Devils Elbow Open This Summer?

Trip recommendations, current conditions, and other trail related Q&A
tbritt2112
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Joined: April 18th, 2017, 3:18 pm

Devils Elbow Open This Summer?

Post by tbritt2112 » May 8th, 2018, 6:32 pm

Coming from North Carolina in August and would like to hike it towards Harrys Ridge. I know they have a bypass now, but I would like to do the elbow if open. Is the WTA helping to keep it passable? I heard last year they may get involved. Also, it doesnt look like there is as much snow at MSH as there was last year.

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kepPNW
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Re: Devils Elbow Open This Summer?

Post by kepPNW » May 8th, 2018, 7:08 pm

It seems the USFS wants it closed on the west side. Last I heard, WTA's offer to help wasn't accepted. There is (legit) access to that point from the east side, though. The west side trail was still passable going into this winter, but that's when it seems to fail most.

Route clear of snow from JRO to Harry's Ridge as of yesterday (5/7/18)...

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Click through the photo for an album looking down from this general area.
Karl
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-Q-
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Re: Devils Elbow Open This Summer?

Post by -Q- » May 8th, 2018, 11:12 pm

Unless the FS repairs it, no, it's not currently passable. There are multiple rock slides which wiped it out in a few locations. This winter took its toll on that section of trail. I hiked from hummocks to Harry's on Saturday and used the bypass.

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kepPNW
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Re: Devils Elbow Open This Summer?

Post by kepPNW » May 9th, 2018, 4:58 am

-Q- wrote:
May 8th, 2018, 11:12 pm
Unless the FS repairs it, no, it's not currently passable. There are multiple rock slides which wiped it out in a few locations. This winter took its toll on that section of trail.
Damn! This is about the worst it was back around Halloween...

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Karl
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tbritt2112
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Joined: April 18th, 2017, 3:18 pm

Re: Devils Elbow Open This Summer?

Post by tbritt2112 » May 12th, 2018, 5:49 pm

Can the WTA go out and work on the trail on their own? Or, do they need approval from the USFS or MSHI?

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kepPNW
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Re: Devils Elbow Open This Summer?

Post by kepPNW » May 13th, 2018, 9:11 am

tbritt2112 wrote:
May 12th, 2018, 5:49 pm
Can the WTA go out and work on the trail on their own? Or, do they need approval from the USFS or MSHI?
Would have to imagine that'd break the spirit of their cooperative agreement. Plus, that section has at times required some blasting, and that was always USFS not WTA doing that.
Karl
Back on the trail, again...

tbritt2112
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Joined: April 18th, 2017, 3:18 pm

Re: Devils Elbow Open This Summer?

Post by tbritt2112 » June 1st, 2018, 1:16 pm

I just called JRO and the lady told me that DE is no longer being kept in hiking condition. Said it's too dangerous and it's closed to the public. They said same thing last year, but we were able to hike it. We had to walk around the rocks they had piled there. I know without upkeep it will not be passable. Anyone seen it recently?

tbritt2112
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Re: Devils Elbow Open This Summer?

Post by tbritt2112 » July 7th, 2018, 4:51 am

Has anyone seen Devils Elbow recently? If so, is it passable?

Webfoot
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Re: Devils Elbow Open This Summer?

Post by Webfoot » July 7th, 2018, 6:55 pm

It is easy hiking from the east, the long way around from JRO using the new bypass trail. The western section seemed pretty clearly marked as closed, though I didn't take photos of the signs or memorize the wording. There was an obvious slide area that I wouldn't have tried to cross even without signage.

tbritt2112
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Joined: April 18th, 2017, 3:18 pm

Re: Devils Elbow Open This Summer?

Post by tbritt2112 » July 8th, 2018, 4:19 am

Thanks for the info. So, what the lady at JRO told me is correct. No more upkeep on the west side of DE. Closed for good. Glad I got to hike it last year. Guess I will hike the east side this year.

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