Mt. Hood Barret Spur (again!) 08-31-2019

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mtncorg
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Location: Fairview

Re: Mt. Hood Barret Spur (again!) 08-31-2019

Post by mtncorg » September 18th, 2019, 9:47 am

Wonder pics from my fav spot on Hood.

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markesc
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Re: Mt. Hood Barret Spur (again!) 08-31-2019

Post by markesc » September 18th, 2019, 4:43 pm

mtncorg wrote:
September 18th, 2019, 9:47 am
Wonder pics from my fav spot on Hood.
Thank you!

It's an amazing place, well worth the effort/risk!

ebishop
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Joined: November 16th, 2011, 12:52 pm

Re: Mt. Hood Barret Spur (again!) 08-31-2019

Post by ebishop » September 22nd, 2019, 6:06 pm

Lovely report. One of my favorite places on the mountain. Just curious, what trail did you approach by? I used to approach from the Elk Cove trailhead (less forest road driving than Vista) but the blowdown in 2016 was so intense that I haven't been back via that approach. If you took Elk Cove or Pinnacle, I'd love to know how the trail is now.

Thanks!

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MarkQ
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Re: Mt. Hood Barret Spur (again!) 08-31-2019

Post by MarkQ » September 23rd, 2019, 11:43 am

I recently hiked the Elk Cove trail and it is just fine all the way to the Timberline Trail.

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markesc
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Re: Mt. Hood Barret Spur (again!) 08-31-2019

Post by markesc » September 23rd, 2019, 5:22 pm

ebishop wrote:
September 22nd, 2019, 6:06 pm
Lovely report. One of my favorite places on the mountain. Just curious, what trail did you approach by? I used to approach from the Elk Cove trailhead (less forest road driving than Vista) but the blowdown in 2016 was so intense that I haven't been back via that approach. If you took Elk Cove or Pinnacle, I'd love to know how the trail is now.

Thanks!
Hello, I've done both from Top Spur and from the EK TH. Just kind of depends on if you want to go to HR/hwy 35 or if you're closer to Sandy and wish to go that route. Both are identical drive time for me. Top Spur is in good condition with just a few potholes near the TH. EK TH depending upon what you drive, there's one spot my car will high center, so always a cringe moment. Personally there's pro's/con's to each. I actually enjoyed the run out of wy'east much more than from dollar lake up to where the two trails meet. The dollar lake to barret section is a lot rockier/more tedious/annoying, whereas the connector trail out of wy'east to me was a lot faster/more enjoyable as it's just a nice easy stroll upwards on the sand until you get to where it joins up high with the usual route to the lower viewpoint of barret. I could make a case for either approach depending upon what scenes/photos you want as you can do the short walk up on the way to Mcneil along the creek for a photo there, wy'east, cairn, bald mt, etc... I think miles wise they are fairly close but you do have the annoying tree ruts the first half mile or so from top spur + more people. I eliminated the people factor by starting just before sunrise from top spur however. As stated elk cove did have 26 downed tree's with one you had to go under, but those are prettymuch delt with now.

ebishop
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Joined: November 16th, 2011, 12:52 pm

Re: Mt. Hood Barret Spur (again!) 08-31-2019

Post by ebishop » October 21st, 2019, 12:59 pm

Thanks for the info. 26 trees is... thick, but maybe not as bad as what I recall from the last time I was there.

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