[Man-inna-hillz]

Has anyone recently hiked the Queets River valley trail? From Googling around, it seems there was a washout somewhere on the access road and the old campsites and trailhead have been abandoned. How much distance would this add to the approach (do you have to walk roadway to get to the old trailhead)? Also- Robert Wood, in his 1984 Olymp[ic Mountain Guide, talks about the glories of the old Tshletshy Creek trail, which climbs up an Ancient forest draw, eventually attaining the 3 Lakes ridgeline above the North Fork Quinault. Sounds like it would be full Viet Nam, but we're intrigued. Has anyone ever attempted to find the old trail and follow it up the ridgeline? I did a search on Tshletshy and found some reference to the trail on the "Abndoned Trails" thread. Anyone done this one, or know anything about current conditions up there?

[Slugman]

A re-route for cars is in the works, using some FS roads and DNR roads, but it is not open yet. Someone posted a TR not that long ago where they drove in the new route as far as they could, did some road walking and brush-bashing, and ended up at the old Queets trailhead, much shorter than going in the washed-out road. Here's that TR, from this January.

[Phil]

You probably saw this crazy story but I'll post the link anyway: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River_detail_id_3148_ and there is this cryptic trail report: http://www.wta.org/~wta/cgi-bin/wtaweb.pl?ad+7+reports+dosearch plus this old thread: https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10583&highlight=Tshletshy I bet that you chose a good descriptor with "vietnam".

[Slugman]

The middle link doesn't work.

[Gordy]

My favorite place. Good luck, not for the casual hiker. The road is washed out, just above Matheny Creek. Some people climb through the forest around it and continue on the road. I've been going in by way of FR21. When you find the old bridge parts and gravel pit, stop driving. Walk through logging roads until you find the National Park boundary sign. It is a maze of roads. Down 1/2 mile to the Queets road, hang a right and 3 more miles to the abandoned campground. We tried and tried and tried to cross here at 1600CFPS and could not. Probably get over at half that. I won't give it all away but look at maps for another way to brushwack in. It will be very tough. The trail has nearly disappeared. Lots of brush, downed trees, really big trees, washouts. Lots of big animals. Plenty of varieties of berries. Huge grassy fields covered with giant maples.

[goats gone wild]

Latest report I've heard (two days ago) is that the reroute on DNR roads has trees across and is currently closed to vehicles. From the wash out (near Matheny Creek), I believe it is approximately a 6 mile hike to the trailhead. As to the Tshletshy Creek trail: A friend of mine tried following the route a number of years ago. He reported a fine mess of downed trees and brush and nearly impossible to follow the old trail. After much effort, he gave up and took to the ridge proper and connected near Skyline. As for abandoned trails in general, I thought the Mount Olson trail was worthwhile. A planned hike of Six Ridge was interrupted by curiosity about Lake Success--and we ended up visiting Lake Success, a short trip to summit Mount Olson (easy scramble) and then followed parts of the old trail here and there until we reached E. Fork Quinault. We found following Wood's direction of due north to be good advice. This is my first post to this site. Strangely, I have found reading trail reports much more enjoyable than the computer work I am supposed to be doing. Hope it is helpful.

[Magellan]

Welcome to the site goats gone wild. Thanks for posting.

[Yet]

Man-inna-hillz, I've no answers for you. Just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday!

[Phil]

[xan]

[GoBlueHiker]

Regardless of what you think of xan's opinion of Woods' book, he's right about Tshletshy Creek. I haven't been there for a little while now, but unless they rebuilt it recently (which they haven't), there's no trail up that valley. One can vaguely trace a route for perhaps the first mile in the bottom lands from Sam's Crossing, but after that you'll be searching for ghosts trying to find a trail in there. Anyone hoping to trace a trail with a bunch of trees & brush over it (thinking of the typical definition of an "old overgrown trail") will be sorely surprised at the complete lack thereof. Any book describing the "Tshletshy Creek Trail" is in need of a serious update, regardless of the quality of the rest of its reports. Anyhoo, just my opinion, FWIW, - Mike

[Man-inna-hillz]

I am resigned to the fact that the Tshletchy will have no trail to speak of. And I appreciate how hard it can be thrashing through alder and salmonberry. Seriously, though, if we were to try it with backpacks on, how long seems reasonable to attain the skyline if we are reasonably good routefinders?

[goats gone wild]

That's a good question. I'll ask somebody I know who has done (a moderate hiker) and let you know what he says. How soon do you need to know?

[goats gone wild]

Oh, I thought you were just asking about the bushwhacking part.

[xan]