[pct-l] Some wild recent video of the Sandy River near Lolo Pass

[Nitnoid1]

That vimeo is further proof that water is the most powerful natural force on earth. 

Remember that when crossing streams. 


The Incredible Bulk

On Jan 20, 2011, at 7:13 AM, CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net> wrote:

> Good morning, All,
> 
> This film was made of the Sandy River from Lolo Pass road, about 7
> straight-line miles downstream from the PCT.  On the northwest side of Mt.
> Hood the PCT crosses the main stem of the Sandy River just south of Ramona
> Falls and the old Upper Sandy Guard Station.  From there north-northeast for
> about 1½ miles the PCT wanders across a broad alluvial bottom known as Old
> Maid Flat.  At the north side of this flat the PCT crosses Muddy Fork, a
> tributary of the Sandy, immediately before climbing a serious ridge.  In
> this alluvial flat the Sandy River and Muddy Fork carry the drainage of
> three Mt. Hood glaciers about 3 miles upstream:  Sandy Glacier, Reid
> Glacier, and most of Zigzag Glacier.
> 
> 
> 
> In this recent flooding event the PCT will be effected to some extent across
> that alluvial flat.  In my memory the PCT has taken around 5 different paths
> in this area, and I expect some changes this year.  If you hiked in the
> previous 5-10 years and see it this year it will likely look somewhat
> different.  If you’re a first-time hiker you’ll pass and never know the
> difference except for some possible confusion.
> 
> 
> 
> It is likely there will be some new trail, some washed-out trail, and some
> new/temporary signage across Old Maid Flat.  The south end of the Flat is,
> and has always been, basically a ford; however often trail crews – and/or
> individuals – place a few logs across it.  As wild as the Sandy looks in the
> film, in the thru-hiker season the water at this point is minimal, maybe 8’
> to 12’ wide and 3” to 12” deep – at most a minor inconvenience, however his
> is the point where a hiker perished a few years ago crossing the Sandy when
> it was in flood
> 
> 
> 
> At the north end of the Old Maid Flat, at the foot of the ridge, the PCT
> crosses Muddy Fork via a footbridge carved onto the top of a large log.  This
> log is 10’ to 12’ above the normal water level and has survived for many
> flood seasons; however it possibly may have been moved, removed, or bypassed
> in this recent flood event.  It will likely be several months before anyone
> re-cons’ the area to determine what, if any, damage has occurred.
> 
> 
> 
> I live fairly close to the Sandy River further west, but I’m on the adjacent
> bluff about 750’ higher than the river level.
> 
> 
> 
> Steel-Eye
> 
> Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965
> 
> http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
> 
> http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09
> 
> 
> On Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 7:26 PM, Scott "Squatch" Herriott <
> yetifan7 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> http://vimeo.com/18921387
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Squatch
>> 
>> www.walkpct.com
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