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Trailblazing Todd Trail Wanderer
Joined: 26 Mar 2010 Posts: 126 | TRs | Pics Location: Everett |
I did this forest road trail in February on a very rainy day (rain gear still works fairly well) and almost got to the trailhead before I had to turn around. There is now a washout 2 miles from the White Chuck Bench trailhead that happened in January. Of all the times I pass this trailhead bathroom in the off season, it is still open.
It is fun to see the seasonal change along with the water level of a stream. It took 3.5 hours to get to the trailhead in 7 miles. There were quite a few logs to go around, over or under, but it was still a nice road to walk on. I even saw the "White Chuck" bear near Owl Creek making its way down the road. It was going down stream into the bushes when I saw it. (Assuming it was the same one, I saw it near the river a couple of years back on the Bench trail) The Owl Creek bridge was built in 1999, so it only took 19 years to get where the road is today. Near the bridge, there is a nice big crack forming a crevasse that goes down about 6 feet. The Owl Creek "campground" is just one campsite. There is a picnic table still there up a side road at the end blocked by big rocks. There is also a Nerf SR Air football, a short brown beer bottle, a kettle and some electronic equipment.
Road closed for cars First Stream Spring First Stream Winter Second Stream Spring Second Stream Winter Road Stream Spring Road Stream Winter Tree planting sign Nice section of Road Road Waterfall White Chuck River 1 Owl Creek Spring Owl Creek Winter The Big Crack Glacier Peak view Bear grubbing Extended Parking posts Parking lot Trailhead down the road Trailhead sign Trailhead Camp Picnic Table
The next day I explored how far I could go up the White Chuck river trail. There is a blowdown right at the start of the trail. However, there is a boot path made to go around it. There is also flagging to follow all along the trail. But there are many trees to climb over, still. But, when there was a trail, it was a nice trail. There is a washout that you could either make your way across with a fairly scary drop, or you could use a rope assisted straight up and around the washout. I chose the 4 foot scary crossing and made it a little better to cross. The good news is that the Fire Creek bridge is still solidly intact. Shortly after there is the junction for Meadow Mountain. I followed the White Chuck river and the flags going around a washout, then back down to the trail. But that was a mistake.
Blow downs Little stream Big Tree on Trail Am I suppose to register here First Slide crossing Fire Creek Bridge Trail junction A nice part of the trail White Chuck River 2 Pumice Creek and Bridge
I got to the Pumice Creek crossing and saw a bridge tipped on its side and the trail missing to get to it because the creek shifted a little and undercut a little part of the trail with a decent size log to climb over, also. Just upstream there was a slide which probably was the cause of the bridge shifting. I saw a log upstream that looked good to cross, but when I went straight up the hillside and over and look down and thought a while, I decided not to go all the way back down. I was tired already and I did not expect the nice 70 degree day. So, I turned around and checked out the Fire Creek trail.
The Fire Creek trail started out as a nice trail, but after another blowdown, quicky disappeared into the forest as the supposed trail went up the mountain. I scouted out the forest for possible signs, but came up with nothing. So, I went back to camp an just enjoyed doing nothing but breathing in the warm fresh forest air. The next day it was back down the road with a watchout for a bear. I just saw the grubbing signs that it was making its way down the road. The purpose for this trip was to see if I could make a loop trail from Meadow Mountain. It looks like the Fire Creek trail will be the only place where I would have to route find through the forest at least some of the way.
Fire Creek trail Blow down 2 view Mile 9 Rock Wall stream Spring Rock Wall stream Winter A frog resting
Wherever the trail takes me.
Wherever the trail takes me.
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JVesquire Member
Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 993 | TRs | Pics Location: Pasco, WA |
Looks like a fun exploration. I didn't go nearly that far last time I went up that trail.
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n16ht5 Member
Joined: 21 Jun 2010 Posts: 592 | TRs | Pics
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n16ht5
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Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:22 am
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Thank you for posting this
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puzzlr Mid Fork Rocks
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 7216 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle |
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
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Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:30 am
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It's great to see these shots of nature taking over. I like the comparison shots between seasons. Thanks for the report.
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BeardoMcGrath Member
Joined: 16 Jan 2018 Posts: 143 | TRs | Pics Location: Snohomish |
Cool to see the status of the road and trail...looks like some of the trail damage was overstated. Unless the flood damaged the trail more significantly above Pumice Creek?
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RichP Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 5628 | TRs | Pics Location: here |
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RichP
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Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:56 pm
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Trailblazing Todd Trail Wanderer
Joined: 26 Mar 2010 Posts: 126 | TRs | Pics Location: Everett |
The washouts according to the map I have are after Pumice Creek at "multiple locations." That trip report going down the Fire Creek trail is helpful. I will probably just do a backpack to Fire Mountain and back again on the Meadow Mountain trail, also.
Wherever the trail takes me.
Wherever the trail takes me.
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Brushbuffalo Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2015 Posts: 1887 | TRs | Pics Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between |
Trailblazing Todd wrote: | Big Tree on Trail |
I thoroughly enjoyed your report. What a treat to explore that popular historic road and trail as they both are returning to their unmodified-by-man state.
With the conditions there now, not to mention my physical condition, it would take me about as many days as it did hours to go "car-to-summit- to-car " as it did back then.
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
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Backpacker Joe Blind Hiker
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 23956 | TRs | Pics Location: Cle Elum |
Using Cal Topo Im trying to figure out where the road is closed. A few years ago I hiked into Crystal lake. At that time I could drive all the way to the trailhead. Is that still possible?
"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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Trailblazing Todd Trail Wanderer
Joined: 26 Mar 2010 Posts: 126 | TRs | Pics Location: Everett |
No it is not possible. (See second sentence) I drove to the Crystal Lake trailhead last October. Now it is another, longer, road walk. Unless someone fixed that section of road now..
Wherever the trail takes me.
Wherever the trail takes me.
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