Trail Maintenance Issue

Glacier Peak Wilderness Largely Inaccessable to Stock

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By: Michael Hanley
December 22nd, 2021

The Pacific Crest Trail in the Glacier Peak Wilderness is largely inaccessible to equestrian use due to significant numbers of large fallen logs.

The PCT between Baekos Creek (approximately Halfmile 2509) and the Suiattle River Trail (approximately Halfmile 2540) is blocked by numerous down trees, washouts, and narrow sections of tread. Long distance riders are advised to trailer around these obstacles.

Logs, some as large as 6 feet in diameter, make the trail impassable to equine north of Sitkum Creek and on the climb up towards Vista Ridge (~2534). There are no convenient ways to get around these obstacles.

Trail wiped out by loose rock slide at mile 495.1

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By: Ilja Friedel
October 27th, 2021

Erosion caused by the Lake fire has completely buried the trail around Guthook mile 495.1 above Upper Shake Campground. The current length is about a quarter mile length with loose, deep moving rocks on a steep downhill section of the trail. Less secure hikers should consider walking the ridge dirt road from mile 492.9 (water guzzler) to mile 495.4 (campground junction with burned trail marker). The coming rains will probably make the slide even worse. There is also a lot of young poodledog bush in this particular area (especially mile 492.9).

Equestrian obstacles in the Mount Hood region

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By: Leif
September 10th, 2021

PCTA Mount Hood Chapter logouts and efforts by all have greatly improved the trail after significant windstorm damage around Mt Hood. The section near Buck Peak, (TR#615 – 3/4 mile South, to 3 miles North) has not been cleared. It’s not as bad as the other areas were, but still not passible for stock.

The areas around the Zigzag Canyon and Little Zigzag Canyon are not yet to the point where they are stock friendly. Getting in and out of these two canyons requires some tricky equestrian skills to get up and down the steep backs and around the rocks.

Landslide impacting trail on Sierra Buttes

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By: Joe R.
June 10th, 2021

A landslide has destroyed the trail tread at approximately mile 1198.2 (Guthook miles). The slide, (not washout), is about 10 feet wide and took the entire trail track. Hikers are skirting around but it’s very dangerous to do that. No good place to traverse this. Steep slope and brush. Extremely dangerous to try with hundreds id feet drop if someone slipped.

If you assess that it’s too dangerous to cross, please turn around and do not attempt to cross it.

Map: https://arcg.is/15nSK0

Grider Creek Drainage, Trees and Overgrowth

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By: Brandon Kynsi
April 12th, 2021

As of mid-April 2021, the trail through the 2014 Happy Camp Complex burn area from at least the Paradise Lake to Grider Creek Campground (1628.0-1646.9) has quite a few burnt fallen trees per trail mile at lower elevations with some small-diameter overgrowth in patches. The trail cut itself is in great shape and very navigable in this section, but expect to be slowed a little by these obstacles. The old burnt logs in this area frequently attract ant colonies just under the bark as the wood rots so use caution when brushing against or sitting on these logs.

Trees down section C

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By: Pearl
April 8th, 2021

Large tree down blocking trail at PCT mile 287.11 using mileage from Halfmile’s PCT app. About 1.2 miles west of unpaved Coxey truck traill. Hikers are having to scramble up hillside around some rocks to bypass. Steep drop off below the trail. Horses would not be able to get around this obstruction.

Another tree down at mile 287.08 but this can be stepped over by humans and horses.