| Ranger's Logbook |
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008
The Cle Elum Ranger District is welcoming in June with beautiful wildflowers.
I suggest you take a drive up Table Mountain, Teanaway, or the Manastash in
the next week or two.
On the District this week…
Blowdown Report –
If you were around last year, you know our District looked like a Hurricane
debris field! We had record trees down, and on most trails, our trail crew
couldn’t walk more than a few feet before having to buck another timber wind
victim from the trail. This year is so much better (especially if you are a
member of our trail crew or V-Team)! The trails we have been able to clear
(primarily in the Taneum/Manastash and Swauk (Liberty) areas) have been
considerably more manageable than last season. I predict things might
change as we get higher, especially in the Teanaway and in the Cle Elum
Valley (Fortune Creek area, Red Mountain, etc.). We had some monster
avalanches on our District! The debris fields should be considerable (and for
some reason debris fields like to rest on top of our trails). Hey, if you find
something before we do, contact our station and let us know. Spring trail
damage / discovery is always fun. Last season, someone called to report the
Waptus Bridge was washed away!
Snow Melt –
The snow is melting really, really fast on the District, which means the water in
the creeks and rivers are running high and swift. I know I have been saying
this, but it needs repeating: Keep a close eye on your children and pets when
you are around the water. Log jams, debris, and fast rapids make the
waterways particularly dangerous.
The Cle Elum Valley –
You can make it to the Fish Lake Guard Station in 4-wheel drive, but I wouldn’t
drive past the Fortune Creek intersection with a two wheel drive vehicle. I didn’
t get a chance to wheel the Fortune Creek trail yesterday because we had
some work to do in Liberty, but I have it on my Friday planner, so I’ll try and let
you know what it looks like by Friday evening.
Table Mountain –
The true Table Mountain area (above the Liberty trails) remains under a
seasonal closure until June 15th. There is some evidence of a few idiots (can
I say that?) violating the closure, but most folks are respecting the rules. The
Liberty 4x4 trails were GREAT this past weekend. We ran the 4W324 and
4W323 yesterday and it was dry and traction was good.
Taneum and Manastash –
Just a quick “thanks” to almost everyone for cleaning up their Memorial Day
Weekend campsites. There was very little garbage left behind! A special
“thanks” to the HUGE group at the Gooseberry Campground. As a field
ranger, I cringed when I say cars and trucks packed in the area! We expected
to clean up a huge mess, but the group left it spotless.
The trails are clearing so fast! Our crew and volunteers are pushing the
snowline every week and making great progress. The North Fork Taneum
Trail #1377 remains closed 6.1 miles from the trailhead, and at the junction
of Fishhook Flat (1378) and 1377 east due to bridge damage. Please adhere
to the closure as our crews are trying to fix the problem. I will have an update
for you before the weekend.
Mark Hornback (V-Team) and the Moto-Crew report GREAT riding in the
Taneum area. Mark rode 60 miles last Saturday.
The Manastash single track trails are melting out, but we don’t have any
available loops. The 4W311 is clear, and the wheelers are reporting that the
4W307 is passable (with a winch).
Regarding the Box Canyon, Kachess trail #1312 and surrounding areas
(report by Tim “the trail boss” Foss) – The bridge over Box Canyon Creek, on
the Little Kachess trail # 1312 immediately north of Kachess Campground
is closed, and will remain so until we get the railings replaced. Several railing
posts rotted off last Fall,and we determined that the entire railing system is
unsafe. A fall off this bridge would be serious at best. We have made it a
priority to replace these railings, but it involves custom-making some
brackets, so realistically it will probably be 2-4 weeks before we can open this
bridge.
We have a really hard working crew this season, including our volunteers. We
couldn’t do a thing without our V-Team, so if you see them, give them a big
“thank-you”! I know you are probably all getting tired of hearing from me, and
the hikers probably want to hear from a ranger who can actually walk (you don’
t know how jealous I am!), so I’m trying to get another trail member to write the
next update (Thursday). You don’t understand what I am up against! I’ll
persevere and annoy someone to the point of participation, though. I’m still
working the sympathy vote, so I’m confident someone will crack. Take care,
be safe, and enjoy the trails for me! Mikki D
I suggest you take a drive up Table Mountain, Teanaway, or the Manastash in
the next week or two.
