Mt Hood Gnarl Ridge- Newton Logout

Crew Leader: Guy H.

Hike Distance: approx. 6 mi. RT

Elevation Gain: up to 1200 ft elevation gain

Hike Difficulty: Moderate

Work Difficulty: Moderate

Work Description: Clearing these two trails of storm logfall.

Due to heightened safety policies and procedures that we are adhering to during the COVID-19 pandemic, trail party events are currently only open to volunteers who have accumulated 25 or more trail parties with TKO (volunteer days with WTA, PCTA or other trail orgs will be considered as well) and/or are in an Assistant Crew Leader/ Crew Leader position within TKO. Thank you for understanding.

If you are interested in supporting our work in the meantime, the best thing you can do to help out is make a donation at trailkeepersoforegon.org/donate. Oregon’s trails thank you!

Project Overview:

Scout Report from Tom Lovett: I hiked Gnarl Ridge Trail on MT Hood recently starting at the Elk Meadows trailhead. Between miles 2 and 3 there were 29 trees down on the trail. This is between the start of the Gnarl Ridge Trail and the intersection with the Timberline Trail. There were another 14 trees down on the Newton Creek Trail between Timberline Trail and Elk Meadows Trail. So, in a 6.8 mile loop there are 43 logs. There are also 2 river crossings with some reasonable logs to walk on. The largest logs are 18″ to 20″. Most of the logs are around 10″. See https://caltopo.com/m/3CP9 for a map of the affected trails. Also https://photos.app.goo.gl/qf4iFUFnRXWhdqiv6 for a few photos of the more “interesting” logs. Tom also mentioned that most logs were “stepovers”, i.e. relatively benign from a complexity standpoint.

What to expect:

For safety reasons, please do not arrive late or expect to be able to leave early.

What to bring:

• Lunch
• Plenty of water
• Snacks
• Gloves (loaner gloves NOT available)
• Safety Glasses appropriate for a logout
• Appropriate COVID-19 personal sanitizing spray or disinfecting wipes

What to wear:

• Boots (Please wear something sturdy that will protect your toes from sharp tools. No tennis shoes allowed!)
• Work gloves (loaner gloves available)
• Long sleeved shirts and pants.
• Rain gear as appropriate for the weather
• TKO will NOT supply hard hats and safety glasses

Directions

See https://tinyurl.com/y5uck5nh . Approx 11 miles east of Government Camp on US26 then US 35. Turn towards the mountain at the Elk Meadows sign. Also just past the Teacup Nordic Ski Area.

Rest room facilities at the Rest Stop off SR26 at Government Camp. Also USFS vault facility at the HRM parking area.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: TKO recognizes that the trails we work on travel through the traditional lands of many Indigenous tribes. In every corner of what we now call Oregon, these people were forced to cede their land, their home, to the US government at various times from 1853 – 1871. We are privileged to be here today & express gratitude to the descendants of these tribes for being the original stewards of this land.

EQUITY & INCLUSION: TKO seeks to make Oregon’s trails a place where people can go to connect with nature & one another. Not everyone feels safe & welcome in the outdoors due to racism, bias & hate. We commit to being part of the solution to change that. Conduct, speech, or expressions that target individuals or groups will not be tolerated by TKO, regardless of whether they are based on age, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, geographic origin, language, marital status, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.

PERSONAL SAFETY: Your physical & emotional safety is our number one priority. If a person’s actions or comments make you feel uncomfortable/unsafe – interrupt directly, tell a crew leader &/or complete the post-event survey.