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  • Bull of the Woods feedback needed

    We need feedback regarding current snow conditions in Bull of the Woods from Whetstone to Silverking on Trail 546 and on Trail 550 to the lookout. Planning some trail work this weekend.
    Thanks.
    Bull of the Woods feedback needed
  • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
  • 7/28/08; 5:07:45 AM ¦ by Rob Williams
  • I will be going to that area this week to do a backpacking trip with my daughter.  I'll be taking part of Whetstone (to Silver King Lake) to Twin Lakes.  We probably won't be getting up to 550, though.  I'll post when we get back on Thursday.

    Rob
  • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
  • 7/28/08; 11:18:53 AM ¦ by Doug Firman

  • I hiked the Whetstone Trail 546 to Twin Lakes last Thursday, starting at the trailhead off of Rd 7020.  There are occasional patches of deep snow from the Wilderness boundary until the trail begins to climb toward the junction with the trail to Whetstone Mtn.  I don't recall any snow once the trail began to climb, except for a few patches within about 1/4 mile past that junction.  Beyond that, the trail is clear of snow all the way to Twin Lakes.  Still lots of snow at Upper Twin Lake, though.

    There are several large trees down across the trail in the first mile of 546.  After that, I don't recall any major problems.  The worst part of this route to Twin Lakes is the one mile stretch of Bagby Trail 544, which is seriously overgrown.

  • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
  • 8/1/08; 5:25:28 AM ¦ by Rob Williams
  • Almost all of the snow is melted out on Whetstone.  There are a few patches of 1-3' deep drifts, but there are only a few of them, and they are melting fast.  As I've seen on other trails, the snow patches were limited to the middle elevations (3900-4200' or so).  We went up to Whetstone Mountain, and there was no snow up there at all.

    As far as tree counts go, there were probably 12-15 trees down over the Whetstone trail, however most of them were easy stepovers.  There were only 2 or 3 that were difficult to get over, and a few of them could probably simply be moved with 2 or 3 strong people.  I was able to move a couple of rotted logs off the trail myself.  On the trail from Whetstone up to Whetstone Mountain (3369?), that is is rough shape.  There are about 40 trees down, with at least 5 or 6 of them being rather difficult to get around.  On the trail up to Silver King Lake, there is a LARGE tree that went down at the bottom of a rockslide that is VERY difficult to get around.

    As I saw someone else report, the Bagby trail could use some serious brush removal.  I had my clippers with me and did a little, but it needs a lot more work that one person with a set of hand clippers can do.  Some sections of the trail are hard to see and get around, especially on the steeper sections since the trail is so narrow.  The trail up to SIlver King Lake is in similar condition.  Very steep, and the brush on the uphill and down hill sides of the trail make for a tough descent in many places.

    All in all we had a great time, and saw some beautiful country.  I'll post another message with additional details.
    • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
    • 8/1/08; 7:46:57 AM ¦ by Donovan
    • Thank you Rob and Doug for this excellent information. This tells us what we need to know.
      The fire was late last Summer. I will try to find out about restoration of the site. I can't remember if it was camper or lightning caused. I do remember that it was very quickly suppressed.
      • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
      • 8/1/08; 11:30:39 AM ¦ by Rob Williams
      • Speaking of camper caused fires:  Just a reminder to everyone to make sure that your campfires are OUT COLD before you leave a campsite.  When we got to the Silver King Lake campsite, the fire pit was still hot, and outside of the fire pit, the duff was smoldering.....We doused it with water a couple of times before it stopped smoking.
        • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
        • 8/1/08; 2:36:30 PM ¦ by Patti Winters
        • I was wondering if anyone has seen any cougar while hiking this area? I haven't hiked this area before, but plan on going Saturday for a day hike.
          • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
          • 8/1/08; 7:01:21 PM ¦ by Rob Williams
          • Patti:

            Although I have heard of encounters, I have never seen any cougars while hiking this area.  I did, however add a whistle to my pack this year for two reasons:  If I get lost/hurt, and also to scare off (hopefully) any wild critters if I come across them.  I also usually hike with my dog, which should give me a little more protection.  Truthfully, I don't worry about it too much.

            Rob
          • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
          • 8/1/08; 9:45:16 PM ¦ by Doug Firman

          • Patti,

            I did see a cougar a couple of years ago on the Dickey Creek trail.  It was actually walking along the trail a good distance ahead of me as I came around a bend.  We both stopped and looked at each other and then it sauntered off into the underbrush.  I continued on with my hike past where the cougar had been, and have hiked that trail several times since, and have not seen another cougar.  I do most of my hiking in the Bull of the Woods and surrounding areas, both on and off-trail, and this is the only time I have seen one.

