[pct-l] Etna summit roadmap details - Please

[jeff.singewald at comcast.net]

Matt,

You are correct, this road walk is definitely going to add some miles to the hike.  I suppose each person will make their choice as to what portion of the detour they might make.  A correction re: your mileage estimates;

Per the Forest Service Web Site:

Lovers Camp is located approximately 22 miles from Fort Jones. Travel 14 miles down the Scott River Road; turn left onto Forest Service Road 44N45 (paved road) and follow the signs for eight miles to the campground which is at the 4,300 foot elevation.  It is paved all the way to Lovers Camp.  The trail back up to Marble Station and the PCT is a nice scenic trail.  Sure, it is mostly uphill, but nothing extreme and very well marked.  I used this access trail when meeting Mr. D along the PCT in 2007.

You are correct that there is a Ranger Station at the intersection of Highway 3 and Scott River Road that will be able to provide any and all information.  This contact info is:

Scott River Ranger District
11263 N. Highway 3
Fort Jones, CA 96032-9702
(530) 468-5351

The choice that one will have in coming from Etna on Highway 3 is to take the Muggensville cut-off at Greenview which will connect with the Scott River Road about 3 miles west of Ft. Jones and the Ranger Station or continue on Highway 3 to Ft. Jones and than cut-off on Scott River Road.  The first option, mileage wise is shorter, but misses the Ranger Station and the small town of Ft. Jones.

Having grown up in this area I can say that these roads are not optimal for roadwalking.  The road down from Etna Summit is a narrow-winding mountain road.  Highway 3 between Etna and Ft. Jones is a two-lane highway, flat but minimal shoulder areas travelling through Scott Valley farm country.  The Scott River Road is a narrow-windy road that follows the river and has minimal shoulder.  The road up to Lovers Camp is up-hill, narrow and windy.  Minimal traffic, but you still need to be aware.

Keep in mind that Deems indicated that the fire has not yet reached the PCT.  In 2006 this Ranger District closed the PCT for a period of time due to heavy smoke, but reopened it after 5-10 days.  If it were me, I would definitely contact the Ranger District to get an update before making the decision to road walk.

Elevator


-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: mattjolley at comcast.net 

> Get a Map and read prior contributors, your mileage may vary. 
> 
> Here is a compilation of what I came up with. 
> The other contributors bring other information, I think the mileage is a little 
> higher 
> than my first swag or theirs, better overestimate a tad than under. 
> 
> Imagine people could really really use a map, Perhaps from FS in Fort Jones or 
> something. 
> Summary about 53 mile reroute, for 24 miles of PCT, and extra 1500 ft elevation 
> gain or so. 
> FS campground with water about 22 miles from Etna, with roughly level road 
> walk. 
> >From Etna Summit go NE about 9 road miles to Etna on 2 lane paved Rd. 
> >From Etna go about 16 road miles north north west from Etna, to Scott River Rd. 
> ( 12 crow miles N, and 
> 3 crow miles W ) using Greenview Rd, Quartz Valley Rd. and East Quartz Valley 
> Rd. 
> Head West on Scott River rd about 6.5 miles to Indian Scotty Campground on the 
> South. 
> Proceed on unpaved FS roads about 11??? road Miles, ( 8 crow miles) to Lovers 
> Camp. 
> Trail about 9 or 10 miles up Canyon Creek to Marble Valley Forest Station and 
> Northern point of Closure. 
> This reroute goes 7 miles North out of the way and at least 7 miles back. 
> In addition it goes back East into Etna and then back West to the trail. 
> So the reroute will be longer, lower and hotter than staying on the PCT. 
> Water at campground. 
> Also Topo campsite about 1 mile on trail past Lovers Camp at trail branch, where 
> undesirable pack trail head SE Across creek. 
> Details 
> >From Etna Go North on California Hwy 3, a two lane road about 5.5 miles. 
> Leave Hwy 3 when it vears about 10 degrees right or East, continue straight 
> North on Greenview Rd. 
> At this intersection there is a driveway on the East. 
> Greenview becomes Main St. 
> When Main St ends in a T junction, go left, West on Quartz Valley Rd. 
> 
> Quartz Valley Rd, angles twice to head North, Come to intersection with road 
> coming from west, while you are hiking North. 
> Turn left, go West on what appears from google earth continues to be Quartz 
> Valley Rd. about 2.5 miles from Hwy 3. 
> This is where the Oro-Fino road continues North. 
> Follow Quartz Valley Rd West, and then North winding through Mugginsville, and 
> continue winding North, 
> Continue on East Quartz Valley Rd is shorter than the scenic route which goes a 
> mile West on Quartz Valley Rd, 
> then north, then back East to hook back up with East Quartz Valley Rd . 
> When East Quartz Valley Rd ends, you reach the northern west east Quartz Valley 
> Rd near the bridge, go right, NE and head for the bridge. 
> Cross the bridge East of the Dam, and turn left West on Scott River Rd about 6 
> or 6.5 miles. 
> Turn South off Scott River Rd on FS 44N45, crossing the bridge to Indian 
> Scotty’s campground which hasWater. 
> Just before the campground, Boulder Creek Road Vs slightly westward and passes 
> the campground loops. 
> After watering up for the big climb, go back to the V. 
> For continuation stay to left, going Southwest on the Eastward branch of the V 
> on FS 44N45 
> FS 44N45 on up the hill is unpaved from my view from google.earth. Come to 
> intersection with FS43N45 from left. 
> Turn left, going south on FS43N45 and continue switch backing up the hill, and 
> up the valley. 
> Where FS43N45 dead ends at Lover’s Camp, elevation 4280. continue on the pack 
> trail up 
> NW side Canyon Creek close to the creek going SW., climb at the end of the 
> canyon, taking trail to the right or West 
> To the Marble Valley Ranger station at elevation 5700 ft. The Marble Mnt due 
> West is 6990 ft. 
> 
> 
> Shorter reroute. 
> To skip 5.3 miles of PCT, continue on FS44N45 and unimproved road and trail to 
> South Fork Kelsey Creek And then trail to Paradise Lake on the PCT mile 1635.7 
> The FS district office is in Fort Jones about where Scott Valley Rd intersects 
> Hwy 3 north of Etna. 
> They May have Forest Map available. 
> 11263 N. Highway 3 
> Fort Jones, CA 96032-9702 
> (530) 468-5351 
> FAX (530) 468-1290 
> TDD (530) 468-2783 
> Matt