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feeler thread for a 'snow melt/fall?' shuttle hike of the mckenzie river trail in mid april. elevation 3500 - 1500, loss.
info
:
UPDATE: DATES SET
*April 6 - 9
*Fri - Mon. hike -
*start at clear lake
end at belknap hot springs
*~6 miles a day - good easy downhill seasonal warm-up hike
*hammock overnight at carmen reservoir, trail bridge reservoir and belknap hot spring facility for a lithium soak. 'oregon pop' beverage & wood caches along the way;)
map with my thoughts:
http://g.co/maps/w5hhc
so 26.5 miles?Quote:
Originally Posted by rip waverly
it'll end up being about 21 miles- cutting it short to end at belknap, instead of the official end at the ranger stationQuote:
Originally Posted by Gary_R
after review... this could be a friday - sunday thing -- with the option
to stay at belknap sunday night, if we (you) desire. or, meet up at a spot along the hike to hang for the night
we'll park one vehicle at belknap hot springs on friday afternoon- then drop wood and libations at the planned
hang spots as we drive north up rt. 126 to the trailhead above clear lake. its all downhill hiking back to
the hot springs to the 'shuttle' vehicle.
Interested but will wait to see what Dates to lock down.Quote:
Originally Posted by rip waverly
I am thinking about going to Eagle Creek for a night this weekend. I have not been out since the winter hang.. Thats odd for me.
i just drove thru that area yesterday..and it was beautiful. i will have to wait to commit on the proposed dates. have to finish a top quilt.
Interested. Gotta check calendar.
I am in, and available both dates, but would prefer the earlier of the 2.
i agree, and was just about to lock it in.Quote:
Originally Posted by weird1
April 6 - 9 it is
Sounds good
Bah! Easter will more than likely put me out of the running.
Didn't Jesus spend some days before his crucifiction in the wilderness? I'm just saying. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by dedominick
ABSOLUTELY. Not just that, he went and hung out in the wilderness all the dang time!Quote:
Originally Posted by Catavarie
I am still seriously considering going. My wife wouldn't mind, because she would do Easter with her parents. I just need to decide if I want to miss my son's first Easter.
The trip sounds well planned and awesome...
Being away from family, I forget the Easter deal...
Is this a problem for anyone else? We could make it the end of the month....?
EDIT : date remains april 6 - 9. gotta lock it down.
Earliest the better on that trail. It is a mountain biking hotspot. Too many fair weather days turn the mud spots into boot removing bogs.
Rip, buddy....you KNOW i'm in, just not on Easter:confused: Think before you type, man...THINK!
BF:cool:
I say lets do both dates twice as much fun!!!!!!!!
I wish I was hopping on a plane for this one! Rip, maybe in a few months -- May or June? Gotta get more of that lush Hoody IN MY LIFE!
Rip,
After reviewing your proposed route and looking at your map, i don't think we will be able to start above Carmen reservoir due to snow. We will not be able to get any cars in at the parking above Carmen, as they are not plowed. I tried this last year and had to park at Carmen and hike down the McKenzie from there. Still, even starting a bit lower, this is an awesome hike!
BF:cool:
Hoping to make this one. I do kinda agree on the start point but I think you will find the final plans will be last minute start and end parts on that trail. Make a good contact with the McKenzie ranger station.
Weird1 and I hiked the clear lake trail this past Saturday...
5 miles took us 4 hours due to snow. Almost got stuck out in the dark,
Following thankfully a well-broken snow trail as the sun went down.
I'm hoping to scout out the trail acces & cache opportunities on the 31st after the rei garage sale. If not, then we'll determine the plan Friday morning of the trip start on our way north up 126 after staging a vehicle at Belknap hot springs, the end point.
Maybe clear lake won't mind if we start there and leave a car?
For sure, sat. Night will be at trail bridge reservoir, and Sunday at Belknap.
FartingOwl...yes, head westerly!
I am a little confused on how the car thing is gong to work.
It very easy...park one car at the end point, drive in another to the start point, hike the trail, get in first car and drive back to starting point (second car). Easy-peasy, lemmon-squeezie :D It's not rocket surgery:lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by bgraybackpacker
By the way...what are the dates for this? Still Easter weekend?
BF:cool:
Right but I think more than two people are br
inging cars
And? you just make sure the care than can hold the most is left at the end.Quote:
Originally Posted by bgraybackpacker
usually if a larger group is going 2 cars take care of this issue befor you all meetup. So lets say your meeting at the trailhead at noon.. they were probably dropping the car off at 10-11 or what ever time was needed.
Once we have a final head count, we'll finalize the details ...probably a few days before. whoever is going can meet up at the shell station/'chicken on a stick store' on 126 (a few miles west of the ranger station) Friday morning, we'll get supplies and figure car stuff.
We'll have to play it by ear, I'll contact the ranger station the week of the trip to learn about access. If we have to start at Carmen, maybe we'll just hang there friday and car camp, leaving for trail bridge Saturday, and ending at Belknap Sunday.
Bf, yeah, this one is Easter weekend. If you can't do the whole thing, hang with us Friday.:)
Count me in for Friday, at least. The wife would take her pound of flesh if i were gone the whole Easter weekend:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by rip waverly
BF:cool:
The McKenzie River Ranger Station may have semi secure parking options available at their location.
I am going to miss this one, my dad is coming to town that weekend. I might meet up for a few hours on Sunday.
Looks like my ability hinges on 2 things. My boss has to come home from emergency surgery leave. And my bosses boss has to let someone who is less efficient and three times as pain in the rear end as me cover my shift.
Thanks for keeping the thread updated.
I'm still able to make it, pending others availability.
Hello All
Let's see who is coming to this little shin dig.
I am in Friday and Saturday. Sunday is still iffy for me. If I am able to hike Sunday I am in for staying at the hot springs Sunday night too.
i'm still good to go friday and saturday - and sunday, pending on if people wanna stay at the hot springs.
mckenzie ranger stations says the trail is pretty clear from trailbridge on down - so we'll have to determine the starting point when we get up there.
I'm down all three days and depending on how I get there I'm good for the hotsprings too. Rain or shine. This man needs the woods stat.
beginning the 'interest' rally -
as assumed, a lot of the trail is likely snowbound above trail bridge.
i really want to actually hike - so, if you're still interested- check in here
the plans may become fluid, with the option of heading south to umqua- further westerly.
if we have a good sized crew, hiking from trailbridge down to the hotsprings
should be cleared enough, and a little more leisurely
The weather is looking fine and dandy so far for this spring trip. Exactly perfect for Spring in Oregon.
McKenzie River
Friday
48/31 Showers
Saturday
52/34 Mostly Sunny
Sunday
59/38 Mostly Sunny
Upqua Area
Friday
44/27 Showers
Saturday
50/31 Mostly Cloudy
Sunday
56/34 Mostly Sunny
Looks like this is going to be an in and out hike starting at belknap hot springs then towards deer creek road where we will have a cache then back for a night of food company and soothing waters.
late night call -
friday: belknap hot springs - out & up the mckenzie trail to deer creek area where we'll meet up with the cache of provisionals and hmmks for the night.
saturday: back & down to belknap for a lithium dip and more hmmk goodness.
hopefully some videos of new kit, setup protocols and what-nots
earths conditions:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick...&FcstType=text