Gnarl Ridge / Meadows / Falls Loop, 4-Aug-2013

[retired jerry]

Many people enjoy the ski area even if it "scars the land"

[Splintercat]

There's no reason a ski area has to necessarily be an eyesore or bad for the environment. Not surprisingly, most skiers put the environment at a higher priority than the general public, and now there's an organization called the Ski Area Citizen Coalition that gives report cards for major ski areas -- it's a terrific tool for deciding where to spend your ski dollars, and to keep tabs on your local ski areas.

Mount Hood Meadows gets an "A" for habitat and watershed protection in the latest report card, but a "D" for addressing climate change and a failing "F" for environmental policies and practices. Here's their report card.. Meadows has the worst environmental report card of the four Oregon resorts that were scored (In order of scores, they are Bachelor, Timberline, Mount Ashland and Meadows).

By comparison, Stevens Pass in Washington has the second highest score in the country, with straight A's across the four scoring categories. A bit far to drive for Oregonians, but the Ski Area Citizen Coalition makes it easy to send an e-mail to Meadows (or wherever you ski) to point out that they're way behind Stevens Pass, and tell them it's important to you that they do better.

One thing I'll commend Meadows on is their choice to paint the newer lifts black, thus blending better into the background. Karl's photo of the old Blue Chair is a reminder of how it used to be (I used to ski that a lot, too, Karl -- and the old Texas Lift while it was there).

Hope we're not hijacking your thread, Karl... I guess this is expanding on your comments about the resort... a lot...

Tom

[Roy]

There's no reason a ski area has to necessarily be an eyesore or bad for the environment. Not surprisingly, most skiers put the environment at a higher priority than the general public, and now there's an organization called the Ski Area Citizen Coalition that gives report cards for major ski areas -- it's a terrific tool for deciding where to spend your ski dollars, and to keep tabs on your local ski areas.

Mount Hood Meadows gets an "A" for habitat and watershed protection in the latest report card, but a "D" for addressing climate change and a failing "F" for environmental policies and practices. Here's their report card.. Meadows has the worst environmental report card of the four Oregon resorts that were scored (In order of scores, they are Bachelor, Timberline, Mount Ashland and Meadows).

By comparison, Stevens Pass in Washington has the second highest score in the country, with straight A's across the four scoring categories. A bit far to drive for Oregonians, but the Ski Area Citizen Coalition makes it easy to send an e-mail to Meadows (or wherever you ski) to point out that they're way behind Stevens Pass, and tell them it's important to you that they do better.

One thing I'll commend Meadows on is their choice to paint the newer lifts black, thus blending better into the background. Karl's photo of the old Blue Chair is a reminder of how it used to be (I used to ski that a lot, too, Karl -- and the old Texas Lift while it was there).

Hope we're not hijacking your thread, Karl... I guess this is expanding on your comments about the resort... a lot...

Tom

Was I wrong in doing the part of my loop above the lower newton clark? It was fun but I passed thru beautiful small gully's with small creeks lush and doted with red paint brush above the lifts? Is this legal it was fragile no tails just really awesome on that part of the hike. Maybe just a judgment call I felt at home there. Least I had forest pass in the truck.

Stevens pass is a well run ski area but Meadows has by passed Bend and is the best northwest ski area IMO. I don't waste my time going to whistler bend or crystal when I am just an hour 20 something from my house its elevated in my eyes to first class area .I never visit Timberline or ski bowl any more.

Been to Utah ,Idaho, Montana and Tahoe its hard to beat meadows on good day in feb.

[Splintercat]

Was I wrong in doing the part of my loop above the lower newton clark? It was fun but I passed thru beautiful small gully's with small creeks lush and doted with red paint brush above the lifts? Is this legal it was fragile no tails just really awesome on that part of the hike. Maybe just a judgment call I felt at home there. Least I had forest pass in the truck.

Do you mean to hike off-trail above the Timberline Trail, Tom? Not illegal at all -- off trail is fine in the wilderness and in the ski areas. I think the only limitation on the mountain is camping in meadows (specifically posted at several spots), but other than that, it's okay to go off-trail.

Tom

[Roy]

Was I wrong in doing the part of my loop above the lower newton clark? It was fun but I passed thru beautiful small gully's with small creeks lush and doted with red paint brush above the lifts? Is this legal it was fragile no tails just really awesome on that part of the hike. Maybe just a judgment call I felt at home there. Least I had forest pass in the truck.

