Got together a group of buddies for a North Siouxon Creek trail to Mount Mitchell backpacking trip. The goal was to make it all the way to the top of Mount Mitchell, but with a few light showers, and clouds/fog, we decided at about the 13 miles point to head back to "Camp Eyesore" which is a great camp on the flat above Black Hole Falls.
Trail that goes from Black Hole Falls to Mount Mitchell does not seem to be maintained. There was one section about 1/2 mile long that the trail was completely lost and new trees had grown in its place.
Disappointed that we didn't make it to Mount Mitchell, as we were looking forward to the views, but it was a great trip!
Upper part of the trail that doesn't seem to be maintained. Luckily there was another log to cross on.
View of the North Siouxon Creek valley
Above Black Hole Falls
North Siouxon Creek, Black Hole Falls, Mt. Mitchell 7/11/15
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Re: North Siouxon Creek, Black Hole Falls, Mt. Mitchell 7/11
Nice pictures of Black Hole Falls and the valley! I need to check this out sometime. That bridge seems legit Thanks for sharing!
~Dan
~Dan
Re: North Siouxon Creek, Black Hole Falls, Mt. Mitchell 7/11
I can't hear "Black Hole Falls" w/o singing the soundgarden song "Black Hole Sun". And then I see this:
"The top...is not the top" - Mile...Mile & a Half
Instagram @pdxstrider
Instagram @pdxstrider
Re: North Siouxon Creek, Black Hole Falls, Mt. Mitchell 7/11
Nice TR. I knew that I had read an earlier TR to Mt Mitchell. Here is a link to Pablo's off trail report.
Pablo Report
Pablo Report
Kelly
There is no shortcut to anyplace worth going to.
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Skamania 231
"How to really get off the beaten path in Skamania County"
There is no shortcut to anyplace worth going to.
PM me about the soon to be released:
Skamania 231
"How to really get off the beaten path in Skamania County"
- Ryan Ojerio
- Posts: 519
- Joined: September 21st, 2008, 6:31 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
Re: North Siouxon Creek, Black Hole Falls, Mt. Mitchell 7/11
I'm working on getting a crew out to that spot where the trail gets lost to brush between Black Hole Falls and Mount Mitchell. Do you know about where the worst of the trail conditions are?
I'm trying to figure out how strenuous it will be. If the work is near camp close to Black Hole Falls, it won't be too bad even after the hike in. But if the trail needs work higher up, it could be real difficult.
Any beta appreciated.
I'm also looking into coming in on The Forest Service trail: North Fork Siouxon 126 to cut some of the distance, but the steepness makes it look like your in for a tough hike with tools either way you slice it.
- Thanks, Ryan
I'm trying to figure out how strenuous it will be. If the work is near camp close to Black Hole Falls, it won't be too bad even after the hike in. But if the trail needs work higher up, it could be real difficult.
Any beta appreciated.
I'm also looking into coming in on The Forest Service trail: North Fork Siouxon 126 to cut some of the distance, but the steepness makes it look like your in for a tough hike with tools either way you slice it.
- Thanks, Ryan
Washington Trails Association
Southwest Washington Regional Manager
[email protected]
(360) 722-2657
Southwest Washington Regional Manager
[email protected]
(360) 722-2657
Re: North Siouxon Creek, Black Hole Falls, Mt. Mitchell 7/11
That would be awesome!Ryan Ojerio wrote:I'm working on getting a crew out to that spot where the trail gets lost to brush between Black Hole Falls and Mount Mitchell. Do you know about where the worst of the trail conditions are?
I'm trying to figure out how strenuous it will be. If the work is near camp close to Black Hole Falls, it won't be too bad even after the hike in. But if the trail needs work higher up, it could be real difficult.
About 1 mile or so after Black Hole is the broken bridge, which is obviously a safety issue. However there is a second log next to it where we could easily cross. The bridge materials should probably just be removed so no one tries to cross there.
About 4 miles or so after Black Hole is where the trail changes to a small logging road which is completely over grown with new trees. The trail is completely lost, so you just have to bushwack through the trees. Removing these would be the best solution here.
We made it out of the new tree growth and onto more logging roads which were not overgrown. At that point we decided to head back to the camp at Black Hole since we didn't know what the conditions were from there to Mt. Mitchell.
Next year we hope to do the full route.
- Ryan Ojerio
- Posts: 519
- Joined: September 21st, 2008, 6:31 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
Re: North Siouxon Creek, Black Hole Falls, Mt. Mitchell 7/11
thanks, that's helpful. Given the distance and elevation, it looks like finding a spot to camp on that old road bed would be the best to squeeze as much productivity out of our time there as possible.
Washington Trails Association
Southwest Washington Regional Manager
[email protected]
(360) 722-2657
Southwest Washington Regional Manager
[email protected]
(360) 722-2657
Re: North Siouxon Creek, Black Hole Falls, Mt. Mitchell 7/11
At the point where the trail comes out of the forest and onto the old road there is a flat area that is actually pretty clear and large. You could easily camp there. Probably about 10 miles or more from the trailhead.Ryan Ojerio wrote:thanks, that's helpful. Given the distance and elevation, it looks like finding a spot to camp on that old road bed would be the best to squeeze as much productivity out of our time there as possible.
https://www.strava.com/activities/344918460
If you look at our Strava route you can see at about the 3.1 mile mark it looks like we walked around in circles for a while. That is where the flat is.
- Ryan Ojerio
- Posts: 519
- Joined: September 21st, 2008, 6:31 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
Re: North Siouxon Creek, Black Hole Falls, Mt. Mitchell 7/11
Washington Trails Association
Southwest Washington Regional Manager
[email protected]
(360) 722-2657
Southwest Washington Regional Manager
[email protected]
(360) 722-2657
Re: North Siouxon Creek, Black Hole Falls, Mt. Mitchell 7/11
Yep! That is the exact location.Ryan Ojerio wrote:How does this look for accuracy?:
http://caltopo.com/p/3K4D#page=1&zoom=auto,-159,612