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  • September Guided Hike

    I will be leading the hike this Sunday, September 17th.  Most likely we will be heading to the Rimrock Trail #704 (see the trail index for more info).  It looks to be a recreation hike instead of a work party this month. 

    So, if you're interested, please contact Bob at robertkoscik AT hotmail.com no later than Saturday evening or I'll run off willy-nilly without ya.

    Looks to be a beautiful autumn day.

    September Guided Hike
  • Re: September Guided Hike (#)
  • 9/17/06; 7:44:40 PM ¦ by Rob Williams
  • Too bad I didn't login on Friday to check the board....Although I didn't know I was going to go out until this morning (wasn't sure what the wife would say...).

    Anyway, hope you had a good time, it was a beautiful day! 

    I ended up exploring the Rho Creek Trail (569).  I had an interesting time trying to find the trail.  I tried to find it at the lower end, but failed  (I should have printed out the blurb here on the site-I was looking AFTER the Rho Creek crossing, not before!), so I went to the upper end.  I found the trailhead, only due to the blaze on the road.  The trail through the clearcut isn't all that clear, and I missed the blaze at the bottom end, but I picked up the trail further down by following the creek.  The trail is definitely lightly used, there is vegetation growing in the trail tread now, and I see what you meant about the trees.  There are a lot of downed trees, and a few that had lots of branches, so it covers the trail for about 10'.  Nothing you can't get around, but a few of them were pretty tough.

    Since I spent so much time doing cross country and trying to actually find the trail, I didn't have a lot of time for hiking (I told my wife I'd be back for dinner).  I probably went about 1.5-2 miles down the trail before coming back.  Most of the trail (once I found it), was relatively obvious (except a few spots in some of the clearcuts).  A lot of the trail is in fair condition, without too much overgrowth, just some in the tread.  I like the creek, but you can't see too much of it on the first part of the trail, you can only hear it.

    All in all, a very pleasurable day.  I see what you mean about the solitude.  Other than the sound of the creek, it was VERY quiet up there.  I'd like to explore the lower end of the trail, if I can find it.....After re-reading the blurb on this site, I think I may know where it is.

    It was quite an adventure, especially for a less than expert hiker.  I'm pretty careful when hiking though.  I followed the creek for quite a while, knowing that as long as I knew where the creek was, I could get back to my truck.  I have to say, I was nearing my "I need to go back" threshold when I finally found the trail.

    Two other questions: 
    1. Do you know how long ago the trail was abandoned?  And why?  It doesn't show on my 1986/Updated 1994 map.
    2. Do you know when the clearcut was done?  It looks relatively recent.  Much more recent than some of the other cutting the Clackamas district.
    Thanks for posting the info on the trail-It was a fun adventure on a almost perfect fall day. 
    • Re: September Guided Hike (#)
    • 9/18/06; 7:59:11 AM ¦ by Robert Koscik

    • It sounds like you had a good adventure anyway.  You know how life goes, sometimes the adventures you wind up with aren't the ones you planned...good thing you didn't get lost.

      Yes, I've done work on the lower end of the trail.  I've only seen a bit of the upper end, and the area you were in wasn't maintained for a while and I've yet to make it thru there.  I saw "1994" carved in a stump in that area, so I think that was the last time someone was in the upper end.  The lower end was much worse; I'd imagine it wasn't maintained since the '70s.  The trailhead is a little hidden, but once you're looking for it it's easy to find.  I also put up an aluminum "T" at the trailhead, so look for it next time.  It's right before the last curve about 1/8 mile before Rho Creek crossing. 

      Sorry we missed out on the hike.  It was canceled anyway due to low interest.  It was sort of last-minute, so next time I'll put the word out sooner.  Maybe I can lead a hike to Rho Creek before the snow season.  I'll try in a couple weeks to see if anyone would like to go. 

      Regarding abandoned trails: once the FS started roadbuilding in ernest around the '50s, these utilitarian trails became "useless" (why walk when you can drive???).  Then, as interest was lost, and later as funding was cut, they were dropped 1 by 1.  Quite simply, there wasn't money to fix it nor the hiker interest.  It's a common story in the Mt. Hood area, and I'm sure nationwide, but I can't verify that by personal experience.

      As far as that clearcut (did you find Fadeaway Springs?  Right at the bottom of the clearcut), I don't think there's been any new clearcuts in about 10 years in the Clackamas District.  Mostly it's been thinning projects, and hopefully will stay that way for a while as the damaged areas continue to heal.

      Thank you for the interest and all the great info.  Nice to hear about folks enjoying the woods.

      • Re: September Guided Hike (#)
      • 9/18/06; 8:36:45 AM ¦ by Rob Williams
      • Interesting.....Those clearcuts aren't recovering too well.  Most of the trees are pretty small, although there are pockets of taller (10-15') trees here and there.

        Fadeaway springs?  I think the road goes across that, and that was the creek I followed to find the trail.  As far as getting lost goes, I'm pretty conservative when I'm out in the woods, especially when I'm by myself.  I never go too far from where I KNOW I am (where I know how to get back out), and I always take a map and description of the area, and I always tell my wife where I am going and about when I expect to be back (I usually print out the USFS sheet, so it has details).   A compass and GPS always help, too.... She got a little worried yesterday because we had a little miscommuication about when I was going to be back.  She thought I'd be back about 3:00, and I got home at 4:00.

        I just kind of kick myself because I didn't print out the info....Or read it closely.  For some reason, I thought you had worked on the UPPER part of the trail, and that the lower section was AFTER the Rho Creek crossing.  If I had printed it out, I probably could have found it.

        My problem with scheduled hikes is that most of the time, I don't know until the last minute whether I'm going or not.  Either weather or family plans dictate whether or not I can go.  I'm not too big on hiking in the rain.  Overcast and/or intermittent mist I can handle, but rain isn't my thing.

        Thanks again for the info.  I'm pretty sure I can now find the lower section, which looks like the more interesting part of the trail.  One more question for you:  Is the creek more visible/closer to the trail on the lower section?

        P.S. - I'm pretty sure I saw the stump with the 94 carved in it.  Actually, I saw a tree trunk end with 94 carved in it.....It is amazing how much deterioration occurs in such a short period of time.....12 years and it is well on its way to being reclaimed.
        • Re: September Guided Hike (#)
        • 9/19/06; 9:16:36 AM ¦ by Robert Koscik
        • Hey, don't let the rain stop you!  Get a good pair of rain pants and you'll hardly notice.  The rainy season is the best time in the woods, keeps all the softies at home!  Plus it keeps you in shape during the dark days of winter.  I'm out there year-round, until the snow drops down into the valley.