This alert was posted September 1 and may be in effect until the bridge can be repaired. - Ryan There is a bridge that has failed, as well as an active timber sale, impacting the “Cold Creek” section of the Tarbell (between the Larch Repeater and the junction with the L-1000). We are implementing a trail detour, to move all Tarbell trail traffic onto an adjacent road grade (L-1071), until further notice. The active timber sale is Units 2 and 3 of Thrillium, in which they are using cable settings. The trail bridge, which spans approx. 50 feet over Cold Creek, has a broken stringer and is completely unsafe for folks to cross. If you refer to our trail map which you can download for free online, the closure is between mile posts 15 and 17. The trail detour may impact undesignated motorized use in the area, so everyone needs to be aware of these trail impacts and exercise caution. The detour will be well signed and well flagged by the end of the day tomorrow. I ask that everyone follow the trail detour signage and flagging for their safety.

This is a great loop hike with a waterfall, open meadows, a rock arch, scenic vista's and a great summit view. In all I think it was around 12 miles. I set out to see how some of the views would be affected by the BPA proposal to put high transmission lines through a new corridor just west of Silver Star Mountain. Although you would see the lines along the section of the Tarbell Trail that I did, they would be very present in the views from the Kloochman Butte, Silver Star mt. and Grouse Vista trails. I started at the Grouse Vista Trailhead and took the Tarbell Trail (DNR) for about 5 miles to Hidden Falls. Along the way you pass through a new clear-cut which is a stark contrast to the lush forest at the falls. Then I continued on to the jct of with the Kloochman Butte Trail which is also part of the Chinook Trail system. The Kloochman Butte Trail climbs through some very pretty meadows to the north ridge of Silver Star Mountain. If you stay straight at the junction wit the Silver Star Mt. Trail, you'll end up on Ed's Trail just before the memorial to the visionary trail builder and co-founder of the Chinook Trail Association. I followed Ed's Trail south through some patches of snow, up the rocky scramble and to the jct with the Bluff Mt. Trail. From there it is a little tricky since there are a couple of confusing intersections. I continued south past the jct for the Indian Pits spur (180E) and went on to the Grouse Vista Trail. The Grouse Vista Trail is really an old road so it is very rocky were it has been eroded. Where the trail traverses across the ridge it is not bad, but the steeper rocky sections are not very fun. I almost slipped on looks rocks covered by wet leaves several times. Just south west of Pyramid Rock I wandered off trail about 100 yards to the grassy ridge top to look out to the east and got a great view of Mt. Hood! The fall colors were really nice although I missed their peak by a couple weeks I think. Along the way I met some deer hunters on Ed's Trail, I was glad to have my orange vest on!

I set out to check on the fall colors and to see how the Tarbell trail up to Larch Mt. might be affected by the proposed BPA power lines as well as the planned ORV trail expansion. From Washougal it took about 45 minutes to get to the Grouse Vista Trailhead, a much smoother route than heading up to the Silver Star Trailhead on the north side of the mountain. At the trailhed there are actually three options heading off in the direction of Larch Mt. Two are old road beds that have been used by ORV's and are pretty chewed up. The middle option is the official Tarbell trail, although the sign had been broken off. It too has had ORV incursions and is quite wide and rutted in places. Climbing steeply up the ridge, you get a decent view of Mount Hood just as the trail flattens out a bit. Where it crosses Grouse Creek there are some nice Old Growth trees and it looks like a beaver has been busy creating a wetland. Higher up you top out on a ridge about 1.5 miles from the trailhead with a spectacular view of Silver Star Mt. and Mount St. Helens. This would be great spot for a picnic among the beargrass and hucklebery and I made a note to come back with my wife next time. Continuing on I took a left turn to follow the spur trail to the summit of Larch Mt. There is a radio tower there and the summit if fairly flat, so the trees block most of the view. But along the way I stopped to admire a nice meadow - another spot to return to when the bear grass is in full bloom. In all the trip was about 6 miles round trip. Its a great sized hike for an afternoon, and I'm sure it would be a lot more popular if the trail was in better condition, keeping ORV's off it would keep it narrow and flat rather than the wide, rocky ruts that there are now. The proposed BPA power lines would cross the trail near the jct with the spur trail and would continue northward across the valley. Hopefully the DNR will respond to pressure from WTA and others to move the proposed 4X4 ORV trails away from the Grouse Vista Trailhead.

Hello everyone, I wanted to let you know that I just received word that there will be an aerial herbicidal treatment happening this coming Friday May 14 on the Iron Chef timber sale, which impacts the Tarbell trail. The location of this treatment is approximately 2.5 to approximately 3.25 miles SE from the Tarbell Trailhead towards Hidden Falls. The spray will be for units 3 and 4 of Iron Chef. The trail will be posted on all entrance points to these units, including access from Silver Star, as well as at Rock Creek, Cold Creek, Grouse Vista, and the trailhead. Because of the nature of the herbicides, there is a 48 hour Restricted Entry Interval. Please heed these restrictions for your own safety. Please send this information out to your groups, friends, and associates who use the trail as soon as possible. Thank you, Jessica Kimmick Recreation Manager Pacific Cascade Region WA Dept. of Natural Resources PO Box 280 Castle Rock, WA 98611 Cell: 360-852-3390 Fax: 360-274-4196 jessica.kimmick@dnr.wa.gov

I was going to hike Tarbell Trail into Hidden Falls today, but was stopped by a forest crew. The trail is right next to a clear cut that they had just sprayed this morning with pesticide. I don't know what the half-life of this stuff is, but I chose not to go.