To everyone reading this trip report, I will start by saying that a couple of people were making bouquets of Salal on the trail that connects the big creek trail to the Mount Elinor trail. We questioned them about it, but they didn’t respond because they were Hispanic and didn't speak english so we didn't get an answer, so I suspect harvesting Salal so far up a steep and less traveled part of the trail, they might be doing something illegal, if not than let me know in the comments.
Anyway, we hiked Mount Ellinor the hard way, starting from the Big Creek campground, then we made our way to the Big Creek Trail, then to connecter trail that connects to the Mount Ellinor Trail, and then made it to the top, all in one day. We started really early and were ready for an ambitious hike, unfortunately we already knew from the start that the clouds would ruin any hopes of seeing views on the top of Mount Ellinor, but we weren’t going to quit. Views or no views we wanted to make the summit. All of the trails are in excellent condition, besides the last portion of the Mount Ellinor Trail. Lots of people out on the Mount Elinor trail but nobody on the big creek trail. Don’t disappoint yourself and hike on a cloudy day, more than likely you won’t see anything but clouds. No snow on the trail but it started snowing on the summit. To our surprise we saw a Grouse right on the trail! Our first time ever seeing wildlife ever on our many hiking trips. If you have questions write them in the comments, and I want to know what those people were up to.
Comments
QAhiker on Mount Ellinor, Big Creek
Wikipedia says salal berries and leaves are edible and are an efficient appetite suppressant. Further, it says specifically in the Pacific Northwest, the harvesting of salal is the heart of a large industry as it is used in floral arrangements worldwide. So, perhaps that is it. I don’t know whether harvesting in that location specifically is legal or not. Were they in a designated Wilderness Area? That may be different than just being on national forest land. In any event, your post implied because they looked Hispanic there is reason to suspect something illegal and I don’t think that is a fair conclusion to draw based on ethnicity. But, of course, it doesn’t mean it is ok to harvest salal there either.
Posted by:
N2thewoods on Oct 12, 2021 05:47 PM
Hiking addict on Mount Ellinor, Big Creek
They were not in a wilderness area, the coordinates are 47.50305, -123.23280
Posted by:
Hiking addict on Oct 12, 2021 06:40 PM
Hiking addict on Mount Ellinor, Big Creek
The only reason why I mentioned they looked Hispanic is that they didn't speak English, not because I thought that was more suspicious.
Posted by:
Hiking addict on Oct 12, 2021 06:44 PM
Hiking addict on Mount Ellinor, Big Creek
Because they didnt speak english, they would not answer our questions, so therefore that's why I'm asking on wta.
Posted by:
Hiking addict on Oct 12, 2021 06:51 PM
Psalm104 on Mount Ellinor, Big Creek
“Personal use permit: Salal, huckleberry, Oregon grape, rhododendrons, and sword fern are among the native plants that may be harvested for personal use with a permit. Contact your local forest service office to find out how to obtain a free permit.” -https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/olympic/passes-permits/forestproducts
They likely knew where to find it because they had a permit to harvest it. There are maps on the NF website of where to harvest salal.
Posted by:
Psalm104 on Oct 12, 2021 09:10 PM
Hiking addict on Mount Ellinor, Big Creek
Thanks for sharing, I didn’t know harvesting the Salal was a thing.
Posted by:
Hiking addict on Oct 12, 2021 09:34 PM