Hoh River #15
May 19, 2007
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Hoh River-Five Mile Island
- Region: Olympics -- West
- Agency: Olympic National Park
- Trails: Hoh River (#15)
- Avg Rating: 3.31
- Be Aware Of
- Blowdowns
- Bridge out
- Mudholes
- Mud/Rockslide
- Washouts
- Water on trail
Trail cleanup has only just begun to address down trees from last November's storms. Crews have made it as far as Happy Four shelter with chainsaws, beyond which is a disaster.
The NPS trail conditions page said 53 down trees, and while we weren't counting, there were enough to add a few miles and many hours of bushwhacking to our round-trip. A few trees have fallen lenghtwise down the trail, requiring substantial detours. Note that the shelter at Elk Lake has been chopped in half (literally) by a fallen tree!
Both 5/19 and 5/20 saw persistent rainfall, and the trail was very muddy and washed-out in a number of places. Two total washouts require either a muddy scramble or a major detour and bushwhack. I've heard something about bushwhack ratings (e.g. BW1 - BW5, where BW1 is no trail no brush and BW5 requires a machete).. we were joking that some sections were BW10.
In all, the trail is still in gorgeous country and worth hiking. It will just take longer and require more effort than usual.
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