Be the cryptid you wish to see in the woods
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20240826 Burnt Mountain, MBSNF
After exploring the USFS 45-77 Rd, I drove Hwy 12 thru the Rimrock Retreat Burn – it was very sad to see an area I love so much still smoking after the devastating fire. However, not all is burned over in the Tieton Valley, and the massive oak tree I like to visit is likely…
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20240825 Scouting along Cortright Ridge, USFS 45-077 Rd, GPNF
Thinking about the Orogenesis Trail, and wondering what’s at the end of the USFS 45-077 Rd. Does any kind of trail continue from there toward the USFS 1284 Rd? Spoiler: It does not. But I had a very enjoyable day exploring this road. Images taken August 25, 2024 along USFS 45-077 Rd, GPNF 6.84 miles…
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20240810-12 PCT – Hwy 410 at Morse Creek to Arch Rock Spring
Finally, time for a big hike! Driving thru Skate Creek to reach Hwy 123, I continued over Chinook Pass to Morse Creek, parking a very short distance up the USFS 1700-462 Rd, parking in a dispersed camping area. (It was quite a nice campsite, I would totally go back!). I always get on the road…
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20240722 Backbone Ridge Ramble, GPNF
Not much to write about for this one… after spending a lovely evening alongside the Muddy Fork, and not quite ready to wade back acoss the river to head home, I decided to check in on Backbone Lake. I also explored some of the 1270 Road beyond the trail head, then wrapped up my ramble…
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20240721 JB to Coal Creek @ USFS 4610
Drove up to Jody’s Bridge to spend the night. Someday, I’ll stop calling it Jody’s Bridge. The bridge hasn’t been there in nearly 20 years… Waded across the river and set up camp at the mouth of the Muddy Fork Cowlitz. Found a nice hang on the edge of the forest overlooking the river and…
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20240717 Exploring Lone Tree Mountain, GPNF
Joined fellow ancient trail explorer Gabriel Amadeus Tiller in exploring Lone Tree Mountain for a possible routing of the Orogenesis Trail. First thought: Impossible! Especially after my previous exploration of the area just above Camp Creek Falls. On getting back to my overnight campsite at the 5508-019 spur (de-commed, great site!), my tune has changed.…
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20240609 Encounters with Iris tenax, & a Hike to Packwood Lake, GPNF
Being eager for a backpacking trip, but not so eager to deal with the snow in the high country, I opted for a trip in to Packwood Lake, the long way. On my way in to the valley, I wanted to scope out a section of the “Packwood Trail” that connects Johnson Creek Rd (USFS…
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20240519 Camp Creek, GPNF
Spent the night at Cispus, and then spent a rainy day exploring Camp Creek, above the falls. Gabe has me thinking about a trail up Lone Tree Mountain. I followed a faint trace up the mountain to a dog-leg in the old, abandoned logging road, but the landscape looked steeper and rougher than I wanted…
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20240316 Birthday Ride
Always looking for a big adventure on my birthday, I took advantage of the beautiful weather in the Big Bottom Valley for a spring bike ride to Ohanapecosh. It was probably a bigger thing than I should’ve attempted this early in the season, but I had a great time. Parking along the Falls Rd near…
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20231021 Klickitat Trail #7, GPNF
A last minute decision to spend the weekend hiking finds me heading for Packwood late Saturday morning. Turning off on USFS 20 Rd, I park at the Jackpot Lake trail head, enjoying the autumn colors on the way up the canyon. The road is in good shape, the potholes not so deep and numerous, large…