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 Simpson quoting tree hunter and canyon rapping rockhound who longs for the return of his trapped Toyota
Salt Lake City, UT
USA
2268 Posts |
Posted - 03/17/2005 : 3:53 PM
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I seem to have found myself with an opportunity to overnight this one on the weekend. Problem is: Rainy forecast for the weekend, combined with the fact that the river crossing right at the beginning requires 2500 cfps or less, a number that was exceeded with nothing but a few showers yesterday. There is a bypass alternative, but I know nothing about it, other than the fact that it is theoretically possible.
My question is: Has anybody out there hiked the Queets River trail in the off-season and accessed the trail from logging roads to the northwest of the trailhead?? I'm specifically looking for info on logging road conditions and the nastiness of the bush along the route. Anybody????? |
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Trail running, bike hucking, fast packing, beer drinking collector of pine cones on a day pass
AKA
Dances with Trees
Forest Gnome Cabin
Canada
13090 Posts |
Posted - 03/17/2005 : 4:59 PM
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I have heard that crossing is dicey in high water conditions.(I'm envious,as I'd love to do this trail sometime too)Certainly would be nice if they rigged a crossing someday-it will be cool to see the Queets Fir,no doubt.You might try e-mailing /phoning the park,as they may have a solution for you.They are quite helpful,generally speaking Good luck! |
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Simpson quoting tree hunter and canyon rapping rockhound who longs for the return of his trapped Toyota
Salt Lake City, UT
USA
2268 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2005 : 07:44 AM
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Hi Mick,
The thing I would most like to see are the Sitka stands up at Harlow Bottom (9 to 11 mile). Supposedly some of the best on the peninsula. I actually emailed the park (last year) with this question and got the expected "never heard of that being done" answer, but that keeps in mind that off-trail winter routes into this sort of area are not something the NPS would want to encourage. Will have a look at it anyway.
Lots of alternatives if it doesn't go. Maybe Colonel Bob or the North Fork Quinault Trails (neither of which I've done). I could also seek out Tichipawa and Gatton Goliath, as I have a pretty good idea where they are. |
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Seattle, Washington
USA
50 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2005 : 11:10 AM
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| You won't be able to cross any time in the next several days. Queets was flowing 11,500 cfs last weekend. And I would say attempting a bushwhack in that country would not be an efficient use of your time. A vast network of logging roads laces state timberlands north of the park boundary, but you'd better have a darned good map, and you'll find snow up there on the ridge, which is around 1000 meters. |
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Simpson quoting tree hunter and canyon rapping rockhound who longs for the return of his trapped Toyota
Salt Lake City, UT
USA
2268 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2005 : 11:58 AM
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Hi gj,
Are you the person who was talking to the NPS just prior to last weekend??
I actually attempted the back route into the Queets last weekend, and got liberally spanked by the weather. That said, the back door access should go. I was short on daylight when I got in there, and that was probably the major factor in forcing a turnaround (coupled with the weather). The road access is actually surprisingly good, especially when you consider that I was doing it without a logging road map. I simply followed FR 3300-paved for much of its length-until it devolved near the park boundary. With a topo, a few small hills actually provided good reference points to get past the last couple of spurs. The branch I was on was partly brushed in, but still easy to follow due to heavy elk usage, and I located the creek that drops to near the crossing point. Found some flagging (probably NPS) and followed that down through moderate brush until the route went sideways and away from the crossing. This may be marking the park boundary or something. A nasty area of down 4-6' diameter spruce/hemlock trees paused me just long enough to run out of daylight, and I had to retreat as I didn't think I'd make the river before dark and didn't believe that it would be worth trying to continue the next day. The weather (must have been over 100mm of rain over about a 24 hour period)was another factor, although there was a reasonable bivy site near where I turned around. Some nice big trees in the vicinity.
There's a bit more to the story, as it threatened to become a bit of an epic. Thought about posting a TR, but don't have any photos, so decided against it.
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Seattle, Washington
USA
50 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2005 : 12:24 PM
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Guess I should have checked the date of your post. Nope, that wasn't me. Surprised that precip was not snow on the ridge north of the Queets. Olympics have new snow this a.m., as seen from Seattle. I have never attempted to drop into the Queets from the Clearwater side, but have spent some time in that country and figured it would be epic-like. The farther up the Queets drainage you go the worse it gets. Many people have been lost up in there. Service Falls on the Queets, for example, is extremely difficult to reach.
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Simpson quoting tree hunter and canyon rapping rockhound who longs for the return of his trapped Toyota
Salt Lake City, UT
USA
2268 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2005 : 1:29 PM
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| I was generally trying to aim for the closest point that I could get to the trail. The area past Bob Creek would have been for another time, and probably simply wait for fall crossing weather. Another option I may have a look at in my weaker moments might involve the abandoned Kloochman Rock trail. Apparently you can come at the old lookout site from Yahoo Lake, then maybe follow the old trail down to the Queets Fir and trail junction. Looks much longer and those trails get reclaimed pretty quickly in that jungle, but might be fun. Otherwise, I'll just wait for the river to drop to fordable levels and enjoy the valley with everyone else. |
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Trail running, bike hucking, fast packing, beer drinking collector of pine cones on a day pass
AKA
Dances with Trees
Forest Gnome Cabin
Canada
13090 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2005 : 4:34 PM
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| Nice jobTMC.You gave it a good shot-I was wondering what you'd decide to do.Naturally,you got classic Olympic NP weather |
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Queets River Trail question
