I was up the "C" yesterday and decided to drive as far as I wanted to go, so I did. I made it up to as far as the 4650 road at Big Bottom and turned around there. It is pretty much single tracks from there up. I could have driven further, but I left my snowshoes at home and didn't think I could reach any trails higher up, so I turned around and went a couple of miles back down to an abandoned trail in the area that I knew about.  I include a couple of photos: one of the bridge at the 4650 road and the other looking further east up the 46 onto the Olallie Lakes area. I had a great day in the sun hiking on yet another abandoned trail in the area. Don

Did the mother lode trails ever get cleaned up after the fire.  Have not been in there since last June.  Lots of large down trees above Elk Creek that I couldn't move.  Snow is down now so I have been hiking some of the coast wilderness areas.  

Patch said Did the mother lode trails ever get cleaned up after the fire.  Have not been in there since last June.  Lots of large down trees above Elk Creek that I couldn't move.  Snow is down now so I have been hiking some of the coast wilderness areas.  

I do not know if they have been cleaned up, but I highly doubt it.  I went into the Welcome Lakes area last year, and those hadn't been cleaned up at all.  Snags and downed logs all over the place.  Those trails don't get much in the way of maintenance.  It is sad too - there was a trail crew in there just before those fires - they were doing a lot of much needed maintenance.  Most of it was destroyed by the fires.  

I guess it's that time to dust off this thread, and get some reports on where the snow is at.  Anyone in the know? 

Last Sunday I spent the day exploring behind the wheel...on the Detroit side of 46. In most cases I was able to make it up between 2600' and 3000' before the snow depth turned me around. This weekend will probably be no different due to the low temps this week...

Last Saturday I went up to Big Bottom - there was a dusting of snow Friday night, but when I left, it was pretty much melted.  It was about 2400' there. I've heard that the snow level is above about 3000' now - If you are on protected trails, it might be a bit higher - roads will still have snow for a while.  The good news is that I heard that next week we are supposed to get temps in the 70s!  Good for snow melt.

Wandered up into Battle Ax Creek Basin.  Still snow at low elevation on northern slopes.  Will be awhile before I can cross over Whetstone and into your neck of the woods.  

Peavine Ridge snotel melted out a couple days ago. Very glad it's a relatively light snow year

I hear ya!! It seems like it has been forever since we had a light snow year.  I will sure be glad to see the high country early this year, for sure!   Here is the link for anyone interested in checking out Snotel, interesting site.   http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/maps/oregon_sitemap.html

Has anybody been on the Elk Lake Creek trail recently?  I'm curious how far one could make it towards Elk Lake, considering the three crossings and potential for snow up higher

I saw a recent posting elsewhere that stated the trail was clear of snow from the northern trailhead for at least two miles.  I would guess you could probably make it quite a ways down the trail (maybe all the way to Elk Lake), but the creek crossings would be pretty deep.  I've only done them in the summer when the water is at most knee deep.  I would guess know it would be at least thigh deep (and COLD).

I was out hiking today and noticed that Fish Creek Mtn looked clear of snow, quite a change from 2 weeks ago when I was out last. Don  

The Red Hill Snotel at 4410 melted out 5 days ago. Definitely an early year - and the mosquito season should be early and short unless it starts raining again, which would make it longer. Time to go somewhere up there!

   Minor snow patches at 4500 - 5000 on north side of French Creek Ridge above Detroit.  The road is blocked on the north side by a bigfall below Dog Tooth Rock and Opal Lake Trail head.  Had to walk to the pass and trail head.  Road from Detroit is open.      DON"T HIKE ALONE...I have been wandering around out there by myself for years with only minor problems.  Yesterdays hike there were two of us.  The trail gave away near the west Martin Butte and my trail partner broke her leg.   I can say with relatively certainty that had she been alone she would have had a high probability of dying up there.   I have always been confident in my abilities in the back country.  That accident has changed my view on what is safe and what is not.  Find a partner!!      No bugs yet....but they will be coming soon...Happy trails.

Sorry about the broken leg.   A good thing for us all to contemplate.   Don 2