To start the new year off right, Don, Kirk and I hiked the bottom portion of Cripple Creek on Saturday.  We opted to go on the route from the bottom of the canyon, on what appears to be the original trail (or at least parts of it). The weather was rather cold, and we had less sun that I expected, but it was an awesome day.  We alternated between being cold and hot, but there was less snow than expected.  We got almost to the point where the trail crosses the first spur road before having to turn back.  It was odd - there wasn't too much snow (no more than 6", but it was very fluffy and powdery, so it was easy to walk in) until we got to the clearcut, and then very quickly the snow got to be about a foot deep, with lots of stuff overhanging the trail.  That is where we opted to turn around and head back.  It was still a great hike - we did almost 6 miles, and the route was pretty cool.... A photo of the winter wonderland we got to experience:

Pretty picture.   Good thing it was cold enough to keep the powder in the trees.   Is the bridge at the begining still there?   D.

The bridge is still there, mostly. It's broken and deteriorating. We crossed it with no problem. The snow and subfreezing temperatures may have provided better footing than if it was wet and slippery. It's hard to say how much longer it will last.   We were wondering what the bridge was previously used for. We thought there may have been a campground with several sites on the flat area above the river?

I always figured that was the old road. D.

Looks like you could hike down into the Three Lynx or Elvis, if you know what I mean.

Donald Presley said:

Looks like you could hike down into the Three Lynx or Elvis, if you know what I mean.

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I don't know what you mean. Is that reference a riddle or a private joke? Do tell.

Nice!  I wanna go next time.

Kirk Tolstrup said:

Donald Presley said:

Looks like you could hike down into the Three Lynx or Elvis, if you know what I mean.

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I don't know what you mean. Is that reference a riddle or a private joke? Do tell.

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I meant that the old road probably went to Three Lynx.Three Lynx's name was changed to the town of "Elvis" for the 1997 movie "The Postman" directed by Kevin Costner as well as playing  the leading role.

Donald Presley said:

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I meant that the old road probably went to Three Lynx.Three Lynx's name was changed to the town of "Elvis" for the 1997 movie "The Postman" directed by Kevin Costner as well as playing  the leading role.  

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That's some cool trivia. I'll have to rent that movie soon!

Which leads to the inevitable question: Can we name the movies filmed up the Clackamas?   Seems like there is a raft disaster one.   Then the one where they rented the double wide near Estacada for a location. The people said they would have it cleaned up in time and the Californians said "No, you don't understand. That won't be necessary."   And then the one where the lady dates the ghost or something like that.   D.

The only movie that I could recall having a filming location in the MHNF was "The Shining" at Timberline Lodge.

I found a couple more:   Old Joy (Bagby): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468526/ Mean Creek (just says Clackamas River): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377091/ Twilight (but that was further downstream)

What a difference a few weeks makes! Eric and I hiked Cripple Creek trail this past Saturday (Jan. 22) and were able to get all the way up to the end of the trail on the 4635-140 spur. We then crossed the road and continued on the Cache Meadow trail for just a couple hundred yards, out to the first trailside meadow. Very, very wet in there this time of year with all the recent warm temperatures! We were able to hike all the way up to about 1/2 mile from the end of Cripple Creek trail before we hit snow that was deep enough to warrant snowshoes. The trail was in good shape overall and will undoubtedly receive more use this year if the 4635 remains closed due to the massive slide.

Wow.  I didn't know 4635 had a huge landslide on it.  When did that happen?  Any pictures?

Rob Williams said:

Wow.  I didn't know 4635 had a huge landslide on it.  When did that happen?  Any pictures?

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It happened sometime early in the week this past week. It closed the 4635 about 1/8 mile up from the start of the road. The slide continued all the way down to the 4631 and took out that road somewhere between the 4635 junction and Lake Harriet. I checked out the slide where it took out the 4635 but didn't drive down the 4631. I will see if I can post a couple pictures I took with my cell phone.

I went up there today on a hike to the Riverside trail, and took a look at the slide.  WOW!   The creek has a new course and the existing culvert isn't even running.  The flow of the creek right now looks like more than that small culvert could handle.   A few pictures:

Pretty  neat. Nature at work. I wonder if the upper road is just washed over as well, or took out. D

Donovan said:

Pretty  neat. Nature at work. I wonder if the upper road is just washed over as well, or took out. D

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That last photo was looking uphill.  Can't really see how far it goes, but I know it wiped out 4631 as well down below.  It was a HUGE slide.  It is almost as big as the slide on the 4610 road.  Almost..... It had to have made quite a racket when it came down the hill!!!