Do you mean to hike off-trail above the Timberline Trail, Tom? Not illegal at all -- off trail is fine in the wilderness and in the ski areas. I think the only limitation on the mountain is camping in meadows (specifically posted at several spots), but other than that, it's okay to go off-trail.

Tom

Thanks I've hiked Cooper spur Paradise park and lot of usual suspects always on a trial this was way different I got above Meadows and and the timberline trail. I had the sensation I was damaging something like no one had been there till I returned to the service roads.

I guess its time for a gps that was fun off trail. Of course Mc Laughlin the week before made it paradise up there. Its seems the perfect storm has occurred this season for flowers and meadows locally.

Thread theft sorry Karl but you start trs they just keep going

I guess time will tell if I make back to Hood I have high hopes for this new Doc he is a runner Pain specialist schooled in Anesthesiology. Fingers are crossed.

[kepPNW]

Nice report, Karl! Great photojournalism, as always - you've got a great eye for that!

Isn't that just the best seat in the house, Karl? I keep expecting to find it halfway down the slope the the falls, courtesy natural forces, but it's been pretty much stable for quite some time, now. One of my favorite spots on mountain!

Hoping to make that loop this summer -- surprised that the flies are worse than what we saw at Gnarl Ridge a couple weeks ago! Usually, they peak in July, but who knows these days, what with climate changes affecting pretty much everything..? I wouldn't mind

Hey, thanks, Tom! Yeah, that rock is just perfectly sculpted, and perfectly placed. Where it is, the days are certainly numbered! (Although, those would be "mountain days" rather than "human days", I suppose. )

I just seem to be a fly/mosquito magnet this year. They nailed me good on Friday, too, but I don't think they got to Crusak quite as much. I wasn't bothered as much by them last year. Maybe they are in an up cycle, just like the wildflowers?

I wonder what they're doing with the bridge at Sahalie Falls. The only reason to put that much work into restoring it is if they plan to reopen it to traffic again.

It's a restoration project by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and U.S. Forest Service -- the FHWA federal lands office also headed up the massive (over)reconstruction projects of OR 35 at Newton Creek and the new White River Bridge (which could double as a CRC), but thankfully, they'll just be restoring the East Fork historic bridge to it's glorious, original specs. This project moved into the funding pipeline years ago, but has been a low priority, despite the urgency of the needed repairs (I suppose because of the nearby traffic-driven projects).

I'm not positive of how the traffic will be managed, but it will definitely be capable of carrying vehicles. For years, it was two-way, and you could jump on at the Meadows exit and follow it east, but maybe ten years ago, it was made defacto one-way by virtue of a "do not enter" sign at the Meadows end. I'm just glad it's being restored -- and that this segment of the old highway wasn't abandoned or bulldozed!

Good info! For some reason, when I looked west over the bridge, it appeared to be a dead-end. Looking at a map, now, I see it'd be a really handy connection.

One thing I'll commend Meadows on is their choice to paint the newer lifts black, thus blending better into the background. Karl's photo of the old Blue Chair is a reminder of how it used to be (I used to ski that a lot, too, Karl -- and the old Texas Lift while it was there).

Yeah! The Blue really stood out! You're right; the others blended in a lot better. Looking again at the ski area map, is Blue the only remnant of the 70s left? Looks like Red is now Easy Rider and Yellow is now Stadium Express? And they completely replaced/relocated Texas, too? Huh... (I'd just assumed that shot Janice posted in the corkboard thread was the old Red lift!)

Hope we're not hijacking your thread, Karl... I guess this is expanding on your comments about the resort... a lot...

Thread theft sorry Karl but you start trs they just keep going

No worries on my part! That's community, eh?

[K.Wagner]

Karl,

Finally had a few minutes to read your report. I know your TR's tend to be "comprehensive" so wanted time to take in the whole thing. Great pictures, great route! One of the days going to have to turn off the autopilot in the old Toyota PU so that I force myself to cross that darn bridge on a Saturday. (I drive it weekdays.... Somehow my natural inclination is to head NE..... maybe to go away from it?) Also glad to finally identify the "Douglas spirea" flowers.

[Roy]

I remember that blue chair in the eighties.If an east wind blew you almost stopped. Now we go on super Sunday and we are dead after half a shift, Its still my most favorite thing to do.