Forum Index > Trip Reports > Sams 10-15-17 - 10-16-17
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PostTue Oct 17, 2017 3:28 pm 
Sams 10-15-17 - 10-16-17 USGS 7.5 topographical Matheny Ridge USGS 12040500 10-15-17 05:30 PDT 438 CFS Central Park 37° F 08:20 PDT Amanda Park 53° F 09:30 PDT Sunrise Kalaloch 10-15-17 07:37 PDT Sunset Kalaloch 10-15-17 18:29 PDT It seemed like a good opportunity to take advantage of what looked to be the last little window of good weather and low water. No vehicles at trailhead at 10:30 AM upon arrival. As I was setting out, another vehicle pulled in. Mr. K. and his two companions had driven all the way out from Shelton on a search for chanterelles. He said his grandfather first started visiting the area in 1935. The starting point is the eastern end of the Sams River Loop Trail. You can find more detailed route information in a previous trip report.
Sams River 101617 03
Sams River 101617 03
After following remnants of the old trail, I cut out to the river at what Todd Patton referred to as "the clay bank" just a little ways upstream.
Sams River 101517 01
Sams River 101517 01
Sams River 101517 02
Sams River 101517 02
Sams River 101517 03
Sams River 101517 03
I worked my way upstream a ways on the gravel bars, fording the river about six times before I found a suitable spot to pitch the tent. My original plan had been to get up into the "canyon" area described by Robert Wood in his descriptions of the trail. Sam said when he walked up there a few weeks ago he found some pretty impressive specimens of Douglas Fir on the north bank just above the bottom of the canyon. After getting the tent set up and things organized, I didn't really have enough hours of daylight to embark on any long journey, so I took the new tripod out for a little walk and marveled at the light playing on the trees and listening to the river.
Sams River 101517 04
Sams River 101517 04
Sams River 101517 05
Sams River 101517 05
Sams River 101517 06
Sams River 101517 06
Sams River 101517 07
Sams River 101517 07
Sams River 101517 08
Sams River 101517 08
Sams River 101517 09
Sams River 101517 09
Sams River 101517 10
Sams River 101517 10
Sams River 101517 11
Sams River 101517 11
Sams River 101517 12
Sams River 101517 12
Sams River 101517 13
Sams River 101517 13
Fixed up some dinner and ate while the sun dropped down below the trees and the temperature started to drop.
Sams River 101517 14
Sams River 101517 14
Sat and watched the fire and the stars until almost midnight - until Cassiopeia had climbed high above Polaris. Crawled inside a dripping wet tent and went to sleep. By morning the weather had changed - the front moved in off the coast a bit ahead of what the forecast had called for. I shook off the tent as best I could, packed up, and headed back down toward the trailhead.
Sams River 101617 01
Sams River 101617 01
Sams River 101617 02
Sams River 101617 02
bk Sams River 101617 01
bk Sams River 101617 01
Drove up to Kalaloch for a much-needed gigantic latte, and then down to Ashenbrenner for a feast, having skipped cooking breakfast. Spent an hour or so enjoying lunch and watching the whales spout just outside the breakers before the long drive home.
lunch at Ashenbrenner 101617 01
lunch at Ashenbrenner 101617 01
bk Ashenbrenner 101617 01
bk Ashenbrenner 101617 01
Hwy 101 101617 01
Hwy 101 101617 01
The clouds finally started breaking up just on the west side of the pass over the Black Hills, but surprisingly the temperature at Amanda Park at 15:30 was 60° F, and at Central Park 60° F at 16:35. Got back home with just enough dry wind to hang up the tent outside and dry it off.

