mountainsloth Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 anyone been out there recently? The national forest website says there is still snow on the road going in, but wonder how much, how far in, and whether there has been any damage to the road this winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finian Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I was just up there today with my daughter 4 wheeling. The road to 3 O'clock is clear for about 5-6 miles (before the cut off to Exfoliation Dome). At that point it's blocked by a huge snow slide, trees and all. The slide is maybe 15' high and 100' across. I don't think it will be melting any time soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainsloth Posted May 3, 2009 Author Share Posted May 3, 2009 thanks for the update. I cannot remember how long the road is to the 3 o'clock rock trail head is, any idea how much this adds to the hike in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmatt Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 Was the road to that point passable by a normal car or do you need high clearance? Â thanks for the update. I cannot remember how long the road is to the 3 o'clock rock trail head is, any idea how much this adds to the hike in? Â Not that much, maybe another 10 minutes or so? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainsloth Posted May 5, 2009 Author Share Posted May 5, 2009 sweet, 10 minutes isn't bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genepires Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 went up to 3 oclock rock today. It was a solid 45 minute walk to the 3 oclock rock TH from the avi across the road. lots of snow on the road still but should be gone in a couple weeks. the avi across the road will take much longer as well as cutting a tree up that came down with the debris. the trail to 3 oclock was snow free but the bottom pitch of both silent running and total soul is buried under snow. enjoy the solitude while you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattp Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 You walk fast. That 45 minute walk took us an hour and ten minutes yesterday. It was nice up there, though.  mountainmandoug reaches for the crack that he finds disappointing  a snowy Exfoliation Dome in the background  The good news is that the roadbed doesn't look as if it has been damaged. When the avvy debris melts, we may be able to drive right in (assuming that somebody has by then picked up the unclaimed firwood).  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genepires Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 I went with tvash who usually kicks in the walking speed into high gear. I don't think he runs, but he definately doesn't walk either. A hour ten is probably a better estimate of road time. Â the sloppy snow on the road sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderfour Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 I had a look at the slide. A few guys with shovels and a chainsaw could take care of it in less than a day. Â Who has a chainsaw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mec Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 how long does this add to the witch doctor wall trail? also, with the witch doctor wall be wet with all that snow still on top (voodoo/solaris area). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattp Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 You are looking at an extra three miles or so to Witch Doctor. Wetness? I bet the snow on the top of the dome doesn't much drain that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mec Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 thanks mattp. an extra 3 miles with aid gear does not sound like much fun... might have to wait for it to melt, or bring a chainsaw and shovel... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattp Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Right now there is soft snow on most of that 3 miles of road, too, though this will be gone soon (I hope). Meanwhile, the wooded approach is probably dry but that boulder field below the Witch Doctor Wall is probably now covered with firm snow, making it easier to cross/climb up to the slopes below Solar Wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmatt Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Headed up on Sunday to climb Silent running with my friend Martha.  Approach: It takes an additional 50-60 minutes to get to the 3 O'clock parking lot (which will get easier as more snow melts). The trail to the base of 3 O'clock is in pretty good shape with only a little snow at the end. Martha and I cleared all of the trees from the road that we could move without a chainsaw on the hike out, but there are at least 5 that require a saw or multiple people to move. There is also one large rock that will require a couple of people to move it.  Route: The first half of pitch 1 is totally under snow. Since there is little gear here, we just cruised up to the first belay and started from there. The rest of the route is dry with pitch 7 being a bit mossy. Such a fun route!   The tree / avalanche that blocks the road (it will take a lot of sun or a ton of shoveling to clear it)   Walking the snowy road   Trees blocking the road beyond the 3 O'clock parking lot   Base of silent running   Exfoliation dome is melting out nicely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jshamster Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Thanks for the update. I've got some free time this week, but no chainsaw. If anyone has a saw, and wants to meet up on Wed/Thurs/Fri to clear some trees, I'm game. PM me. Â Cheers. Jimbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainsloth Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 sweet! Thanks for the update. Exfoliation Dome looks like a go! Silent Running is a super fun route, one of my favs on 3 o'clock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
needtoclimb Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 I am heading up this Sunday (May 31) for a day of road maintenance. Have truck, chainsaw, and tools. Will be leaving Lynnwood about 1030 if anyone wishes to join me. I plan on working until about 1800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jshamster Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Dang! Would have loved to join you and help out, but now am committed to a landscaping project. Thanks for the effort. Â Cheers. Jimbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
needtoclimb Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Removed tree from first slide, and dug out enough snow to be able to drive around. I didn't get past the first slide, so not sure how much farther you can drive before coming upon any more blowdowns. Had to call it quits when I broke my shovel. Â Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattp Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Wow! Great news! Sorry I couldn't help. Â There are more blowdowns, but nowhere near as many as last year, and I don't think any of them are real big. There are also some large rocks in the road not far beyond the slide. It'll take a couple of folks to move them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argus Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 So how far up the road can you get now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmatt Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Way to go on the road block! Â There are probably about 5-10 more trees until you hit 3 O'clock TH. There is a HUGE pile of trees there to go further up towards Green Giant Buttress and other walls. Not sure about the deadfall left on the road to Exfoliation dome though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finian Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 Way to go on the trees you guys. I went up there with my saw yesterday and found the road clear already. COOL! Â The road to Green Giant is drivable (in my jeep) probably two thirds of the way in? Of course I had my son with me to lift up the really low hanging stuff ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Road clear up to 3 O'Clock. Thanks to all who helped clear the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmatt Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Â Six of us headed up on Saturday armed with multiple saws (thanks to alpinefox for the extra saw) and a chainsaw (thanks to cfire for trusting me with his skis, I mean chainsaw). Â The Forest service (or someone else) cleared through to the 3 O'clock TH for the most part. Since we had already had all the tools and planned on not climbing on Saturday, we went and took most of the trees out on the way to Green giant buttress (others remain once the road becomes 4WD required). Â The downside? We did not have a chance to clear all the way up to Exfoliation dome. There is still a large amount of dead fall there including several chainsaw required trees. Â The routes on 3 O'clock are starting to get a descent amount of travel and are cleaning up nicely. Go and get your fill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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