Cape Horn *cough* Ozone *cough*

[billcoe]

A survey stake was put in next to the West side Ozone access trail the other day.

 

Any thoughts?

 

I may have a good guess I'd like to share. I'm thinking they're turning the area into a park and are surveying the Forest Service land on the far side where it hits private property. Anyone wants to get involved in the Cape Horn Park project it really looks worthy (link below).

 

They should be our natural allies and could most likely use any help we can provide. It probably also explains why strangers/non-climbers have hiked to the base of the cliff just sniffing around, seeing that the trail dead ends: they say hi and leave.

 

BTW, from the newer Cape Horn trail that those folks just put in, its a great hike and view of *cough* Ozone *cough* once you are almost to the river. Not following the directions they give on the site, start from the hard right turn in the SR14 road: there is lots of parking there. Head south and turn right before you fall over the cliff.

 

There was a private parcel of land below and slightly west of the Zone which the FS must have purchased recently. If you haven't done the hike, it's pretty good conditioning as it drops down off the rim.

Link

says:

"Cape Horn Park and Trail

 

The Cape Horn Trail provides stunning vistas less than 30 minutes from the Portland/Vancouver Metropolitan area. Let's make it official!

 

 

The Cape Horn Overlook along Washington's HWY 14 provides one of the most scenic viewpoints in the Gorge, yet the view is only accessible along a dangerous highway pull out. With the recent public purchases of hundreds of acres on top of Cape Horn now, an official trail and overlook area above the highway pull out can provide a safer and more stunning recreation opportunity for Gorge lovers.

 

The top of Cape Horn was originally planned as a subdivision in the 1980's. In the mid-1980's the Trust for Public Land (TPL) bought 12 of the 16 subdivision lots. The U.S. Forest Service then bought the land from TPL. Columbia Land Trust purchased two properties in 2001, and with a 2004 U.S. Forest Service purchase, a loop was created by trail enthusiasts, making the area accessible to the public.

 

In 2006, Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust purchased the one developed lot from the subdivision and has an option to purchase the private other rim view property. Friends' Campaign for Cape Horn is working to raise funds to secure the properties and provide a public overlook.

 

For scenic beauty and recreation access, there is no other place like it on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge."

 

 

Thats my thoughts on whats going on out there anyway.

 

[Farrgo]

I have a buddy who does road construction with the state, he mentioned that several years ago there were plans to put a pullout overlook above Ozone. Maybe those are being considered again?

[denalidave]

I have a buddy who does road construction with the state, he mentioned that several years ago there were plans to put a pullout overlook above Ozone. Maybe those are being considered again?

I heard the same but maybe I heard it from you? How was Utah?

[ivan]

i heard a blurb on npr about development of a trail there at cape horn, so i'm certain that's what those stakes are about - seems like a project for super-sport-o man!

[denalidave]

i heard a blurb on npr about development of a trail there at cape horn, so i'm certain that's what those stakes are about - seems like a project for super-sport-o man!

I'm sure Joseph would glad to handle that

[kevbone]

What is Ozone?

[ivan]

What is Ozone?

 

i prefer to call it the "dog pound" given the signboard that makes directions uber-easy (and the fact that it's a jail for beacon climbers when the ban's in)