On the District this week…
Blowdown Report –
If you were around last year, you know our District looked like a Hurricane
debris field! We had record trees down, and on most trails, our trail crew
couldn’t walk more than a few feet before having to buck another timber wind
victim from the trail. This year is so much better (especially if you are a
member of our trail crew or V-Team)! The trails we have been able to clear
(primarily in the Taneum/Manastash and Swauk (Liberty) areas) have been
considerably more manageable than last season. I predict things might
change as we get higher, especially in the Teanaway and in the Cle Elum
Valley (Fortune Creek area, Red Mountain, etc.). We had some monster
avalanches on our District! The debris fields should be considerable (and for
some reason debris fields like to rest on top of our trails). Hey, if you find
something before we do, contact our station and let us know. Spring trail
damage / discovery is always fun. Last season, someone called to report the
Waptus Bridge was washed away!
Snow Melt –
The snow is melting really, really fast on the District, which means the water in
the creeks and rivers are running high and swift. I know I have been saying
this, but it needs repeating: Keep a close eye on your children and pets when
you are around the water. Log jams, debris, and fast rapids make the
waterways particularly dangerous.
The Cle Elum Valley –
You can make it to the Fish Lake Guard Station in 4-wheel drive, but I wouldn’t
drive past the Fortune Creek intersection with a two wheel drive vehicle. I didn’
t get a chance to wheel the Fortune Creek trail yesterday because we had
some work to do in Liberty, but I have it on my Friday planner, so I’ll try and let
you know what it looks like by Friday evening.
Table Mountain –
The true Table Mountain area (above the Liberty trails) remains under a
seasonal closure until June 15th. There is some evidence of a few idiots (can
I say that?) violating the closure, but most folks are respecting the rules. The
Liberty 4x4 trails were GREAT this past weekend. We ran the 4W324 and
4W323 yesterday and it was dry and traction was good.
Taneum and Manastash –
Just a quick “thanks” to almost everyone for cleaning up their Memorial Day
Weekend campsites. There was very little garbage left behind! A special
“thanks” to the HUGE group at the Gooseberry Campground. As a field
ranger, I cringed when I say cars and trucks packed in the area! We expected
to clean up a huge mess, but the group left it spotless.
The trails are clearing so fast! Our crew and volunteers are pushing the
snowline every week and making great progress. The North Fork Taneum
Trail #1377 remains closed 6.1 miles from the trailhead, and at the junction
of Fishhook Flat (1378) and 1377 east due to bridge damage. Please adhere
to the closure as our crews are trying to fix the problem. I will have an update
for you before the weekend.
Mark Hornback (V-Team) and the Moto-Crew report GREAT riding in the
Taneum area. Mark rode 60 miles last Saturday.
The Manastash single track trails are melting out, but we don’t have any
available loops. The 4W311 is clear, and the wheelers are reporting that the
4W307 is passable (with a winch).
Regarding the Box Canyon, Kachess trail #1312 and surrounding areas
(report by Tim “the trail boss” Foss) – The bridge over Box Canyon Creek, on
the Little Kachess trail # 1312 immediately north of Kachess Campground
is closed, and will remain so until we get the railings replaced. Several railing
posts rotted off last Fall,and we determined that the entire railing system is
unsafe. A fall off this bridge would be serious at best. We have made it a
priority to replace these railings, but it involves custom-making some
brackets, so realistically it will probably be 2-4 weeks before we can open this
bridge.
We have a really hard working crew this season, including our volunteers. We
couldn’t do a thing without our V-Team, so if you see them, give them a big
“thank-you”! I know you are probably all getting tired of hearing from me, and
the hikers probably want to hear from a ranger who can actually walk (you don’
t know how jealous I am!), so I’m trying to get another trail member to write the
next update (Thursday). You don’t understand what I am up against! I’ll
persevere and annoy someone to the point of participation, though. I’m still
working the sympathy vote, so I’m confident someone will crack. Take care,
be safe, and enjoy the trails for me! Mikki D
Eugene, the Jeep, works the 4W324
last Monday. The trails were in great
condition yesterday, but it's pouring
rain right now, so I'm sure the famous
Liberty red clay is very exciting today!
last Monday. The trails were in great
condition yesterday, but it's pouring
rain right now, so I'm sure the famous
Liberty red clay is very exciting today!
| Scotty "G" re-sticks a carsonite. Scott works for the Education and Enforcement program and is becoming a very capable 4x4 driver. |
| This is the only fun I am allowed to This is the only fun I am allowed to This is the only fun I am allowed to have, so I thank the PNW4x4 Club have, so I thank the PNW4x4 Club members for taking care of Eugene! The Timber Tamers 4x4 Club had it last. We thanked them several times today for fixing our air lockers! |
| E&E crew member, J-Mac in his E&E crew member, J-Mac in his team this season after serving several serving several summers as a V-Team member. He has a broken wing and I have a broken leg, so we make quite a pair. |
| This is where legends once served, including the great R.See. The Taneum Guard Station can now be rented by the public. It's a cute little cabin right off the F.S. 33 Road. |