"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
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Ski
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PostThu Oct 19, 2017 12:19 am 
it's all over for this season. USGS 12040500 101517 0530 PDT 438 CFS 101617 2330 PDT 404 CFS 101717 0930 PDT 530 CFS 101717 1530 PDT 2190 CFS 101717 1900 PDT 4400 CFS 101817 0330 PDT 2210 CFS 101817 0830 PDT 1700 CFS 101817 1030 PDT 1650 CFS 101817 1530 PDT 3460 CFS 101817 1630 PDT 5770 CFS 101817 2130 PDT 39800 CFS 101817 2330 PDT 39900 CFS 101817 2345 PDT 40400 CFS
USGS 12040500 101817 2345 PDT 40400 CFS
USGS 12040500 101817 2345 PDT 40400 CFS

"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
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awilsondc
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awilsondc
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PostThu Oct 19, 2017 8:02 am 
Looks like a great spot to spend a couple days! Nice fall color.
Ski wrote:
it's all over for this season.
Unfortunately I think you're right. bawl.gif

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JonnyQuest
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JonnyQuest
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PostThu Oct 19, 2017 9:01 am 
When these hiking options end, paddling begins! smile.gif

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meck
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meck
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PostThu Oct 19, 2017 5:18 pm 
Looks like a nice trip Ski! I was pretty surprised to see those gauge readings jump nearly 100x in two days!!! The Calawah and Humptulips jumped pretty good too, I think the Calawah saw almost a ~250x increase from low to high during yesterday's storm! Can you make it up Sam's River very far even with slightly higher water, or are you pretty much limited to just the area near the TH? (is it really done for the season?)

*Just say NO to Rent-Seeking, don't give up the concept of "ownership"*
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Ski
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PostThu Oct 19, 2017 6:10 pm 
meck: trip report from a couple years ago with more detailed route information The old "Sams River Trail" breaks off from the "Sams River Loop Trail" at the easternmost point of the south side of the "Sams River Loop Trail" (right about the point where the section line is on the first map below.) The fork is easily discernable if you're on the loop trail going counter-clockwise, but one could easily miss it going clockwise. From there it's a matter of just bearing east, staying parallel to the Sams, about 50-100 feet back from the edge of the bank. There's a little hump you have to go up and over about 200 yards from the loop trail - that will drop you down into a muddy area - if you look around you'll find a couple logs that you can walk on to get over that first little drainage that comes down off the ridge from the south - they were still solid enough to walk on Monday. Beyond that crossing, just head pretty much due east, staying back away from the river a bit, and you should be able to pick up little pieces of the old trail - pretty easy the first couple times I did it. It was past that second drainage where I got waylaid in an area that had been clearcut about 25-30 years ago - the slash on the ground was pretty nasty to wade through and it was about 90° F that day and I just wasn't in the mood to contend with the slash and the bugs and the heat. The water was pretty high that day (in mid-May) and full of silt so I don't think just working ones way up the channel (like I just did this week) would be feasible now that the rains have started again. I wandered up just a little ways - really not very far up as the crow flies. (As near as I can tell from "Google Earth", about here: 47.619170, -123.987679 ) When Sam went up there (September 26th), he said he crossed over and worked his way up the north bank - up and back away from the river a bit - and got up to the bottom end of the canyon, which is where he said he found a pretty impressive stand of Douglas Fir. I just didn't think I had enough daylight to get up there and back before the sun dropped down behind the ridge Sunday - the days are getting much shorter and the temperature dropped pretty fast after sunset. You could attempt going up along the south bank, but once you get up to where I was it's quite a bit higher than the river - maybe 50-60 feet - and if you get into those old clearcut units it won't be fun. If you can find the elk trails you've got it made - I think luck just wasn't on my side that day when I got tangled up in that mess. Not sure if these are going to be much help, as the channel has changed radically since these were printed. Even the "Google Earth" image is a bit misleading - the river at the lower end is pretty wild on that flood plain.
Salmon River East 7.5 topo 1990 snip
Salmon River East 7.5 topo 1990 snip
Matheny Ridge 7.5 topo 1990 snip
Matheny Ridge 7.5 topo 1990 snip
The "Sams River Loop Trail" can be done all year round - I've gone up there when it was frozen - but if there's big wind and rain the rangers lock the gate at Phelan Creek (on the 2180-010 road) to keep people out - they don't want to have to go rescue somebody stuck behind a tree that fell down across the road.

"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
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