Snog pass area hike/scramble tomorrow anyone?

[String]

Going to head up to the Dutch Miller Gap (via middlefork) and scramble up to the top (hopefully) of Little Big Chief tomorrow. Round trip of about 18 miles with an elevation gain of 4500, I think it can be done in a long day. 3000ft scramble after an easy 7.5 miles. This hike is absolutly amazing and passes many doable lines for the winter time, unfortunatly in the springtime the USFS will be putting a gate 7 miles from the trailhead. I plan on making numerous hikes out here this winter to experience the area before it's to late. The north face of Summit Chief is jaw dropping as is Bears Breast Mtn. Plan on being at the trailhead by 8am so will be leaving the eastside at 5am. Any takers?

[Mike Adamson]

Secret crags in that vicinity. Those chutes make nice yo-yo'ing in the winter and aren't that hard to get to. Big Snow is to the NNW over the shoulder of those crags.

http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/24/2081/640/DSCN0624.jpg

[String]

Secret crags in that vicinity. Those chutes make nice yo-yo'ing in the winter and aren't that hard to get to. Big Snow is to the NNW over the shoulder of those crags.

http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/24/2081/640/DSCN0624.jpg

Sick, good to hear those have been hit! Are they as steep as they look from below in the summer?

[Chainsaw_Willie]

When I click on that link it gives a Forbidden error. Bummer, I'd like to see the lines you guys are talking about. Been awhile since I've been up that way.

So the FS is finally going to gate the MF road, but only 7 miles from the end? They were talking about gating it at Dingford Creek and this was supposedly going to happen like 5 years ago. Is this new plan now set in stone?

Sorry to hijack...

[String]

When I click on that link it gives a Forbidden error. Bummer, I'd like to see the lines you guys are talking about. Been awhile since I've been up that way.

So the FS is finally going to gate the MF road, but only 7 miles from the end? They were talking about gating it at Dingford Creek and this was supposedly going to happen like 5 years ago. Is this new plan now set in stone?

Sorry to hijack...


A ranger told me that it will be gated at Dingford (7 miles) as soon as the bridge is built across the river at the Goldmeyer hot Springs. He thought that it would happen in the spring, the gate is already in place as well. Forgot to ask why they are gating the road, any idea?

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Well, that makes even less sense. Why build a bridge across the river beyond where they're gating the road. Or, is it a hiker/foot only bridge like the one they built just downstream of the mouth of the Taylor River?

This whole plan to gate the road is part of the Forest Service's Middle Fork area management plan, and was backed by the volunteer group that has adopted the Middle Fork valley. I think they call themselves "MidForc" or something like that. They have a website that you could probably find by Googling "Middle Fork Snoqualmie."

It's been a few years since I looked into this or talked to anyone so things may have changed and my recollection may not be accurate, but basically MidForc decided that the upper valley should be hiker only access and lobbied the Forest Service to make it so. In recent years the FS has decommissioned almost all of the spur roads off the main road, thus removing access to the majority of the unimproved campsites in the area. A new fee campground was built near the Taylor River junction with the Middle Fork and opened this year.

Last time I talked to the N. Bend ranger's office there were three plans being considered, one of which was to leave the Mid. Fork road open but unmaintained, much as it has been for the last 15 years. I told them that's the option I'd back, but apparently MidForc has decided that humans aren't welcome in the upper valley, so has added 7 miles to the hike in to it now in an attempt to keep us out.

I talked to a representative of MidForc also and their justification for wanting the road closed was to put an end to abuse of the upper valley and keep the partiers out. This was a patent exaggeration of the facts as all the partying and crazy crap that went on up there all happened in the lower valley where the good camping areas were. There are no good, sizeable camping areas above Dingford Creek and the road gets so bad beyond that point that most people won't drive up there. In all the years I've gone up there (used to be a LOT when I was younger) I never saw the kind of abuse they were talking about above Dingford Creek. Plenty of it below that point, but never above it.

Kinda pisses me off. Hardscrabble Lakes were a great destination, relatively easy to get to and yet very lightly visited because of the lack of a formal trail and the fact the Middle Fork road is really only suitable for travel by truck or those who hate their cars beyond Dingford Crk. Hardscrabble was also the best access to Big Snow Mt. and Gold Lake, and made a logical Western terminus for the Alpine Lakes High Route which I've traversed in it's entirety, though never all at one time. Williams Lake and the Dutch Miller Gap area were already fairly lightly visited as they are an 8 mile hike on a trail with plenty of annoying ups and downs that makes the elevation gain seem like much more than it is. There are other destinations along the Middle Fork trail, such as Crawford Lake, that were easily accessible in a weekend if you knew where to go yet were very lightly used because no trail exists that will now be much more difficult to get to.

If you've never been to Crawford Lake, go. It's so scenic there it's almost unbelievable. Put up a tent next to the lake near the outlet and every evening and every morning you'll get up with a spectacular view of Summit Chief, Chimney Rock, Overcoat Peak, etc. etc. right in your face across the valley, and a calm, clear mountain lake right next to you.

As to the gate at Dingford, maybe I wasn't paying attention but I saw no gate when I was up there in June...?

[String]

Well, that makes even less sense. Why build a bridge acros..........ford, maybe I wasn't paying attention but I saw no gate when I was up there in June...?

Red gate in full effect as of the beginning of August. I agree, closing the upper valley for those reasons is pointless as very few people go past Dinford for any other purpose than the trailhead or Goldmeyer. Amazing area for sure, in some way I wish they would have put all the ski areas back there.

[Mike Adamson]

Hey String,

Once those chutes fill in they are no steeper than say the lower or middle part of Upper Nash. With the gating of the road it will definitely take on more of a classic overnight BC trip feel. Similar to getting up to Colchuck Lake/Aasgard Pass in the winter.

Chainsaw: Good post Chainsaw. I have been totally opposed to that gate since the moment I heard about it. Your assessment of the Midforc's illogical reason for pushing for this is spot on. It makes no sense. Harvey Mannings boots have wrought more environmental damage than my mountain bike tires.

Here is the link to the August blog since they don't seem to like ANY kind of linking. If it doesn't work you should be able to copy+paste. The pic is the 4th or 5th entry down from the top. As you know the whole area is pretty lonely in the winter, and most of the time even in the summer.

http://alpinelite.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_alpinelite_archive.html

[String]

Ah, I believe we are not talking about the same area. That would be coming down off Iron Cap Mtn if i'm not mistaken?

[Mike Adamson]

Its actually a little further to the east from IC, but in the same ballpark. Where were you thinking about? Further up the valley towards Bears Breast?

[String]

NW side of PT 6324 about 3 miles from the trailhead below Overcoat Peak.