not the opposite of cultivated. It is the opposite of the captivated” - Vandana Shiva
|
Back to top |
|
|
Brian Curtis Trail Blazer/HiLaker
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 1696 | TRs | Pics Location: Silverdale, WA |
We did a somewhat similar trip in 2010 and visited the lookout at that time. The map does not show the trail from the PCT to Mebee pass correctly. The actual junction is about a half mile down the PCT from where it is shown on the topo. We found that section of trail from the PCT to Mebee Pass to be in very good shape.
that elitist from silverdale wanted to tell me that all carnes are bad--Studebaker Hoch
that elitist from silverdale wanted to tell me that all carnes are bad--Studebaker Hoch
|
Back to top |
|
|
Gwen LO Girl-of-the-Month
Joined: 14 Feb 2010 Posts: 1673 | TRs | Pics
|
|
Gwen
LO Girl-of-the-Month
|
Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:41 pm
|
|
|
LO Bob - I know some Sawyers would be in on that action.
Tomorrow's not promised to anyone, so be bold, scare yourself, attempt something with no guarantee of success. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve. -Olive McGloin
Tomorrow's not promised to anyone, so be bold, scare yourself, attempt something with no guarantee of success. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve. -Olive McGloin
|
Back to top |
|
|
KarlK Member
Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 584 | TRs | Pics
|
|
KarlK
Member
|
Thu Aug 16, 2018 10:59 am
|
|
|
RodF: Efforts are afoot to do exactly as you suggest. As to your comments regarding Tom and Del, well these guys are the real deal and then some. Also your comments regarding BCHW, which I think is a teriffic organization. So far I'm "all hat and no horse" but that might change.
|
Back to top |
|
|
WolverineWay Member
Joined: 13 Aug 2018 Posts: 10 | TRs | Pics
|
Thanks for the feedback, guys, and the interest. I have a couple chainsaws (one gas, one battery powered) and willingness to operate them to back up my claim - that these trails are worth restoring. However, my first priority on East Creek would be to clear up the route on the avy paths. I'd rather hop logs than get lost in slide alder!
It wouldn't be convenient for me to help on the Methow Side because I live in Bellingham, but I would start with brushing on that one. I don't have the tool to make that job quick - some kind of saw blade on a weedwhacker?
Brian Curtis, the turnoff from PCT to Mebee may have been fairly easy to find if I had been looking for it. I was cruising on the PCT trying to make up some time after the Methow River Trail and forgot to pay attention. I would not say it is in "very good shape" but it's possible in 2010 it was quite good. It's not bad! Of the three neglected segments I traveled, it was probably the best (along with the upper reaches of East Creek trail on the west side of Mebee - faint but good). However, eight years will soon become ten, then fifteen, and it will become poor, then terrible, then gone.
Cheers,
~RyanR>
|
Back to top |
|
|
Highwalker's Daughter Member
Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 1575 | TRs | Pics Location: Bothell, WA |
We just tagged this one = brutally exhausting, but we had total solitude on Labor Day weekend and excellent views from the top. Notes here were helpful! Can't emphasize this one enough: we made a mistake at first avy gully and followed bright pink flagging through slide alder, other trees and brush, only to get dumped out in woods with no other flags = they just abruptly stopped so we had GPS to tell us trail way below us which saved us from giving up. This is NOT the correct route!! Go down that first gully at least 200 feet following cairns and faded out tape which is now more white than pink. It will take you down to original trail and never through the slide alder without a real path!!! There will be blowdown on the trail to contend with, but you don't ever have to bash through the alder. Other good thing to note if backpacking this (I can't imagine it as a day trip): we filled up at stream at about 7 miles in just before where trail heads up 2500 feet to lookout so each of us were carrying 4-5 liters up that section at a point when we were already pretty tired. You don't have to!!! There is a water source 500 feet below the pass. The last 500 feet from pass is a scramble and bushwhack, but a couple of flat spots at pass or by lookout. There was also a campsite about 2.5 miles from East Creek TH if you want to break it up a bit. Might be some flat spots in the section after final ford. You will hit a ton of blowdown there, but we think we saw some potential for camping along that stretch if you went down to stream level. Contact me for more pointers if you wish.
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate NWHikers.net earns from qualifying purchases when you use our link(s).
|