Muddy Fork Section of Timberline Trail
Posted: July 1st, 2013, 12:21 pm
On Saturday, June 29, I hiked the Muddy Fork section of the Timberline Trail (Ramona Falls TH to Ramona Falls to Yokum Ridge to upper Muddy Fork crossing to Bald Mountain to Horse Ford t Ramona Falls TH) specifically to check out trail conditions on this poorly maintained section of the TT. I had attempted this section Memorial Day weekend in 2012 and was turned around by snow conditions just south of the MF crossing.
South section of trail from Yokum Ridge trail junction to MF crossing is in need of maintenance. Two sections of severe blowdown on the trail. The first landslide has increased in width, with some down trees now added to the challenge. I would rate this landslide as difficult, and not suitable for novice hikers.
The second landslide has stablized, and is not difficult to cross.
The southern branch of the Muddy Fork crossing is hazardous and not suitable for novice hikers. The flow is fast, deep, and murky. It is unsafe to simply forge ahead and wade the stream. There is only one feasible place to cross, upstream from where the trail encounters the river. Upstream, there is one place where a log is jammed and crosses a portion of the river. This log can be used to brace against as you wade the river, and gets you close enough to make the crossing. At that point, you need to head downstream to intercept the trail on the north bank. Please note that in going downstream, you will encounter a cut-bank with a 4-foot vertical drop. Not much of a drop, but it must be navigated, as the brush is too thick for bushwacking. After getting past this drop, in about 30 feet the trail recommences to the right. The northern branch is not as fast or deep, and can be easily waded in several spots.
After that it is a walk in the park to Bald Mountain (small landslide en route, but not difficult). The hiker bridge that used to be upstream from Horse Ford is out. There are a couple of large trees across MF just downstream of the Horse Ford. There is a good rope on one tree, which makes this crossing rather easy, after squeezing past the root ball on the north side of the ford.
I hike this with my 60-pound labradoodle, who is not a water dog. He had to be led across all the water crossing, but he did fine.
South section of trail from Yokum Ridge trail junction to MF crossing is in need of maintenance. Two sections of severe blowdown on the trail. The first landslide has increased in width, with some down trees now added to the challenge. I would rate this landslide as difficult, and not suitable for novice hikers.
The second landslide has stablized, and is not difficult to cross.
The southern branch of the Muddy Fork crossing is hazardous and not suitable for novice hikers. The flow is fast, deep, and murky. It is unsafe to simply forge ahead and wade the stream. There is only one feasible place to cross, upstream from where the trail encounters the river. Upstream, there is one place where a log is jammed and crosses a portion of the river. This log can be used to brace against as you wade the river, and gets you close enough to make the crossing. At that point, you need to head downstream to intercept the trail on the north bank. Please note that in going downstream, you will encounter a cut-bank with a 4-foot vertical drop. Not much of a drop, but it must be navigated, as the brush is too thick for bushwacking. After getting past this drop, in about 30 feet the trail recommences to the right. The northern branch is not as fast or deep, and can be easily waded in several spots.
After that it is a walk in the park to Bald Mountain (small landslide en route, but not difficult). The hiker bridge that used to be upstream from Horse Ford is out. There are a couple of large trees across MF just downstream of the Horse Ford. There is a good rope on one tree, which makes this crossing rather easy, after squeezing past the root ball on the north side of the ford.
I hike this with my 60-pound labradoodle, who is not a water dog. He had to be led across all the water crossing, but he did fine.