[pct-l] Rock Pass washout (WA section L)?

[Jim & Jane Moody]

Caver, 
  
I went through there last Sept, a few weeks after the cloudburst that created the gullies.  We found the hype to be much worse than the actual situation.  Stay on the switchbacked trail downward until you come to the first gully, then move downhill until you find a place where you feel comfortable climbing down into the gully and back up.  There were 8 to 10 gullies, with the first and last being the deepest.  Between gullies, previous hikers had started small cairns to guide later hikers to preferred points. 
  
I considered the washouts to be similar to blowdowns - slow going but not dangerous.  The slope is not particularly steep, so moving downhill off trail requires careful footing to keep from falling, but if you fall, you won't tumble out of control.  You'll just skin a knee and hope no one saw you. 
  
As to horses, I'm not qualified to say how difficult that section would be. 
  
Mango 
  
----- Original Message -----

From: "Tom Grundy" <caver456 at gmail.com> 
To: "PCT listserve" <pct-l at backcountry.net> 
Sent: Tuesday, August 5, 2014 9:27:04 PM 
Subject: [pct-l] Rock Pass washout (WA section L)? 

Thanks for the info on transport and such around Stevens Pass.  Another 
question: 

what's the latest scoop on the washout(s) north of Rock Pass?  Would you 
recommend the detour for a couple of semi-timid hikers with an 
(over?)active sense of self-preservation? 

Here's the route of the detour we got from one narrative description: 

http://caltopo.com/map?id=7C56 

Looks like the detour is something around 20 miles, and bypasses 13.8 miles 
or so of PCT, so it adds 6-8 miles? 

Are there any other detours / alternates around there?  Any opinions on how 
nice that detour is? 

Thanks in advance. 

-Tom 
Nevada City CA 
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