2025-04-12 46 -122
| Sat 12 Apr 2025 in 46,-122: 46.3222374, -122.7067607 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox |
Location
On a sandbar on the South Toutle River.
Participants
Expedition
Having made plans to meet somewhere between Olympia and Portland this weekend, and to conquer a hashpoint if possible, we decided to take this little trip up the Toutle River valley. First, though, we fortified ourselves with large plates of warm tan food at El Compadre, in Castle Rock.
Our main concern was that spring high water would cover the hashpoint, and we had both brought gear appropriate for a little cold-water wading. That turned out not to be an issue at all; the hashpoint was high and dry and probably a really pleasant place to pass some time by the riverbank. The surprise, though, was that Frank Smith Road didn't run along the riverbank here, but at the top of a pretty darn sheer cliff. So, a short stroll through trees to the riverbank wasn't going to happen.
Plan B, approach along the bank from downriver, was foiled -- there was no bank available, and anyway that side of the river was firmly marked private property.
Plan C, go out to the riverside opposite the hashpoint and see if there was some kind of ford, didn't work either -- the access was colorfully signed with lots of "keep out" messaging, which was probably for the best -- we probably couldn't have waded anyway.
Plan D was more of a judgement call -- we went upriver a ways, found an old shack that turned out to be a small lumbermill, and then found an old roadbed that went halfway down to the river before hitting a washout. We probably could have made it the rest of the way -- indeed, Heatherbee was entirely game -- but Michael was a great big worrywort and "trusted his gut," which is to say wimped out.
Expedition failed.
Photos
Plan A: You can kind of see how far down it is to the river behind that Keep Out sign
Plan B: The hashpoint is on the sandbar straight ahead
Plan C: Not welcoming
Plan D: Decrepit shack...
...turns out to be an old mill
