Another area I haven’t visited in over 5 years, I drove up the Foss River Road to see how far I could get. The forest service website said the forest road open and I was taking them at their word.
This is a forest road I have driven many a time to visit Tonga Ridge and both the West Fork Foss River and East Fork Foss River Trails. You can also access the Deception Creek Trail and Pacific Crest Trail from here via Tonga Ridge. In years past, I have been able to snowshoe where the forest road meets the snowline just a few miles in.
For February, it was the barest I have seen. Normally, you have to pull over where the railroad trestle crosses over the forest road and begin your trek up on foot. Today, however, I was able to easily drive to the East Fork Trailhead with just a few patches of rutted snow.
I noticed one could turn up towards Tonga Ridge if desired but based on what I saw on the road that continued to West Fork I am guessing you would not get far without high clearance and 4×4. I did continue past East Fork to check the road and although I could turn on West Fork Foss Road, I did not continue as the snow started promptly both in depth and ruts and I had no plan to get stuck today.
The scariest thing though was the culvert at the junction. The road is eroding and staying on the inbound side would be judicious. I hate to see what happens when spring runoff begins.
Back at the East Fork Foss, I made my way in to the enchanting forest in hopes that it wouldn’t take long before I encountered snow enough to put on my snowshoes. The trail was in good shape other than a few trees down, including a large one near the beginning that has been there a while based on the boot path around it.
I love this section as it follows the old road, leaving it only to ascend and descend to navigate around creek crossings.
The tread had ice forcing its way up from under the debris of fall and the bridge over Burn Creek was also slick. It is not somewhere one would want to slip and fall so I lowered my center of gravity and took cautious steps.
I had hopes when a break in the forest canopy had a dusting of last night’s snow and a few patches of snow appeared at the wilderness boundary that I might be able to put on the snowshoes strapped to my pack but they were short lived when the path remained bare.
Although there was plenty of water running over the trail, it was interesting to see that the expansive moss wall did not have any water dripping through its vegetation. I would have thought there would at least be a hint of moisture.
The first campsite was bare and I imagine the second one after the “lakes” is as well. Unless we get another round of snow, spring camping season is surely on its way.
This was the first time I had seen Alturas Lake labeled on GAIA, more of a marsh these days. But it was a nice break from the forest, being able to look out at the ridge of Bald Eagle Peak.
I knew that the elevation didn’t change much before the 5 mile mark where the trail crosses East Fork Foss and begins its ascent into Necklace Valley and I didn’t want to put in 10+ miles so I made this my turn around point, giving up on the possibility of snow for today.
The only evidence of others I saw on my hike were prior footprints in the rare patches of snow and the trucks parked at the trestle with ramps for off road vehicles. And this gal…
I also tested out a newly knitted “hatdana”, one of my favorite patterns I have made twice now. Just enough to keep the neck (and nose) warm and it doubles as a kerchief for the hair.
So no real snow to be found today but I can never complain about a tranquil walk in the woods. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t find solitude on Washington State trails anymore!
T
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Love the Hatdana pattern. I might have to try one for my daughter.
I think she would really like it. And it is a great way to use up scraps!