Trail to Mitchell Point open? A route to Defiance?

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pablo
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Trail to Mitchell Point open? A route to Defiance?

Post by pablo » March 1st, 2018, 9:34 pm

There are 2 trails that use the name Mitchell Point Trail. One is the trail to Mitchell Point the geographic feature the other is that segment connecting Starvation Ridge Trail to Warren Lake and ends at the intersection of Defiance Trail. The latter is under fire closure but the former is open, right? I'm looking at the latest revised fire closure map and it looks like Viento Ridge is not included in the closure and the road to Defiance appears to be the boundary so it looks legal to hike Viento Ridge to the road and go on to summit Defiance.

Link to the latest fire closure map:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 570250.pdf

A zoom of the interesting portion.
FireMapSnippet.jpg
I'll give FS a call and verify but it looks good to me.
The future's uncertain and the end is always near.

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Bosterson
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Re: Trail to Mitchell Point open? A route to Defiance?

Post by Bosterson » March 1st, 2018, 10:01 pm

Viento Ridge should be open, as the closure ends at Starvation Creek, but I have heard that Viento SP is closed for some reason? Follow up if you get clarification! Viento Ridge > Defiance should be a kosher way to avoid the closure, though here's hoping to their lifting the silly thing at that end, as the fire didn't even make it east of the Defiance trail. If the Starvation TH is still closed by the time the weather starts to improve, the FS is going to get some insubordination on their hands...
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adamschneider
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Re: Trail to Mitchell Point open? A route to Defiance?

Post by adamschneider » March 1st, 2018, 11:06 pm

There's a trail up Viento Ridge?

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Bosterson
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Re: Trail to Mitchell Point open? A route to Defiance?

Post by Bosterson » March 1st, 2018, 11:38 pm

adamschneider wrote:There's a trail up Viento Ridge?
Of course not! :D
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pablo
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Re: Trail to Mitchell Point open? A route to Defiance?

Post by pablo » March 1st, 2018, 11:53 pm

adamschneider wrote:There's a trail up Viento Ridge?
At least part way. Looks legal to park at Starvation Creek then take the BPA powerline trail. From there an easy hike to get on the ridge and off you go. Chip Down had the latest report:

viewtopic.php?f=10&p=183058
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adamschneider
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Re: Trail to Mitchell Point open? A route to Defiance?

Post by adamschneider » March 2nd, 2018, 8:37 am

pablo wrote:Looks legal to park at Starvation Creek then take the BPA powerline trail. From there an easy hike to get on the ridge and off you go.
"Powerline trail" sounds to me like "poison-oak-o-rama." Wear long pants!

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retired jerry
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Re: Trail to Mitchell Point open? A route to Defiance?

Post by retired jerry » March 2nd, 2018, 10:51 am

I forget which road this is, but I recently stopped for a quick break and there was a road block right where it left I-84

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Bosterson
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Re: Trail to Mitchell Point open? A route to Defiance?

Post by Bosterson » March 2nd, 2018, 1:37 pm

Viento State Park is inexplicably closed (from what I've heard), despite it being east of the official closure boundary that ends at Starvation Creek. I'm not sure if this is just a normal winter closure (the way Wyeth State Park is gated in the winter) or if they're using the fire as an excuse to keep even more things off limits... :?
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retired jerry
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Re: Trail to Mitchell Point open? A route to Defiance?

Post by retired jerry » March 2nd, 2018, 1:47 pm

Wyeth has the seasonal gate closed, and scary signs saying not to enter because of the fire

I ignored the scary signs and walked to the end of the campground, everything seemed to be okay. I assume they didn't want people to go on the trail so I didn't go past the campground.

Lurch
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Re: Trail to Mitchell Point open? A route to Defiance?

Post by Lurch » March 2nd, 2018, 11:04 pm

You guys realize that state park closures are separate from national forest right? At best all you'll get is a few hundred dollar ticket and be banned from the property...

"Sneaking" in the back doesn't somehow make it any less wrong :roll:

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