Trail Advocates — Forum https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/ Recent forum posts from Trail Advocates en-us Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:56:43 +0000 60 New Forum Installed https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=512 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=512 For a long time, the existing forum has not served us very well.  Today, I migrated to a new, custom built forum for this website.  The intention was to simplify the forum and only add things that are actually used here.  I hope it satisfies those goals.

All of the old posts were converted to the new forum, so no historical postings were lost.  Some of the features of the new forum:

  • Simplified editor
  • Ability to upload files to posts and place them inline - uploads are significantly faster as the images are automatically converted to a more efficient format before uploading
  • Ability to upload a gpx/kml file into a post - a map will the track will display at the bottom of the post
  • Ability to add emojis to posts
  • Ability to add reactions (like, sad, mad, etc) to posts
  • Simplified private messages
  • Ability to taq posts with custom tags to make searching easier
  • Ability to mention someone and they will get notified (@Username) - this feature isn't working as well as I'd like - I'm not sure how much it will get used - it may get removed at some point if it continues to be problematic.
  • Ability to bookmark posts to come back to them easily in the future
  • New Feature - Ability to add interactive polls
  • Ability to subscribe to topic and categories so you can be notified when new postings occur
  • Ability to report posts (spam, questionable content, etc).
  • Ability to preview messages before posting.

Again, the purpose of this was to remove features that didn't seem useful in order to make the forum easier to use and to add a few features that would be useful (polls, track display in a post, private messages).

If you just want to experiment with the new forum to see how it works, there is a Test Forum available (only visible when you are logged in).  Feel free to post whatever in that forum.  At some point I will remove it.

If you have problems, questions or issues with the new forum, please either post a message or send a message to webmaster@trailadvocate.org.

]]> Admin Site Comments and Information Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:56:43 +0000 More rock work on highway 224 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=508 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=508 FYI, if anyone is interested - this work has been completed and 224 currently has no work areas.

]]> Admin Current Conditions Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:27:26 +0000 Newly abandoned trails? https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 I checked out the website today and they have also added the following:

  • Rho Creek
  • Top Lake

Maybe it is just taking them exceedingly long to add all the lesser used trails, or maybe someone told them they were missing.

]]> Rob Lost or Abandoned Trails Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:26:25 +0000 Site Refresh https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=509 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=509 As you might have noticed, the site has undergone a refresh.  Most of the content is the same, however some has been reformatted for (hopefully) easier consumption.  The trails page now utilizes the hike finder feature, showing all the trails when the page loads, and the weather info page has been updated to make it easier and more useful.

If you find anything that is broken or suggestions for improvements, please send them to webmaster@trailadvocate.org.

]]> Rob Site Comments and Information Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:23:34 +0000 More rock work on highway 224 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=508 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=508 If anyone is planning to head up 224 during the week, just be aware they are doing more rockfall remediation work for the next 8 weeks or so.  Expect delays.  On the way in yesterday I had to wait about 15 minutes but on the way out I didn't have to wait much at all.  I talked with one of the flaggers and she said they would be working during the week (no weekend work) for about the next 8 weeks or so doing rock scaling, netting repair, etc.

]]> Rob Current Conditions Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:42:33 +0000 Newly abandoned trails? https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 I took a look today at the FS Page and see 3 of the trails I listed earlier are now listed:

  1. Cache Meadow
  2. Corral Springs
  3. Huxley Lake

I find is strange they've lumped everything "recreation" into one list.  They show Campground, Trails, Trailheads, Horse Camps, snowparks, etc all int the same list.  It is also very inconsistent.  Some closed sites have a red "Site Closed" banner but places like Indian Henry do not - there is just a comment in the text that says it is closed.

I think it is a terrible design and incredibly unhelpful.

]]> Rob Lost or Abandoned Trails Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:26:01 +0000 PSA - Road 58 is closed until 4/1 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=507 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=507 Just a quick note to let people know the new gate at the junction of the 57 and 58 roads is closed.  There is a sign on it saying it will be closed when there is 12" of snow or December 1st, whichever comes first.  It says it will reopen on 4/1.

Road 57 is also gated at the junction with 58 so it is a dead end until they reopen the gates.

The roads page on the Forest Service website is pretty unclear about it, so I thought I'd post this here since this appears to be a new seasonal closure that will be permanent.

]]> Rob Current Conditions Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:51:34 +0000 Site Updates https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=506 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=506 My hosting provider is migrating a bunch of files to a new data center.  As a result, I had to change a bunch of links.  Most of the links were to the old historical maps but there are a sprinkling of other links that were affected.  I've tried to make sure all the links got updated.  The old links will stop working on 11/12, so I was trying to get ahead of it.

