[pct-l] Scout Merit Badge Hikes

[kduff at ix.netcom.com (Karl Duff)]

Dear Russ,
    I imagine we all presumed you had a PCT guidebook for Oregon.  Hence a
simple entry into one of the starting points we have suggested should lead
quickly to an opportune exit at approximately 20 miles.
    Example: Start at Barlow Pass (elevation 4155 ft.) and proceed South to
Clackamas Lake Campground (elevation 3346 ft.).  Distance is 19.8 miles.  If you
wanted to exit sooner, say at Little Crater Meadow Forest camp (elevation 3220
ft.) which is 5.9 miles N. (by trail) of the Clackamas Lake Campground, then you
could possibly justify starting at Timberline Lodge (elevation 5940 ft.) 5.0
miles North of Barlow Pass.  You should easily be able to tack on another mile
or so beyond Clackamas Lake Campground, (to make up for the approximately .9
mile reduced distance cited above) by proceeding SE on the PCT to the
intersection with road S549.
    I hope this is sufficiently helpful to clarify the recommendation I've twice
previously made, though perhaps not with enough clarity to sound like a specific
20 mile segment.
    Good hiking to you.  Yours in backpacking and Scouting,  Karl Duff

Joanne Lennox wrote:

> there are lots of 20 mile segments in Oregon, but you need to choose
> something fairly easy , that can be driven to at both ends and in the
> middle, that do not involve hazardous terrain, confusing trail junctions,
> have easy acess from trailheads and for you probably good access from the
> west side of the cascades.
>
> The Santiam to McKenzie Pass would be a long way down on my list for Scouts.
> That lava is very hard on the feet and boots, not to mention the lack of
> appeal(any slip or fall would have immediate consequences).  This segment is
> only 17 miles and very unscenic and no water and not much easy
> straightforward access in the middle.  Mainly this is the area of last years
> big burn.  I do not know the exact boundries of the burn but this area was
> closed during theburn.  It also includes a sizeable climb around Belnap and
> Mt Washington. I advise you to hike this section first if you plan to do it
> with the scouts.
>
> Better you should go to Willimette Pass and hike the 18 miles to summit
> Lake.  This goes past Diamond Peak and should not be considered in a
> thunderstorm, which is what I was contending with.  Or the PCT alternate of
> Willemette Pass to Crescent Lake on the Whitefish trail (dusty, not scenic,
> you could add a few miles on either end).  Summit Lake to Windigo Pass would
> seem to be good, but I would not drive road 60 again even with a 4WD, and
> some of the trail junctions are not marked(I ended up at Waldo Lake).  Also
> no good roads for half way points and an old fire created a lot of downed
> timber.
>
> You might also consider some 20 mile segments near Ashland.  I realize that
> is a long way to drive but it is a fairly quick straight forward drive to
> Ashland on I-5.  20 mile segment between wrangle Gap to I-5 (long drive into
> Wrangle Gap and the last part on rough dirt road, trail crosses the road
> numerous times, scenic, and fairly flat, water, campgrounds) I-5 to Little
> Hyatt Reservoir (few easy road crossings, not a lot of water, fairly scenic,
> water for swimming and camping at end);  Little Hyatt Reservoir to DEad
> Indian Road (not scenic, confusing trail and road croassings, have to know
> where the water is to find it, fairly level and will be cool in the trees).
>
> goforth
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Logerwell, Russell M" <russ.logerwell@hp.com>
> To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 9:15 AM
> Subject: RE: [pct-l] Scout Merit Badge Hikes
>
> > I greatly appreciate all the advice about conditioning the scouts --
> > your experience may save some feet and keep their hiking interest high.
> >
> > But I was disappointed that only 1 person responded with a 20-mile hike
> > suggestion -- thanks 'goforth'.
> >
> > Are there so few 20-mile segments in Oregon?
> >
> > What about McKenzie Pass to Santiam Pass? Lava at Belnap make this too
> > difficult?
> >
> > Warmest regards,
> > Russ Logerwell
> >
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