Whatcom Chapter - Backcountry Horsemen of Washington State
UPDATED TRAIL INFORMATION
Baker Lake Trail
The Baker Lake Trail suffered some damage this winter. The North end of the trail was moved last year about 50 feet to the East to avoid the river. Well this winter the river moved to the East also and the trail is again sloughing off into the river. The Hidden Creek Bridge, The Z shaped one with the big waterfall, received so much snow that on the South end it has cracked a log stringer. The USFS is recommending no horse use until this can be repaired. It is a long fall if the bridge fails. They will be putting up signs at the two ends of the trail and on the bridge. It is their hope to get it repaired. They will be searching for money. They are committed to keeping this very nice trail open for stock and hikers. The trail is open from the south, but there is a rough ford at Anderson Creek. I haven’t seen the ford so can’t comment on how good or bad it may be.
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From Sam Miller:
Mike and I rode to the top of Stewart on Friday so I thought I'd send a note you could forward out about trail conditions. We got to the top but there's a lot of downfall to clean up, and I wouldn't recommend riding it until the work is done. Our goal was to see if we could get to the top so we didn't clean it up as we went along.
The steep part of the trail above the Olson Creek crossing is blocked. We went up via the trail next to the Iron Bridge. The trail is in great shape all the way to the Ogallala sign, although a bit wet. At Ogallala the trail is completely blocked by a couple, maybe three, big trees. We found a way around them to the right, but it needs to be logged out or our work around trail cleaned up, about 40 feet or so. From there up to the second hitching rail, just below the steep side hill, there's lots of downfall in the trail. We could go over or around most of it, but did have cut our way through three or four spots. Luckily the trees were small enough for our hand saws. There's a big tree blocking the trail right before the wooden bridge . We got around it but it needs to be cut out. The good news is the bridge has no damage at all, it's solid as a rock. When you break out of the trees at the old upper road it's smooth sailing until you cross the top and start down the other side. The road is still plugged with so much deep snow that we turned around.
From Mike McGlenn:
This trail is in the worst shape for trees down as I have seen it in 20 years. A lot of the trees are to big for hand work and will need a pack horse with a chain saw to get it done. We rode around many but there are a few that can’t be avoided.
There is a mess of trees down on the Olson creek side just at the base of the steep switch backs that had no way around. We went up to the Steel Bridge and took that trail. I couldn't believe how much snow there was still on the road at the top going east.
