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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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Wed Apr 12, 2017 7:12 am
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This has been a springtime of canyon and desert hikes for me, I guess. I've been fascinated with Cleman Mtn ever since seeing it on a map some years ago and have made a few trips to the area. After hiking nearby Waterworks Canyon a couple of weeks ago, I returned for Sanford Canyon which is the about 1.5 miles west.
I found a pullout on 410 1/2 of a mile east of Mud Lake Rd and began a steep hike upslope on game trails until I could see the mouth of the canyon. Mud Lake Rd is closed to access and is private property on this end so I kept well away from it and dropped down into Sanford to begin the hike. There is no trail like in Waterworks but occasional tread does appear from time to time. The hiking is pretty easy anyway but there are some rocky and brushy sections to navigate.
A house sized rock. Sanford Canyon. Sanford Canyon. Some brush in Sanford Canyon. A narrow section. One of several nice, grassy areas in the canyon. Sanford Pasture, an ancient landslide. Upper canyon to ridge. The top.
My plan was to hike down the west rim of the canyon on the ridge and make a loop but when I got to the top of the canyon I decided to walk the road toward Cleman and drop down to Sanford Pasture instead. Sanford Pasture is the site of an enormous ancient landslide.
https://washingtonlandscape.blogspot.com/2014/04/church-mountain-and-sanford-pasture.html
After reaching the summit, I hiked down to Sanford Pasture and the road which I took to Mud Lake. I saw 100's of elk while in this area. Mud Lake Rd is closed to access just east of Mud lake so I took a short, steep trail down to the highway and jogged the 1.9 on the sometimes narrow shoulder back to my car to close a loop of 15 miles with 4300' gain.
It's still about 3 miles to the summit of Cleman Mtn from here. The ridge is not as flat as it looks from below. Cleman Mtn summit, 5115.' Dropping down to Sanford Pasture. I saw 100's of elk while crossing Sanford Pasture. Lower part of Sanford Pasture. Mud Lake. The rules. Basalt along the roadside. Walking back to my car on the highway.
Approximate route.
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Naches Hiker Member
Joined: 01 Jun 2014 Posts: 239 | TRs | Pics Location: Living among the Liberals |
Good for you for avoiding the private land. Was that your white subaru?
Have I offended you today?
Have I offended you today?
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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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Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:31 am
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Naches Hiker wrote: | Good for you for avoiding the private land. Was that your white subaru? |
It's silver.
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Brushbuffalo Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2015 Posts: 1887 | TRs | Pics Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between |
Another fine hike and TR, Rich.
When I saw that you were again on Cleman Mountain this time by way of Sanford Canyon, I wanted to point out to readers who are geologically inclined an important feature, but you already pointed out the main item of such interest in your account:p
The gigantic Sanford Pasture landslide is difficult to date but most likely occurred approximately 2 million years ago. Sanford Pasture is roughly 0.5 cubic mile volume and compares favorably with the Mt. St. Helens debris avalanche of 5/18/80 with its 0.67 cubic mile, the largest historic landslide in the U.S. A small but still impressive segment on the northwest portion of Sanford Pasture slid on October 11, 2009 and is called the Nile landslide. The latter blocked the Naches River and covered a half mile of U.S. 410.
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
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MtnGoat Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 11992 | TRs | Pics Location: Lyle, WA |
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MtnGoat
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Wed Apr 12, 2017 2:09 pm
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Nice early season hike, you put some miles in!
I've been wondering about Cleman Mtn for a couple years, I see in your pics there's evidence of tree branches along the ridge line 'flagging' (favoring downwind side of tree) and that means a nice place to throw my toy gliders off into the wind.
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. - Will Rogers
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. - Will Rogers
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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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Wed Apr 12, 2017 3:29 pm
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MtnGoat wrote: | I've been wondering about Cleman Mtn for a couple years, I see in your pics there's evidence of tree branches along the ridge line 'flagging' (favoring downwind side of tree) and that means a nice place to throw my toy gliders off into the wind. |
I'm surprised that paragliders haven't discovered this place since it seems ideal for that. It is partly a state wildlife area so that activity may be against regulations.
It does seem popular with the ORV crowd though. I believe that roads in this area are closed until May 1 but I did see recent tracks from vehicles on the ridge top.
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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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Wed Apr 12, 2017 6:45 pm
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Did you end up going alone? This looks like a fun day out for the season with lots of open terrain hiking. The landslide information is really interesting.
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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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Wed Apr 12, 2017 6:53 pm
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puzzlr wrote: | Did you end up going alone? |
I did. Everybody had other stuff to do including you. The canyon feels remote though it's right off the highway and has few signs of human use. Beer cans and spent shotgun shells didn't begin to appear until I got to the top where the road is. I did find a spring with the remnants of some old metal and wood structure near the top of the canyon. perhaps an old trough from the herding days?
Metal and wood near spring at the top of Sanford Canyon. Spring near top of Sanford Canyon.
There is still lots more to explore if you ever want to head over there. The Wenas side is on my radar.
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Joey verrry senior member
Joined: 05 Jun 2005 Posts: 2794 | TRs | Pics Location: Redmond |
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Joey
verrry senior member
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Thu Apr 13, 2017 11:05 am
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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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Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:41 pm
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Thanks Joey.
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MtnGoat Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 11992 | TRs | Pics Location: Lyle, WA |
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MtnGoat
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Thu Apr 13, 2017 3:12 pm
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Oh yeah that ridge line is calling me. Look at that nice smooth slope, good vertical relief facing prevailing winds, and endless landing zones. Had to tease me with the map. Ok, it's on my list now for sure. We do Bethel sometimes, Timberwolf mostly which is fantastic, but it's like a carrier landing on a postage stamp on top.
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. - Will Rogers
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. - Will Rogers
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zephyr aka friendly hiker
Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 3361 | TRs | Pics Location: West Seattle |
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zephyr
aka friendly hiker
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Thu Apr 13, 2017 3:54 pm
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RichP wrote: | Thanks Joey. |
Yeah, Joey. I thought it was left obscure for a reason. I must have spent 15 minutes or more with various sources open to pinpoint where he went. Zooming in and out, aerial photo and topographic. I thought it very clever of him to drop this in to throw me off the scent:
RichP wrote: | Mud Ck Rd is closed to access and is private property on this end |
Turns out he must have meant Mud Lake Road. haha ~z
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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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Thu Apr 13, 2017 4:16 pm
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zephyr wrote: | Turns out he must have meant Mud Lake Road. haha ~z |
Thanks for catching that, zephyr. Corrected original text.
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PaleoCook Member
Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 134 | TRs | Pics
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I love the attention to detail RickP and zephyr . Also, these are wonderful trip reports. Thanks RichP! I enjoy reading all of them and keep wondering when I'll start veering away from the snow a bit...
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