If you find any broken links, please send an email to webmaster@trailadvocate.org and let me know where the link was.

]]> Rob Site Comments and Information Sat, 25 Oct 2025 21:39:37 +0000 Newly abandoned trails? https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 Having done similar work with river guides, I too understand the difficulty getting everything right. That is why it imperative to have others available to proofread and, more importantly, have a process where input can be applied easily to keep guides current and accurate. Not sure that is in place with the FS.

]]> Pete Giordano Lost or Abandoned Trails Sun, 12 Oct 2025 18:56:02 +0000 Newly abandoned trails? https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 After spending a long time refreshing all the trail info pages here, I have a little bit of sympathy for anyone maintaining trail information.  It is very hard to maintain a large cache of info, even if one is familiar with the area and trying to produce correct information.  I checked and re-checked the info on the trail info pages here and I still made mistakes - but I hope I fixed all of them.

I think you are correct - they probably had some intern doing the work - it certainly was no one who had any familiarity whatsoever with the trails.  And it doesn't appear it went thru any real proofreading or checking by anyone.  I still don't understand why they had to upgrade - IMO it seems like a downgrade - and I'm sure they spent millions of dollars to do it.

]]> Rob Lost or Abandoned Trails Mon, 06 Oct 2025 05:09:56 +0000 Newly abandoned trails? https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 The new FS trails page is pretty weird. They list both trailhead and trails as a separate listing for some trails and only the trail for others. And the info for each of those listings is different. And in 2025 they only include written directions from Portland rather than a map link? And in some cases, like Memaloose Lake trail, the directions take you to the closed end of Memaloose Road which has been closed for 10 years. It's like they have an unpaid intern doing the work for them that is using copy and paste without knowing how to edit. Very disappointing but not surprising.

]]> Pete Giordano Lost or Abandoned Trails Mon, 06 Oct 2025 04:53:40 +0000 Newly abandoned trails? https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 I went up Horseshoe to Ruddy Hill last year - it was relatively easy to follow but parts of it got obscured by all the fallen bark.

Hiked the PCT south of Breitenbush yesterday and ws shocked to see official trail signs on both ends of the Pyramid Butte trail.  The trail from the north is difficult to follow in places.  The trail from the south is easy to follow.  The trail up the butte is mostly there, but faint in a few spots.

The 4220 road is a bit better in places but it is just as bad as it always was closer to the Breitenbush trailhead.  They cut a HUGE swath of trees off that road.  In some spots they re-gravelled the road and it is pretty good, but farther up they did nothing at all.

]]> Rob Lost or Abandoned Trails Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:26:10 +0000 Newly abandoned trails? https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 I agree, the current format is pretty poor compared to the old.  Was just up at Gibson and Horseshoe.  Gibson is signed on the PTC side, but is virtually invisible at that point due to the fire.  Mid-section it is in decent condition, WSR side it is still visible though looks like it needs some love.  Horseshoe has been sporadically flagged with blue ribbon, with only a couple of short segments that have disappeared.  All in all it is pretty easy to track.

Ras12

]]> Ras12 Lost or Abandoned Trails Tue, 30 Sep 2025 07:36:34 +0000 Updated map page https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=505 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=505 I updated the map page today to a new version that should work considerably better on a phone.  I'm experimenting with offline tiles so that it could be used offline but still show map tiles.  More to come on that...

]]> Rob Site Comments and Information Mon, 22 Sep 2025 01:19:07 +0000 Newly abandoned trails? https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=504 I was reviewing the current list of trails on the Mt Hood NF website - they recently re-did all their trail pages (I honestly think the old pages were more useful than the current format).  I was comparing their list to the list we have on this site and found several trails that used to be listed which are no longer there.  I'm wondering if they have quietly abandoned the trails or if they just have not gotten them added to the new site yet.  Here are the trails I found missing from the current list:

  • Anvil Lake
  • Burnt Granite
  • Cache Meadow
  • Corral Springs - The FS cut this trail out a few years ago all the way down to the bottom
  • Cottonwood Meadows
  • Cripple Creek - The FS cut this trail out after the Riverside fire
  • Double Peaks (they noted this one as needing to be rebuilt after the Lionshead fire)
  • Gibson Lake
  • Hawk Mountain - There has been work done on this trail after the Lionshead fire
  • Horseshoe Saddle - this one seems odd because it is a tribute trail - the Rhondy trail - named for Howard Rondthaler who used to be a ranger for Mt Hood who advocated for trails
  • Huxley Lake
  • Mon-Olallie
  • Mt Lowe - I guess this one is not surprising since they don't officially recognize the north end of Rho Ridge anymore
  • Rho Creek
  • Russ Lake
  • Top Lake
]]> Rob Lost or Abandoned Trails Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:06:17 +0000 New feature - Trip Reports! https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=503 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=503 I've been working on a new feature for the site - the ability to enter trip reports.  I believe it is working OK now.  I had been using the comments as kind of a trip report feature but this allows 3 pictures to be attached with captions.  I will work on migrating the existing comments to trip reports over time.  I will continue testing it, but hopefully people find it useful.  Note: you can also add a trip report without being logged in.  All trip reports will need to be approved before being visible (just like comments).

