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kitya Fortune Cookie
Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 842 | TRs | Pics Location: Duvall, WA |
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kitya
Fortune Cookie
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Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:29 am
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Weird day-before-christmas miracle - sunny on Zorro ridge. I did not expect that. In fact I don't remember it being ever sunny in Middle fork valley (part of it is self-fulfilling prophecy, I often go to Middle fork area only when weather is too bad to go somewhere more exciting).
Monday NWAC forecast was still showing considerable avy danger even below tree line for the area, so I was a bit cautious, but there is barely any snow at all - snow coverage is very thin. I didn't use snowshoes until maybe 4100 feet and even after that snow still doesn't fully cover some of the larger bushes, but it is wet heavy snow and it does slide. Finally at around 4600 we ditched the road walking and just snowshed straight up on steep slope as logging cleared most of the trees and it became a pleasant open forest.
To my surprise the famous cabin is completely gone, looks like it was finally demolished this summer (by forterra or DNR?) and the area where it once stood is marked with "Do not enter, area closed" signs. Hopefully they will also remove the logging roads, restore grade and let the trees recover. Maybe one day zorro ridge will become not zorro anymore.
From Thompson point there are nice views to Little Comrade, Gilford Lakes, Russian Butte and Revolution peak. We could even see Seattle. I should have probably continued all the way to Revolution summit, but days are short and Cookie hoped we can come back soon to buy some dog cookies for her in the North Bend bakery (THEY HAVE THE BEST DOG COOKIES).
On the way back we also walked down to Granite lakes, since Cookie wanted to check them out for some reason. Very little snow around them too.
14 miles, 4600 gain
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3245501793
huron, Fedor
huron, Fedor
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Randito Snarky Member
Joined: 27 Jul 2008 Posts: 9513 | TRs | Pics Location: Bellevue at the moment. |
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Randito
Snarky Member
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Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:47 am
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Awesome. Great looking dog too...
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zephyr aka friendly hiker
Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 3370 | TRs | Pics Location: West Seattle |
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zephyr
aka friendly hiker
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Tue Dec 25, 2018 11:09 am
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Beautiful day up there. 'Love the lighting in your photographs. ~z
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RichP Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 5634 | TRs | Pics Location: here |
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RichP
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Tue Dec 25, 2018 11:20 am
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Sad to hear about the cabin but it was planned that way for a while.
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kitya Fortune Cookie
Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 842 | TRs | Pics Location: Duvall, WA |
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kitya
Fortune Cookie
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Tue Dec 25, 2018 2:08 pm
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RichP wrote: | Sad to hear about the cabin but it was planned that way for a while. |
I agree it is a little bit sad, but if the mountain will become more natural eventually, it would be great. Seeing all the logged trees is way more sad.
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puzzlr Mid Fork Rocks
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 7220 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle |
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
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Tue Dec 25, 2018 3:04 pm
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This information is what I've picked up here and there so not official and probably not completely accurate.
The cabin was removed by the DNR on October 24, 2018. The property was purchased by Forterra in 2016 and then transferred to the DNR. Per a conversation with the local DNR office there are regulations about structures inside NRCA boundaries and keeping the cabin wasn't an option. They got an estimate for hauling it all out but that was too expensive and they aren't allowed to burn structures on this category of property. During interactions about the Fairy Cabin they learned the FBI was willing to practice their bunker busting techniques and blow up the cabin. After the explosion tons of debris was hauled down via helicopters and taken to the dump by Wade Holden's Friends Of The Trail group.
I wish the cabin could have stayed and been open to the public, but failing that I wish I could have documented the destruction. I recommend visiting Thompson Point in the next ten years before the trees grow tall enough to start blocking the amazing view. I made a trip up there in May 2017 after the DNR owned it to get some photographs of the inside knowing its days were numbered.
Thompson Point cabin upper floor Thompson Point cabin lower floor Refrigerator from Thompson Point cabin post explosion Debris from Thompson Point cabin being hauled away to the dump after being helicoptered off the mountain
The most unsightly Zorro peak roads were decommissioned in the late 90s. I don't think the remaining roads up to the cabin will be worked on because there's no longer any access for equipment because of the Granite Lakes road-to-trail conversion. That was done before Forterra was able to purchase the property.
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Bernardo Member
Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 2174 | TRs | Pics Location: out and about in the world |
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Bernardo
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Tue Dec 25, 2018 5:17 pm
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Nice hike, nice pictures!
Too bad about the cabin.
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fourteen410 Member
Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 2629 | TRs | Pics
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Thanks for the heads up about the cabin Kitya and thanks puzzlr for the additional details and pics. Interesting to see inside the cabin - appears that it was in pretty good condition.
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BigBrunyon Member
Joined: 19 Mar 2015 Posts: 1458 | TRs | Pics Location: the fitness gyms!! |
Seeing them colors big way upon that ridgeline
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Slim This space for rent
Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 560 | TRs | Pics Location: Falling off a turnip truck |
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Slim
This space for rent
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Thu Dec 27, 2018 11:23 am
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Love the pictures - both Kitya's and Puzzlr's.
I'm a little sad to see the cabin go but glad they're not decommissioning the road. I would love to see a trail put in to the Giffords some day. It's a pretty little valley and the lakes are nice too.
"Lean mean money-making-machines serving fiends"
"Lean mean money-making-machines serving fiends"
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mosey Member
Joined: 18 Dec 2018 Posts: 163 | TRs | Pics
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mosey
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Sat Mar 16, 2019 9:55 am
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Bit of a bump but I noticed the lack of cabin from a nearby peak recently... It was built well and it's sad to see it go. I could rant all day about the DNR, but here're some pictures of it on a particularly sunny day in case anyone else if feeling nostalgic.
southward pano on the road to grandma's house looking towards Seattle lincoln logs closeup
Now I Fly
Now I Fly
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Backpacker Joe Blind Hiker
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 23956 | TRs | Pics Location: Cle Elum |
I remember the days when you could drive a two wheel drive car up there.
I never got inside it, but it looks to have been made well. I wonder what the point of it was in the first place? There was no water near it. There must be video of that explosion some place. That would be something to see.
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
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mbravenboer Member
Joined: 20 Oct 2013 Posts: 1422 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
I couldn't find any photos of the blown up Thompson Point cabin on nwhikers and this seems like the best thread to share them. It's kind of a mess. Lots of metal on the ground and the thing apparently was supported by concrete that is still there. Not sure that removing it is an improvement this way.
If you plan on going: until the first switchback is a bit of an slide alder battle, but it gets better after that. Seems like a lovely snowshoe if there is a bit more snow. Plenty of views still.
There is currently more snow then appears here in the photos (probably cleared by the wind). I'd guess ~3-4 feet in most places. Postholed waist deep a few times.
hikerbiker
hikerbiker
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