PNW Roads

Since the snow has been melting fast this year, I decided to try and make it up toe Squaw Lake and Meadow.  I was surprised how many other people had the same idea.  There were several cars and a few ATVs at the lake.  So much for getting away from people, LoL.   I hit snow the other side of the Squaw lake/meadows area at 4200 feet, about two miles from Plaza Lake. 

I also retrieved my game camera which was in another location and on it I had nothing but pictures of me leaving and entering the area where the camera was.

Saturday I checked out the Timothy Lake area.  I was surprised how high the snow levels were for Memorial Day weekend.  In years past the road through Timothy Lake area has been snowed in on this weekend, but this year it was completely clear and I was able to get up to 4100-4200 feet before hitting snow.  Looks like the snow is melting faster this year, which isn’t surprising given the warm weather we had earlier this month.

I also took some time to put out some game cameras.

On Sunday we took a family trip and drove all the way from Barney Reservoir through to Tillamook. Turns out a couple weeks ago (April 27th post) I thought I was on the Trask River, but I was actually on on the North Fork Trask River. Today we followed the North Fork Trask River all the way out to paved roads and then on to Tillamook.

The only thing to really report was that we saw scores of salmonberry flowers in huge clusters.

Took a day trip into the south western corner of Gifford Pinchot.  The snow level was 3200 feet, which cut off all roads out of that area except the one I drove in on, so I didn't get to explore as much as I'd hoped.  But I saw lots of woods and melting snow.  Oh...and gorgeous views.. 

The roads in that area are terrible, I think I dislodged a kidney.

I drove out through the coast range Saturday April 27th and didn't see any snow, so I'd guess the snow line is certainly above 2200-2500 feet. I found an open road through a bunch of private Weyhauser land that connects up with State forest, parallels the North Fork Trask River*, and eventually leads down to the coast at the town of Tillamook. What's cool is that this is through some super saquatchy areas that have had sightings.

Took a day trip out the the Granite Ridge/Granite Peaks area (road 6310) and then on the way home I checked out Memaloose Road and ended up at Divide Ridge, which separates the Clackamas drainage from the Molalla drainage.  The divide Ridge is a stone's throw from Skookum Lake, well if you can throw a rock a mile.

Nothing to report, it was just a trip to some of my favorite high altitude areas before the winter snows set in and shuts them out for 6 months.

OK, it seems like I've been to the Skookum area a bunch this year.  I like the area a lot and it is remote.  I went on a 3 day trip with my friend Robert.  We found a super remote place in the general area of Skookum Meadows at the top of a small valley.  We tested out call blasting equipment, hiked around a bit, explored, and did the usual things when out hoping to attract a Sasquatch.

It’s been a quiet summer, at least as far as Sasquatch activity goes.  I've taken numerous day trips and a couple overnight excursions with friends and other than some odd rock clacks near Skookum Meadows, it's been quiet.

Now, that’s not to say that I expect to find evidence every time I go out, nor do I expect to find much at all really.  It was just quiet everywhere I went.  I didn't see any bear this year, few elk, and not even a deer.