Search found 209 matches

by cunningkeith
May 24th, 2023, 11:59 am
Forum: Trip Reports
Topic: Olympic Coast: Shi Shi to Rialto, May 15-17
Replies: 0
Views: 1209

Olympic Coast: Shi Shi to Rialto, May 15-17

I finally completed the north section of the Olympic Coast from Shi Shi to Rialto. The entire 30+ miles stretch is amazing. We came across this interesting vertebrae. I'm told it's probably a section from a gray whale, near the tail (see my trekking pole in the picture for scale). IMG_8622.jpg In ge...
by cunningkeith
June 15th, 2022, 4:23 pm
Forum: Trip Reports
Topic: Trinity Alps, Tri-Forest/Swift Loop 6/22
Replies: 7
Views: 1616

Re: Trinity Alps, Tri-Forest/Swift Loop 6/22

Hey Keith, cool to see a TR from you and a Trinity Alps TR - it's been a while! Looks great down there. :) Thanks Nat! Yes, it was picture-perfect down there. And yet the main Trinity Alps Wilderness page says it is all closed due to last year's fire: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/stnf/recreation...
by cunningkeith
June 14th, 2022, 10:37 am
Forum: Trip Reports
Topic: Trinity Alps, Tri-Forest/Swift Loop 6/22
Replies: 7
Views: 1616

Trinity Alps, Tri-Forest/Swift Loop 6/22

The Trinity Alps never disappoint. Conditions are nearly perfect there right now. This was a choose-your-own-adventure loop that combined three major drainages--so lots of climbing and views. Trails ranged from great condition (Swift Creek Tr.) to hard to follow. There was hardly anybody there, exce...
by cunningkeith
September 28th, 2021, 3:44 pm
Forum: Hiking in the News
Topic: Over Half of Central Cascades Permits Go Unused
Replies: 37
Views: 14817

Re: Over Half of Central Cascades Permits Go Unused

Agreed that the FS capitulated on the fees when the FS lawyers saw that the FS lacked authority to charge everybody for "special use" under FLREA. There are models for addressing the no-show problem: Require hikers to drop their permits at the TH. Anybody who fails to cancel and fails to drop a perm...
by cunningkeith
September 22nd, 2021, 8:05 pm
Forum: Hiking in the News
Topic: Over Half of Central Cascades Permits Go Unused
Replies: 37
Views: 14817

Over Half of Central Cascades Permits Go Unused

Crowds are smaller, but no-shows have plagued Oregon wilderness permit system

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/09/22/ ... s-no-show/
by cunningkeith
July 2nd, 2021, 4:37 pm
Forum: Trip Reports
Topic: Spirit Lake Loop, 6/29-7/1
Replies: 4
Views: 1566

Re: Spirit Lake Loop, 6/29-7/1

That those camps were empty doesn't mean they will go unused. What time of day were you there? People arrive late, though with that much snow, they may be going unused for the time being. Those are fair points. We were coming down from Margaret and Dome camps pretty late. I think we hit Coldwater (...
by cunningkeith
July 2nd, 2021, 8:54 am
Forum: Trip Reports
Topic: Spirit Lake Loop, 6/29-7/1
Replies: 4
Views: 1566

Spirit Lake Loop, 6/29-7/1

IMG_7146.jpg A friend and I just completed the stunning Spirit Lake Loop. In short: the entire loop is wonderful and passable, although some sections around Mt. Margaret still require you to negotiate around/through snow. The very excellent guide, “Backpacking Washington” by Lorain describes two lo...
by cunningkeith
July 29th, 2020, 1:55 pm
Forum: Trip Reports
Topic: Mt Adams Wilderness Overnighter - Wildflowers at Peak
Replies: 6
Views: 2286

Re: Mt Adams Wilderness Overnighter - Wildflowers at Peak

I just finished going around the Highline Trail, including Cold Springs Camp, Horseshoe Meadow, Killen Creek, and Foggy Flat. It was all snow-free, and the flowers were all over the place--most I've ever seen out there. So they seemed early to me, even though you would expect otherwise based on the ...
by cunningkeith
February 7th, 2020, 8:29 am
Forum: Hiking in the News
Topic: Central Cascades permit fees announced
Replies: 127
Views: 38467

Re: Central Cascades permit fees announced

This is a major victory. There's so way to spin it: The FS felt enormous public pressure and knew that litigation was coming. They also knew that they would probably lose in court, so they backed down. Good decision by whoever got sensible about this. As to the current plan about having to go to rec...
by cunningkeith
January 18th, 2020, 7:35 am
Forum: Hiking in the News
Topic: Central Cascades permit fees announced
Replies: 127
Views: 38467

Re: Central Cascades permit fees announced

I corrected the date of the Keizer meeting from my previous post. It is Feb. 11.