and then E on the Divide Tr (458) past the Pinnacles,
toward the Flag Point LO on the smokey horizon. Never really smelled smoke but it sure cut the visibility to the E.
The 458 crosses the Flag Point Rd and I took that road to the LO,
where I got invited up to get the really big view toward Hood (I wish my office had such a view - or any view!).
Then it was back down the road to the 4-way junction with the 458, 460 (Tygh Ck), 469 (Little Badger) and 477 trails. The start of the 460 is a little back in the brush but, once found, proved to be a pretty good, if not much used, trail. It took me to a 3-way junction with what might be the 460A, but I chose the Road 27 direction, which proved to be the continuation of the 460.
The 460 will take you to the 462 (Jordan Cutoff) trail but I got way-laid by a use trail that took me to the end of Rd 2720, which was no fun walking down in the hot sun. Eventually, I came to the 462 and took in down toward Jordan Ck. This trail is mostly OK but pretty sketchy in spots, particularly near the bottom where it disappears in a swamp. But if you keep right at this point, Rd 170 can't be missed. Once on the 170, it was obvious that the 462 was unloved, probably because the roads have made it redundant.
At this point, the challenge was to get from Rd 170 back to Rd 2720 - and make a loop - without having to walk 2+ miles on dirt roads. I decided to head straight uphill toward Rd 2720, figuring I'd just force a passage. But, within 100m of leaving the road, I came across a great use trail that took me along the base of some cliffs,
and right to the 2720. From there, it was a mile on paved road to my car. An interesting little loop (12 mi RT, 2100' EG) - maybe not one I'd do again but it did whet my appetite to explore the other trails in the area - probably in the Fall when it's a bit cooler and less smokey.
We did walk about a mile and a half down the 469 trail which starts very near the 460 and noticed that someone has put up a couple of rock cairns (thank you) near the start of trail 470A which winds SE down towards Gordon butte.That little trailhead was pretty unfindable a few years back.We didn't have time to check it out further and see if the rest of the trail is being reclaimed. If so it adds some more nice loop possibilities in the area. Maybe I'll get a chance to check that out later this year or early next spring.