FS Plans Road Work on 4109

Use this forum to report and discuss trails in need of maintenance. This will help organizations like TKO and agencies like the Forest Service get the most recent on-the-ground trail conditions.
jvangeld
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FS Plans Road Work on 4109

Post by jvangeld » June 1st, 2021, 11:26 am

Sometime this year a contractor is going to work on road 4109 to Silver Star trailhead. I don't know when, but my contacts assure me that it is happening. Friends of Road 4109 might get up there to help with brushout. In the meantime, GPNF's website says:
The road is impassable with two and a half foot deep ruts in spots. Silver Star trail can be accessed from the DNR Grouse Vista TH.A Discover Pass is required at this TH. For further information call Mt. Adams Ranger District (509) 395-3402.
I hiked a mile of the road several weeks ago and didn't see 2.5' deep ruts, so they must be higher up on the road. The parts I did hike were a little worse than we left them last fall.
Jeremy VanGelder - Friends of Road 4109

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Don Nelsen
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Re: FS Plans Road Work on 4109

Post by Don Nelsen » June 1st, 2021, 1:45 pm

Thanks for the info and I agree that the road is a little worse.

I drove it in my SUV on May 14th and didn't have any trouble but there are substantial ruts in many places. I can see where some work has recently been done that fixed some previous bad spots and that's holding up fine.
Still, there are other places, especially right before the end that are worse than I remember. It would be nice if that road was fixed properly. Even if you are able to drive it, it's tough on the vehicle.

BTW, someone has removed the rocks blocking the continuation of the road above the parking area and driven as far as the big switchback where you look down into the valley between Star Ridge and the main ridge.

Also, someone has driven up the west side and cut circles in a meadow, crossed the trail and driven up another meadow. That was done the morning I was there or the day before, judging from the freshness of the cuts.

Meadow damage:
IMG_2097.JPG
IMG_2098.JPG
IMG_2099.JPG
Last edited by Don Nelsen on June 1st, 2021, 6:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Charley
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Re: FS Plans Road Work on 4109

Post by Charley » June 1st, 2021, 3:21 pm

Don Nelsen wrote:
June 1st, 2021, 1:45 pm
Also, someone has driven up the west side and cut circles in a meadow, crossed the trail and driven up another meadow. That was done the morning I was there or the day before judging from the freshness of the cuts.

Meadow damage:
IMG_2097.JPG
Well that sucks.
Believe it or not, I barely ever ride a mountain bike.

jvangeld
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Re: FS Plans Road Work on 4109

Post by jvangeld » June 1st, 2021, 3:51 pm

That is aggravating. I would rather spend my limited volunteering time to fix the road, not keep destructive people off the trail.

In other tales of poorly-behaved off-roaders, their switchback shortcuts have started to eat into the road itself now. Last year there was a bit of a rise between the road ruts and the shortcut. Now the rut and the shortcut have merged.
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Jeremy VanGelder - Friends of Road 4109

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Don Nelsen
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Re: FS Plans Road Work on 4109

Post by Don Nelsen » June 1st, 2021, 4:08 pm

Is that a baby stroller I see in your photo?
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly

"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller

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Chip Down
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Re: FS Plans Road Work on 4109

Post by Chip Down » June 1st, 2021, 4:16 pm

Rd 41 could use a little help too, as pictured below.

A few months ago I rode my bike up 4109, and was surprised how quick it was. It's really not impractical to walk it. In fact, I think a lot of people would have a better day if they just walked the road, and then didn't have the horrible drive weighing on them as they hiked.

BTW, it seems odd that USFS will repair a dead-end road to improve access, but looks the other way when degenerates drive past the TH. Doesn't strike me as the best stewardship.
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Chip Down
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Re: FS Plans Road Work on 4109

Post by Chip Down » June 1st, 2021, 4:18 pm

Don Nelsen wrote:
June 1st, 2021, 4:08 pm
Is that a baby stroller I see in your photo?
Beer caddy.

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Don Nelsen
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Re: FS Plans Road Work on 4109

Post by Don Nelsen » June 1st, 2021, 5:44 pm

Chip Down wrote:
June 1st, 2021, 4:18 pm
Don Nelsen wrote:
June 1st, 2021, 4:08 pm
Is that a baby stroller I see in your photo?
Beer caddy.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly

"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller

Webfoot
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Re: FS Plans Road Work on 4109

Post by Webfoot » June 1st, 2021, 6:10 pm

Don Nelsen wrote:
June 1st, 2021, 1:45 pm
Meadow damage:
IMG_2097.JPG

IMG_2098.JPG

IMG_2099.JPG
Farging bastages!

justpeachy
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Re: FS Plans Road Work on 4109

Post by justpeachy » June 1st, 2021, 7:20 pm

Don Nelsen wrote:
June 1st, 2021, 1:45 pm

BTW, someone has removed the rocks blocking the continuation of the road above the parking area and driven as far as the big switchback where you look down into the valley between Star Ridge and the main ridge.

Also, someone has driven up the west side and cut circles in a meadow, crossed the trail and driven up another meadow. That was done the morning I was there or the day before, judging from the freshness of the cuts.
That is absolutely infuriating. :x

I hope that the contractors do something to block vehicles from going past the trailhead after they are done working on the road.

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