[pct-l] Drivability of Seiad Creek Rd (48N20) to PCT (mile 1677.25)

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good afternoon, Dennis,

I crossed the road at Cook & Green Pass twice in ’10 and from that small
sample it appeared to be in fine shape for a timber-access/recreation road.
I haven’t driven it, but probably a passenger car could have easily
negotiated it -- then.

So far, this is a low snow year in that area as can be seen at:
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/water/westwide/snowpack/wy2012/snow1203.gif
but one troubling question is what happened to the road during last year’s
high snow year that may not have been yet repaired?  If the road to Cook &
Green was open last year there’s a good chance it will not have gotten any
worse over this snow season.  However, such roads are maintained at the
convenience of the Forest Service based upon their priority for whatever
resources they may have.  They may open/repair that road, or maybe not.  If
there are pressing reasons for the road to be opened -- such as for fire
suppression, high-profile recreation, commercial interests, etc. – it may
move up the list.  If other roads have a more pressing need the USFS may
leave it alone -- possibly closed and gated to keep people out.

One possibility is to ask people at whatever USFS Ranger District
represents that road.  One caution:  People at the District offices are
often very conservative when talking to backwoods tourists.  They have
nothing whatever to gain by encouraging someone to travel a forest road,
but they will probably get their butt chewed if Aunt Tilly and Uncle Fred
go up there and get their luxury SUV stuck.  “But, you said…”

Local people are often good to ask if you can understand their
frame-of-reference.  They may say they were up there just last weekend, and
the road was great, but they don’t tell you that they were driving a
one-pop Jeep – meaning a Jeep jacked up so high your ears pop once just
getting into the thing.

Good luck,

Steel-Eye

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

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

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/


On Thu, Mar 29, 2012 at 11:08 AM, Dennis Phelan <dennis.phelan at gmail.com>wrote:

> some people posted about driving up the Seiad Creek Rd to the PCT to avoid
> the steep climb out of Seiad Valley.  My wife and I are planning on doing
> some section hiking this summer and this option is appealing.  I have
> traveled back country forest service roads before and understand they
> usually are full of potholes; but how drivable is this road?  Can a normal
> road car make it or does it require a high road clearance car?
>
> thanks,
> Dennis
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