Middle Fork Road Status - Jan 24, 2009

I did a recon up the Middle Fork on Saturday, January 24th to see what the floods have done. This road closed sign is right at the Mailbox Peak Trailhead (mile 2.5).

First the goods news, someone has fixed the two streams that had carved into the road by the river at about mile 3, they are passable.

The road becomes predominately snow and ice at about mile 3.



At mile 4.5, just past the river gaging station there is a washout from the river below. You can see that it cuts pretty deeply into the road but still passable. This is one of those washouts that goes all the way to the river and is going to cause some problems repairing (I would guess). If anything else slides, the road is cut here.

After that there is little or no damage for several miles. There is snow and ice on the road and you will need high clearance to get over it (my guess is trucks OK, Subarus are going to bottom out).

At about mile 9, just before the CCC road, there is a tree down. It has blocked the road and only one jeep seems to have driven past it.


The real damage is at mile 10 (where the washout was last November). The river has torn out a couple of hundred yards of the road. These two pictures are taken from the middle of the washout looking each way. There are several streams running through the road bed and, in general, there is not road.

I ditched the bike just past here because the snow got too soft to ride on and walked to the Middle Fork Trail. The trail is in great condition.






So, what next? We shall have to see what the repair situation is going to be on the road and if that washout at mile 4 does anything more.

Once someone goes in with a chainsaw, road should be passable to the CCC road. That being said, you don't want to be over that washout if it lets go and it is against the law to drive past a "road closed" sign.

Middle Fork Road is Messed Up

The rain, floods, and Biblical weather has taken its toll on the Middle Fork Road. We hiked Mailbox Peak last Saturday, road is good to there although you can see the damage just before the houses. The upper road is closed but you can get through the lower road.

Just past the Mailbox Peak trailhead, where the road gets to the river, there are some major washouts. High clearance 4WD will get you through the first two. I am going to take a look further in next weekend but it looks bad.

I spoke with a guy who said he had called and was told no repair until August. Hope it's sooner than that.

Project Sand Shed

Well this has all certainly taken a new turn. Zach and I were discussing some of the materials we had put together lately when we started thinking about videos. After talking to Bill Walker who produced a video on the local train line, we thought it might be a good idea to make a video. Then, in a discussion with Gardiner Vinnedge, he pointed out that something was needed on the history of the Middle Fork.

So I met with Gardiner, kicked some ideas around and Zach and I are now looking at the next steps to create a documentary. Looks like a lot of work but a lot of fun as well. For now, we shall code name it "Project Sandshed". Don't tell Spielberg, he'll want in!

History of the MF

With the cold weather and holidays, I have been concentrating on researching the history around the Middle Fork. There is remarkably more than I expected with little documentation that I have found so far. I have recently spoken with two very helpful people, Dick Kirby who was the summer fire patrol technician for the Forest Service in the Middle Fork from 1965 to 1997 and Bill Davis a long time member of Search and Rescue.

They have been providing me information which I am trying to figure out how to capture. I am thinking that I am going to start a MF Map Project where I create a master map with all of this information.

I must say, it felt a bit odd this last weekend to not go to the MF Valley for the first time in ten weeks. I think I am getting hooked.

An old-growth Forest

Last Saturday Ellie and I started at Dingford Creek and hiked the Middle Fork Trail to Goldmyer Hotsprings. The first two miles is all old-growth. This was my first time in this section and it is impressive. If you want to photograph, picnic in, or just see old growth, this is the place to go.

The old growth starts as soon as you cross the footbridge at the trailhead and goes East (West a little, but not much). Big cedars sit along the trail immediately but big Douglas firs come later. One footbridge has a giant just on the other side. The top is blown off, but it's a great picture. I didn't get it right, not enough light and a lot of shake. Guess I'll have to go back.

Changing role of the Blog

I am definitely changing the role of the blog. It started as the main content, but that is now on www.middleforkgiants.com. I think I will use this more to just pass out thoughts.

Ever considered where all the wood from the old growth we logged went? Most was used for buildings and structures which have since been torn down or destroyed. Sure, some are in nice studs in old house but the vast majority were in mills, factories, bridges, and trestles which are now made of concrete or steel. We mowed them down in order to have cheap wood. What did it gain us?

Maybe we should consider this as we discuss mountain-removal mining and other permanent scare type impacts. Is it worth destroying a mountain range in order to have cheap coal and a few jobs?

I had committed to keep middleforkgiants as a fairly factual endeavor but can't seem to control myself this evening. I guess that's the advantage of a blog.

middleforkgiants.com

I am shifting the role of this blog, it is now simply my tree hunting blog. The main site for Middle Fork Giants is www.middleforkgiants.com. Although still under construction, the grove information, videos, and more are on the website. So head to middleforkgiants.com!