Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH

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teachpdx
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Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH

Post by teachpdx » May 15th, 2023, 10:36 am

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!
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adamschneider
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Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH

Post by adamschneider » May 15th, 2023, 10:41 am

I hope they still allow access to the South Coldwater and Hummocks trailheads.

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Charley
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Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH

Post by Charley » May 15th, 2023, 2:00 pm

Wow!

Does anyone know why the Spirit Lake outflow shows up as red in satellite images?
Screen Shot 2023-05-15 at 3.02.35 PM.png
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).
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teachpdx
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Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH

Post by teachpdx » May 15th, 2023, 2:52 pm

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.
outflow.jpg
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Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH

Post by adamschneider » May 15th, 2023, 3:05 pm

Charley wrote:
May 15th, 2023, 2:00 pm
Does anyone know why the Spirit Lake outflow shows up as red in satellite images?
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:

red waterfall.jpg

bbrewer
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Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH

Post by bbrewer » May 15th, 2023, 7:44 pm

Some footage of the situation from the King County Sheriff https://youtu.be/MmMPECwYJmY?t=61

johnspeth
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Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH

Post by johnspeth » May 16th, 2023, 4:32 am

King county video confirms access to the lake and nearby trailheads is possible

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Bosterson
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Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH

Post by Bosterson » May 16th, 2023, 11:02 am

Good photos here. JRO is hosed for a while.

https://www.chronline.com/stories/slide ... dge,319274
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Charley
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Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH

Post by Charley » May 16th, 2023, 11:19 am

teachpdx wrote:
May 15th, 2023, 2:52 pm
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.
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!
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Re: Large Mudslide below Johnston Ridge - MSH

Post by johnspeth » May 18th, 2023, 8:59 am

johnspeth wrote:
May 16th, 2023, 4:32 am
King county video confirms access to the lake and nearby trailheads is possible
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.

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