            Cougars are out there, but you probably won't see one.  Go ahead and enjoy your hike, just be aware that you are in cougar habitat.  Washington Dept of Wildlife has a brochure that might be of interest.

            • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
            • 8/2/08; 7:18:30 AM ¦ by Rob Williams
            • Doug:

              I read that page you posted, and it verified something I had thought was true:  That Cougars are most active from dusk to dawn, although they can be active during the day.

              What time of day did you see the Cougar?  I've hiked that trail several times and never seen one.

              Just curious....

              Thanks for the link.  It was interesting reading.

              Rob
              • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
              • 8/2/08; 12:13:41 PM ¦ by Doug Firman

              • Rob,

                It was about 8:30 am in mid-July.  A bit past dawn for that time of year, but maybe this guy had a busy night and was running late that day ;-)

                Doug

                • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
                • 8/2/08; 6:22:12 PM ¦ by Rob Williams
                • Boy, you are an early riser!  To get on the trail by 8:30, you had to leave early...  I don't usually get on the trail till at least 10:00 or later due to the driving (and me not wanting to get up at the crack of dawn).

                  At any rate, interesting info.  I hope I don't meet one, but I feel pretty confident that I'd be fine if I did (although it would probably scare the bezeeses out of me!)

                  Rob
  • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
  • 8/2/08; 9:34:23 PM ¦ by Patti Winters
  • Thank you, Rob and Doug for the information. Due to the weather, I didn't go today. I wanted to be able to enjoy the veiw, so instead I will go Sunday. I enjoy more challenging hikes than the people I know, so I go alone. I have always wore a whistle and I now care a side arm. I am so looking forward to this hike!

    Patti
    • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
    • 8/3/08; 7:51:53 PM ¦ by Donovan
    • The Whetstone trail and 3369 to the summit are cleared of trees down except one at the beginning of the trail for which we need to bring the larger saw.
      We are still in need of info about 550 to the tower and from Pansy Lake to the tower. We want to get the crosscuts in there as soon as possible.
      Everyone we met on the trail this weekend complained about 544 from Silverking to the Twin Lakes cutoff.
      544 is adopted by the Northwest Forest Conservancy. This segment is so far in that it will require a work camp and many man days of labor. I will see what we can get arranged. But the tower loop will be our next priority because it is so popular.

      As for cougars. Expect them at any time. We were eating trail mix on the Burnt Granite trail at 2pm  August  20 two years ago and had TWO cougars come visit us. They were less than thirty feet away. They were exceptionally beautiful for about three seconds. Then they were exceptionally terrifying. We were being studied as prey.
      After standing and making whoop, etc., they slunk off. Another 3/4 mile up the trail, they closed in on us again. We were terrified. I had a Pulaski and a rock. My wife threw a rock and ran. They closed in on us in a flash, I cursed and profaned them and threw the baseball sized rock at the closest one who was doing the lowered approach. They responded by bounding off like elk through the brush.
      The year before, I met a cougar kitten at Hambone Springs.
      To much cougar for me. I am exceedingly wary. A cougar encounter is kinda like a car wreck; you may or may not have anything to do with it and you never know when or if it will happen.
      Give them reason to be scared and don't behave like prey.

            • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
            • 8/12/08; 6:40:20 AM ¦ by Robert Koscik

            • Sorry I missed out on the adventure.  I have to get my crosscut in order, that would be a good fall project.  Anyone have a spare handle out there????

              I'm going to be out of commission for a couple weeks, heading to the coast, then my kid goes off to college.  We still have to plan on that Plaza trip...what about September 4 to ?

              • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
              • 8/14/08; 11:38:11 AM ¦ by Patti Winters
              • I went up to Bull of the Woods tower on August 12th. I started from Pansy Lake Trail #551; only four or five trees down. On the Dickey Lake Trail #549; twenty or more trees down, many in groups. I was lucky that someone had been up there before me (last sign in was on the 8th), some groups I could climb over others had to be gone around. On Bull of the Woods Trail #550, five or so trees down. The bugs were heavy; they don't know what bug spray means. It was a good hike though. I didn't see anyone until I was heading back on FR 6350, two forest service guys. My hike to Whetstone on August 3rd was great! The view was fantastic! I past some of the guys clearing trail's, I want to thank them again for doing that.
                  • Re: Bull of the Woods feedback needed (#)
                  • 8/15/08; 4:54:43 PM ¦ by Matt Reeder
                  • We did Whetstone Mtn and the Ridge today. Thanks to all for maintaining the trail; it was really nice! I'd buy you a round if I knew you all.