A large mudslide came down the South Fork of Coldwater Creek last night (May 14), wiping out the bridge directly above the Spirit Lake outlet on Highway 504.
https://www.koin.com/news/washington/la ... ater-lake/
There are some pics on Twitter from the King County Sheriff (the ones that did the rescuing of the 12 stranded visitors) that show a pretty substantial chunk of the hillside (north flank of Johnston Ridge) gave way and headed downhill.
Looks like it'll be boots only to Johnston Ridge for quite a long time!
Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH
Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH
instagram: @remyodyssey
- adamschneider
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Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH
I hope they still allow access to the South Coldwater and Hummocks trailheads.
Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH
Wow!
Does anyone know why the Spirit Lake outflow shows up as red in satellite images?
Also, from the pictures of the slide, it looks like its a subsidiary drainage that feeds into the Spirit Lake outflow (it's a little uphill and to the south of the outflow, on a moondust hillside).
Does anyone know why the Spirit Lake outflow shows up as red in satellite images?
Also, from the pictures of the slide, it looks like its a subsidiary drainage that feeds into the Spirit Lake outflow (it's a little uphill and to the south of the outflow, on a moondust hillside).
Believe it or not, I barely ever ride a mountain bike.
Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH
The outflow (tunnel) exits directly below what was the bridge, not way up on the hill where the red is showing. Here's a pic from the Forest Service that I found... the former bridge is visible above the waterfall.
instagram: @remyodyssey
- adamschneider
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Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH
As teachpdx said, that's not the Spirit Lake outflow. It's a cascade/waterfall that IS pretty reddish, but not the bizarre crimson that shows up in your screen shot. Here's the 2014 Google Earth view:
Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH
Some footage of the situation from the King County Sheriff https://youtu.be/MmMPECwYJmY?t=61
Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH
King county video confirms access to the lake and nearby trailheads is possible
Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH
#pnw #bestlife #bitingflies #favoriteyellowcap #neverdispleased
Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH
Oh wow! The tunnel is still visible in the photos on the Chronicle site.
The water flowing over the bridged area is a large volume for the size of that drainage!
Believe it or not, I barely ever ride a mountain bike.
Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH
https://amp.theolympian.com/outdoors/ar ... 08311.html
Access to lake and nearby trails is NOT possible.
But but but: I wonder if resourceful hiker could walk in to the Elk Bench trailhead (#211D) and hike the Lakes trail (#211) along the lake's north shore. Reports indicate the road is closed at MP 43, which is probably right at the long closed Coldwater Ridge visitors center. #211D is not cataloged in the GPNF website. Google maps indicates road closure several miles before the Coldwater Ridge center.