I was out yesterday and noticed that the gate to road 57 was open. I drove up the road about 3 miles before having to turn around due to the road being blocked by heavy machinery. Those first 3 miles are being HEAVILY cut out, but most of the cutting appears to be done so hopefully it will get cleaned up and finished soon so they can re-open the road. There were a few other curious souls who had driven up the road as well.
I think they needed to replace 2 or 3 culverts as well. I stopped asking about this since they've missed every timeline they previously stated.
Mt Hood also just mentioned on Facebook that the contractor said they were halfway done with tree work....
And the contract allows them to work all through 2024. Sigh.
Half way done? We were able to drive just about to the edge of the burn and they cut like crazy. If they are only half done they are nuts...... I guess we will see when it opens, just like everywhere else has been. I'm just astounded at how long all this has taken.
Yea, maybe it's like 224 when there initial estimates were to cut all the way up to the ridgeline and then they adjusted and didn't cut anywhere close. I can't figure it all out and why it would take months to put in a couple culverts. I also heard they were done cutting up the Sandstone Road but have no idea what plans are for opening that road again.
57 and 4630 roads are now open (kinda sorta)
I made it up to Olallie Thursday night. The 4690 road after the pavement was a little rougher than last year, but not as bad as it was before the fires. Went in to Russ Lake, and there were a few snowbanks on the trail. Also went to Lower Lake. Same as last year.
I heard from a gentleman that I spoke with at Olallie that 57 was “open” but not officially. He said he had heard tales that it was now a "low priority" for law enforcement. Friday he had been up 57 to Shellrock Creek road (58) and went up, but was he was not able to make it all the way to High Rock as he had originally intended. Snow stopped him about 2/3 of the way up from the Hideaway turnoff.
After my trip up to Olallie lake, I was on the way back down from Olallie, and so I went up 57. I went up to Lake Harriet. It was very full and populated with folks camping and fishing. It was free fishing weekend, this makes sense.
At Harriet, the new change since last year was that the road (4630) to the dam and downstream, now has had the barriers removed. Of course, I had to go down to see just how far it was open. I made it down to the Skunk Creek / 4635 road that goes “up the hill”. The road up was open, but I noted a new “green gate” (was open). As much as I wanted to, I did not go up today, perhaps next time. I continued, and went on the road that goes down to Ripplebrook. I hoped to not have to backtrack, and I had a gut feeling that I would not make it out via Pipeline / Three Lynx. Sure enough, I was able to exit to 46 next to the RS. There was no gate but maybe a sign that said something about like being closed, right? As I went back to town, I noted that the gates at the bottom of 4631 and Three Lynx were still shut, just as I expected.
So, apparently, we can now go up via 57 to Harriet and down (or perhaps via Ripplebrook road?) and get access to the road up to 4635. A few years ago (before the fires) that road was always in bad shape, especially up on top and around the corner, with all the blowdown from winter. I am wondering if we can now make it to the Rimrock Trailhead, and Cache Meadow. I really like that area and wonder about the burn effects up there.