You can see the trip reports and/or enter a new one on the trail pages - the trip reports are at the bottom of the page.  The button to enter a new trip report is after any trip reports that have been entered.

If you want to see some of the converted comments as trip reports you can look at the Baty Butte Trail, Skookum Lake, or Old Baldy trails.

As usual, comments and feedback are welcomed and encourgaged.

]]> Rob Site Comments and Information Sat, 30 Aug 2025 17:07:07 +0000 Old MHNF road designations https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=502 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=502 If you look at the map layers on our map page here:

https://www.trailadvocate.org/MapViewer.html?b=1&ll=45.07072,-121.98828&o1=20&z=14&t=1&n=1

This shows the district map from 1972 centered on the S57 road (which is now just road 57).  You can see most of the old numberings and it does appear as if all the roads were prefixed with an S, which I'm guessing means "South".  It does not show numbering for spur roads but I'm guessing you are correct - the G indicates a spur road off the S57 road.  I'm not sure how you would figure out which spur road it is.  4.5 miles SE of Ripplebrook puts it somewhere around Oak Grove Butte it looks like.

]]> Rob Historical Items of interest Sun, 10 Aug 2025 22:37:48 +0000 Old MHNF road designations https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=502 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=502 I’m a volunteer with CSAR (Clackamas Search & Rescue) and we are involved with a “cold case” from the 1980s.

The 40+ year-old files refer to a road as, “S57G” and it says it is about 4.5 miles southeast of the Ripplebrook RS. Can anyone confirm that old MHNF roads always started with an “S”? That vaguely feels familiar. A map photo would help.

THEN, what does the “G” mean? Could spurs have had letters?

We appreciate any help finding this location.

Thanks,

Jerry

]]> Jerry King Historical Items of interest Sun, 10 Aug 2025 21:42:37 +0000 Bagby Guard Station Trail #552 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=499 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=499 Its funny you mention this - we were just up there a few weeks ago looking for more of it.  The trail coming from the hot springs is pretty much gone, but not too far out there is tread - VERY overgrown but obvious tread with decent blazes.  We followed it a ways but the tread and blazes kind of seemed to stop after about a half mile.  We looked and eventually bushwhacked up to 6341 - unfortunately there is an old cut in this area - it is possible the trail survived if it went a bit farther north from where we were as that does not appear to have been cut.  It is pretty rough going in places down there.  I will say this - if you go, make sure you stay on the north side of Shower creek - it supposedly crossed the upper stretches but if you go too far down the creek it is just rhodie hell.

Parts of the tread we found were in pretty good shape and other parts are heavily overgrown and hard to navigate.  The loop you propose sounds like a multi day trip - that is a VERY LONG loop to do in one day.  I would say the trail we found would be pretty difficult with a full pack.

The other thing is that 6341 in that area has a LOT of logs across it - the road isn't decommissioned but it is obvious no one has driven up that far for a while.  It is about 3 miles past the Pansy Lake trailhead.  I'm not sure how far past Pansy the road can be driven.

If you find more tread I'd love to know what you found.

]]> Rob Lost or Abandoned Trails Wed, 11 Jun 2025 19:14:15 +0000 Bagby Guard Station Trail #552 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=499 https://www.trailadvocate.org/new-forum/?tf_topic=499 Last year while doing trail work on the Bagby Trail I was interested in exploring the surrounding area and found remnants of a trail heading Southeast from the Guard Station site.

According to the Mt. Hood National Forest Recreation Map from 1963 the Trail is labeled #549 which is the Dickey Lake Trail.

A later Recreational Map has the Trail relabeled as #552 and it stops at FS6341.

I'm curious if anyone has any information on Trail #552 and FS6341 which I believe sections of which are abandoned.

My plans are to do a loop hike from the Guard Station site most likely bush whacking to FS4631 heading to Pansy Lake and coming around the Twin Lakes and back up the Bagby Trail.

Any insights and information would be appreciated.

]]> OP Lost or Abandoned Trails Wed, 11 Jun 2025 18:59:09 +0000