Very brushy on French Creek Ridge

Use this forum to report and discuss trails in need of maintenance. This will help organizations like TKO and agencies like the Forest Service get the most recent on-the-ground trail conditions.
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justpeachy
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Very brushy on French Creek Ridge

Post by justpeachy » September 16th, 2019, 7:00 pm

On Friday we parked at the lonely trailhead on Road 2207 and hiked French Creek Ridge out to Phantom Natural Bridge. Someone has done some patchy brushing out - looks like it was done at some point earlier in the season - but whoever did it jumped around and didn't do one consistent stretch. They also left the cut branches ON the trail in many places:

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This trail needs some TLC. There are some very brushy sections, but there are also spots where the tread is in need of repair.

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kelkev
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Re: Very brushy on French Creek Ridge

Post by kelkev » September 17th, 2019, 4:43 pm

Wow, this one has really slipped - - it had been freshly brushed out by a group from the Youth Conservation Corps 10 or 15 years ago, and the trail was in great shape past Marten Buttes and beyond. Too bad, it's a neat hike with some decent views. I'm guessing that road 2207 is still a bit of an adventure? That exposed climb as you near the trailhead is pretty intense with occasional rockfall and washouts to keep your attention :)

Thanks for the update

Kevin
"Going to the mountains is going home."
— John Muir

justpeachy
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Re: Very brushy on French Creek Ridge

Post by justpeachy » September 17th, 2019, 7:47 pm

kelkev wrote:
September 17th, 2019, 4:43 pm
I'm guessing that road 2207 is still a bit of an adventure? That exposed climb as you near the trailhead is pretty intense with occasional rockfall and washouts to keep your attention :)
We fortunately did not encounter any washouts, but we definitely saw rocks scattered across the road. There's that one cliff-hugging section where I wouldn't want to encounter anyone coming the other way!

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adamschneider
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Re: Very brushy on French Creek Ridge

Post by adamschneider » September 17th, 2019, 8:56 pm

Pfft, FR 2207 is nothing. You want adventure, drive out Forest Road 2223 to the actual Phantom Natural Bridge trailhead. :)

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Water
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Re: Very brushy on French Creek Ridge

Post by Water » September 17th, 2019, 10:22 pm

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Last edited by Water on May 6th, 2020, 12:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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bobcat
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Re: Very brushy on French Creek Ridge

Post by bobcat » September 18th, 2019, 2:44 pm

Yep, cut branches on the trail usually means guerilla maintenance - appreciated, but they need to throw them off. There's a Willamette NF trail crew based in Detroit. Maybe they can take this one on before the season is over . . .

justpeachy
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Re: Very brushy on French Creek Ridge

Post by justpeachy » September 19th, 2019, 6:46 am

adamschneider wrote:
September 17th, 2019, 8:56 pm
Pfft, FR 2207 is nothing. You want adventure, drive out Forest Road 2223 to the actual Phantom Natural Bridge trailhead. :)
We were wondering about that route! Looked pretty straightforward on the map, but I can see that it would have been an interesting drive!

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adamschneider
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Re: Very brushy on French Creek Ridge

Post by adamschneider » September 19th, 2019, 7:57 am

justpeachy wrote:
September 19th, 2019, 6:46 am
adamschneider wrote:
September 17th, 2019, 8:56 pm
Pfft, FR 2207 is nothing. You want adventure, drive out Forest Road 2223 to the actual Phantom Natural Bridge trailhead. :)
We were wondering about that route! Looked pretty straightforward on the map, but I can see that it would have been an interesting drive!
My little Toyota Yaris made it all the way to the last junction. I parked there, because that final stream crossing (the one in the photo I posted) looked pretty rocky. I probably could have made it, but at that point I was only 200 yards from the end of the road.

Webfoot
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Re: Very brushy on French Creek Ridge

Post by Webfoot » September 20th, 2019, 3:52 pm

adamschneider wrote:
September 17th, 2019, 8:56 pm
Pfft, FR 2207 is nothing. You want adventure, drive out Forest Road 2223 to the actual Phantom Natural Bridge trailhead.
How did you make it around that boulder in the first photo?

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adamschneider
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Re: Very brushy on French Creek Ridge

Post by adamschneider » September 20th, 2019, 4:16 pm

Webfoot wrote:
September 20th, 2019, 3:52 pm
adamschneider wrote:
September 17th, 2019, 8:56 pm
Pfft, FR 2207 is nothing. You want adventure, drive out Forest Road 2223 to the actual Phantom Natural Bridge trailhead.
How did you make it around that boulder in the first photo?
Very carefully. (This is the one advantage to having a small car on funky roads: I can get around stuff.)

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