Hello,
just hiked the Cripple Creek Trail yesterday. Very very beautiful and remote, thank you very much for the info. The trail is in really good condition, with lots of old growth. There is a huge down tree blocking the path about 1 1/2 miles in, rather dangerous getting past it. Are there any volunteer opportunities for chainsaw use and labor? I've never used one, but I'd be willing to learn! I really appreciate the nice job someone did to maintain this trail, for one "abandoned", this one is pretty nice. I started out in the rain, and gradually climbed up into the snow zone. Is this area in danger of logging? The area north of the Clackamas seems exceptionally remote, rugged, and pristine. Look forward to checking out more of such trails!
Btw, what's the story with the tiny "town" up the hillside from 224? Old well maintained buildings, looks weird up there! Wouldn't mind living there, what a location...
Tiny town is Three Lynx. Workers associated with the powerplant, the pipeline, Frog Lake and Lake Harriet intake, etc., live there. It is rather charming. Had a school, but now the few kids from there and Ripplebrook are bussed to Estacada.
Call Clackamas District office and ask to talk to someone in Recreation about helping with maintainance. Could use help.
I think it's safe from logging. A lot of the top of the canyon has already been taken but it doesn't impact the trail much.
D.
Hey, thanks! Appreciate getting back to me. The Clackamas is my favorite area in NW Oregon, it has that old fashioned heavy mojo. Even wrote a folky song about it....
So sad to see so much of it clearcut. I wonder how magnificient it was 200 years ago. Probably spooky as hell. I still get spooked when I see cougar scratches.
Next year we're going to try leading hikes on weekends. We were stalked by two cougars last Summer. For years the woods are amiable and then without notice something terrifying will happen.
About ten years ago a mudslide rolled over the trail a few hundred feet ahead of us. All normal occurances but spooky nonetheless.
There is a lot of logged over ground. A hundred years ago 35% of it was burned over.
Someday I'll list the trails with no or minimal logging impact (outside the wilderness areas).
D.
Yeah, it's spooky enough in it's natural state! At least cougars don't tend to attack humans...
All that silence is incredible, especially in the old growth. Even hearing snow falling off branches can be un nerving. I think I'd poop myself if that mudslide happened! You're right, the Clackamas area has been terribly abused, I can't imagine the logic that would allow such a thing to happen. People tend to think in terms of $$$ at the expense of everything else. I understand we need wood, but leave the irreplacable stuff alone, it takes a looooooooooooong time for old growth to establish. Keep it alone, it's getting rare! Hopefully Roaring River, Eagle Creek, and other roadless areas will be left alone. I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir. There sure is a lot of beautiful country left in the area though. I'd really like to check out the abandoned hike down on Fish Creek up to the mountaintop, bet that's wild.
Just hiked the Dry Ridge/Roaring River trail yesterday with a friend from out of town. Hiked it last year, but it's funny how the memory works, I don't remember it beeing entirely uphill! Beautiful none the less. Trail seems like it's still maintained, it must be active. Some cougar scratches up on the ridgetop, but no signs of wildlife. Critters must be hunkering down for the winter.
It would be a lot easier for us 9-5ers to hike on the weekends, and I'd really like to meet some folks from the Clacky area, seem like a nice bunch of folks. I live in Portland now, but have entertained ideas of living around Estacada once I get done with schooling (some day...)