Pulling more-or-less figures from Google Earth, the trailhead is at 44 59 15 / 122 12 33 and the jumpoff point at 44 59 48 / 122 11 43.

Here is a Google Earth capture with my 4th of July flower viewing trip which shows the main route in red. The yellow is the proposed bushwhack downhill to the road which goes N. from there to Surprise Lake (shown). As this is high elevation old growth it might be possible to route-find with little whacking. The Google Earth path tool shows about .4 mile bushwhack and 1.4 mile road, which may be brushy. The trail up to the jumpoff is around 2 miles of easy going.

If any of you want to give this a try, I'm ready to go and have pruning equipment. I will say that I haven't done but a little pruning off trail or on old roads in this area.

Bryon

That is an interesting route - maybe the most direct I have seen.  I think your plan of going thru that old growth is promising, and the fact that it is relatively short helps a lot.

I'm interested in exploring this route, but with all the roads closed, it will be a LONG drive out to Thunder Mountain - unless you have a good detour route?

Thats actually the best thing about this route - a nice drive up the Molalla to the Lost Creek area, with the TH close to the forgotten Lost Creek Meadows.

No fires on the Molalla this year, no closures.

 Paul and I looked at that route you are proposing we looked at it from the bottom. As far as we could tell the terrain is very steep in there especially at the head water area of Fish Creek. There is also a huge amount of Devils club and the area is thick with rhododendron which is worse then alder for bushwhacking through. One route we are thinking may work better is to either head straight over Batty butte and then down along the south side of Bracket Mtn to the old quarry and spur road that drops into Surprise lake. We followed it up from Surprise to Bracket Mtn and it was fairly easy going.

If anyone is interested I am planning on going back to Surprise lake this upcoming weekend, as long as the weather holds out, Leaving Friday morning 10/3/14 and heading in over Thunder Mtn to Surprise lake. Staying to Sunday. I plan on exploring the ridge north of Surprise lake and maybe even looking at a route up to Bracket and Batty. Any one interested in joining me?

Bryon Boyce said
Thats actually the best thing about this route - a nice drive up the Molalla to the Lost Creek area, with the TH close to the forgotten Lost Creek Meadows.

No fires on the Molalla this year, no closures.

Hey Bryon, a couple of friends and I are going to hike to Skookum Lake this week and was wondering how the road into Lost Creek Meadow is for we are going in a Subaru car?

Don