Middle Fork Road is Closed at the new 5 mile Gate

As of Tuesday the 8th the Middle Fork Road is once again closed at the new gate just past five miles (near the USFS boundary). This is for road maintenance and to repair the Taylor River Bridge.

The road is completely closed to all use for the first four days, then there are mixed messages on whether or not we can bike or hike past the gate.


My guess is that it is like any other USFS closure, tight for a while but low budgets and little staff mean the gate isn't going to be guarded for long.

Middle Fork Road is Closing Again

The Middle Fork Road is going to close again at the Forest boundary (new gate at mile 5.6). I have heard from two sources this will be a complete, enforced closure starting Tuesday, September 8th through the rest of the year.

There is some conflict in message, though, the USFS website only says closed Sept 8-11. We will see, but my bet is it is closed for balance of the year.

Good news is the closure is to allow the USFS to fix the bridge across the Taylor and restore access.

Is This The Tallest Tree in the Middle Fork?

That is an interesting question for a couple of reasons.

First, it is the tallest tree I have measured to date at 249'. That is after 3 measurements from three directions and then averaging. It is a leaner and hard to measure. It is about 9' in diameter. Painfully, it is essentially the same height as the big tree in Twin Falls State Park. I really want to find a bigger tree in the Middle Fork (Twin Falls is in the South Fork of the Snoqualmie). It is as large as the Pratt Giant before the top blew off.
Second, is why I am posting this. Some sincere, concerned big tree fans have contacted me worried that I am posting the locations of all of the big trees. I have assured them that I am posting how to get to some to visit but not all of them. One person sug

gested I never publish the "biggest", "tallest", or "most interesting" because people would flock to it and harm it. Reasonable concern.
So, generally, here is my thinking on what to publish:1. I post interesting trees or groves. I try to draw attention to trees that make good visits or to unlikely groves.
2. I do not publish everything, both trees and historical sites.3. I do not publish GPS coordinates, but I have been taking them at key sites and big trees.

So where is this tree? Guess I'll leave that as a mystery for a while. It is in an unlikely site, one I never would have looked in (there are stumps all around). I heard about it third hand and put a

 couple of pieces of information together to find it.

I hope it's not the tallest tree in the Middle Fork!

Crossing the Taylor River at the Washed-Out Bridge

If you are looking to get across the Taylor River there is no better time than now (except maybe when the bridge is "in").  Crossing at the bridge is easy, hop on rocks, walk under the bridge and finish up on a log.  I did it with my bike and didn't get my feet wet.

Great access to Quartz Creek, Taylor River Trail, or the road to Dingford.  The road to Dingford is rough, lots of washouts (probably about 10-12).  The guys from Spruce properties have done some work so they can get their quad along there so it's not too bad.  Leave about an hour to get to Dingford trailhead on a mountain bike.

The Pratt is Tough Going

We went into the Pratt filming this last Saturday. Definitely tough going. Lots of brush grown up, especially in the area where the trail leaves the river and connects with the railroad grade (area between "Halfway House" and "Big Trees" sign). Might want to consider long pants if going up the Pratt. After the Big Trees sign, it's clear going.

If you cross the river you are going to find some really rough brush to get to the trail. The trail is hard to find that goes to the river. We did not go on the section between Gateway Bridge and the Pratt but suspect that last mile (old logging road) is probably pretty brushy as well.

Whole thing kind of speaks well for fall and winter Pratt expeditions.

Middle Fork Trail is Accessible

The road is in great shape to the Middle Fork trail.  Graded and smooth, it hasn't looked this good in a long time.

The Middle Fork trail is a great hike right now.  There are a few stream slide outs that you have to get through but nothing unreasonable.  I did the stretch from the Gateway bridge to Dingford Crossing and it was great.  Get out and enjoy!

BTW:  The worst stream wash out is the first one you come to.  The pink flags are a little sparse, so work your way across the sand and rock and remember the trail out is about the same level as the trail in.

Summer is Film Season

For project Sand Shed, now is the time to start filming. We may have a shorter window than we thought with some rumors that the MF road will be closed in mid September for more repairs through December.

Expect more news on filming and film dates in July and August.