Oregon

Hood to Lolo Pass

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By: Hobblet
July 1st, 2024

We started the trail on June 23, 2024. (Lodge) Lots of snow. It was slow going for us, but we had some trail runners in our wake that went far faster than we did. We had to rely on Gut Hooks to keep us on trail with all the drifts. It got better after ZigZag and Rushing Water Creek (Look to cross at the trail head marker between the two red rocks). We made it pretty easily there. This small section took us longer than we anticipated though and we cut off to wait for some of the snow to melt before continuing our hike. The azaleas are blooming and are beautiful if you are interested in hiking in at Romona Falls area.

PCT South of Buck Peak

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By: Leif Hovin
August 16th, 2023

The trail is still blocked to Equestrian and Stock, in the section 3/10 of a mile South of Buck Peak. Saw crews from both the Mt Hood Chapter and the Mt Hood National Forest have made progress in clearing the blowdowns from the September 2020 winds. There are about 6 logs blocking the trail, but hikers can still climb over or crawl under

Bad Blowdown/Deadfall Conditions in Crater Lake NP

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By: Bill Grampyfoot Pieper
July 22nd, 2023

August 9 update: National Park Service crews along with Northwest Youth Corps are about 2/3 done with clearing down trees in the park and they are still working.  Thank you!

Within Crater Lake NP, from about mile 1,824 at Dutton Creek to mile 1,849 at OR Highway 138, the PCT is all but obliterated by layers of fallen trees that look like they hadn’t been cleared for at least two years. With only 150- or 200-yard islands of open trail here and there, our pace was cut in half and took double the normal effort. By contrast, all the trails in neighboring Umpqua NF were in great shape. Crater Lake NP needs to give the PCT a little higher priority when it comes to maintenance.

Deadfall across trail

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By: Drake Stenger
June 21st, 2023

As of June 17, 2023 there are 123 downed trees between Lolo Pass (2115.2) and Whatum Lake (2131.3) and another 325 downed trees between Whatum Lake and Teakettle Spring (2140.0). The latter is designated wilderness in a burned area such that log out must be via hand tools only. Hikers can scramble over, under or around. Not passable to equestrians
Dyatripper

Blowdown obstructing PCT in Southern Oregon

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By: Michael Stein
June 21st, 2023

We encountered significant blowdown that forced us to turn around during our day hike. The main area of concern is north of Howard Prairie Lake, near mile 1761.

We also turned around at a large blowdown at mile 1776 on Brown Mountain. There is a large log south of that that is also difficult to get past and needs to be crawled under or go around off trail.

Horse falls off the trail near Zig Zag Canyon, Mt Hood

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By: Jack H
September 1st, 2022

Fallen trees present hazards trailwide, including on Mount Hood. Please see this article detailing an incident where a horse fell ~200 feet near Zig Zag Canyon while trying to cross a log.

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2022/08/a-healing-miracle-after-a-horse-falls-200-feet-near-timberline-lodge.html

“As Mandt walked in front of Oriana on the steep, crumbling trail, she led the horse by a rope and encouraged the horse to weave between the fallen trees.

That’s when a stirrup on the horse’s saddle caught a log. Oriana lost her balance, then struggled to get her feet under her, tipping over.”