Tag: GPNF
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20251003-09 High Cowlitz Grand Tour
Best laid plans and all… I had intended to enjoy a big hike along the Pacific Northwest National Trail for my vacation the first two weeks of October. I’ve been crazy busy at work, its been very stressful, and I was really, really looking forward to some time in the Olympics. I was not looking…
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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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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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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…
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20230916 Lost Hat Lake, GPNF
I’ve long wanted to get up into this high country above Packwood, along the very top of the Coal Creek Mountain. I tried once before, but got turned back by snow. And the entire area has been closed d/t the wildfire last summer, until just this past week. So, up I go! I start out…
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20230704 Yellowjacket Creek, GPNF
While camped down along the Cispus River, I explored the lower reaches of Yellowjacket Creek, and found a great swimming hole! Images taken along Yellowjacket Creek, Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 3.8 miles hiked, with 107 feet of elevation gain, and a whole lotta getting wet.