[pct-l] oregon hwy 242 closure

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good morning, Sandy,



The PCT does "follow the road" by paralleling it for several hundred yards
in the area of McKenzie Pass, but on the road itself the trail only crosses
near Dee Wright Observatory.  I can't imagine any repaving work that would
materially affect a PCT hiker's transit in that area.  I think this is
another example of someone covering their butt over a technicality.



The closure of highway thru traffic would be significant if a hiker wanted
to hitch west -- I can't imagine why -- and it would limit opportunities for
hitching east to Sisters/Bend.  The normal McKenzie Trailhead parking area
is a short distance west of Dee Wright and will probably be closed. Other
than that, I would hike on.



They got one thing right though:  Any significant cross-country travel in
that area should be avoided.  McKenzie Pass is in the middle of many square
miles of some of the most rough, brutal, and barren -- but starkly beautiful
-- lava flow imaginable.



Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT -- 1965

 http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

 http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09



On Fri, Jul 3, 2009 at 10:42 AM, sandy boyd <sandylwes at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Found this on the PCTA site today-I am starting a section hike from Crater
> Lake to Cascade Locks July 26? so this will effect me. Any one got more
> info???
>
>
> http://www.pcta.org/planning/during_trip/Trail_con_O.asp?sect=E
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 7/2/2009
>
>
> DOT will be paving Highway 242 Mc Kenzie Pass in mid July, expect delays.
> Hikers need to use caution while in this area. Be mindful of the safety of
> work crew as well as conditions before crossing highway. Mckenzie Pass will
> be closed to through traffic, plan accordingly.
>
>
> 7/1/2009
>
>
> This is a potential problem for thru-hikers on the PCT this summer (2009).
> Roadwork on Hwy 242 has closed the road to ALL traffic (hikers too) west of
> Dee Wright Observatory. There is a section of PCT that runs along that
> portion of Hwy 242, before it leaves the road to head north. That section of
> the trail is thus not accessible due to the roadwork. NOTE that due to the
> very rough nature of the large lava bed along both sides of the highway,
> there is no option of going cross-country and avoiding the road that way! So
> plan accordingly.
>
>
>
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