Phelix Creek west side trail

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Field Reports

June 24th, 2007

Steve, Jordan, Eric and Scott bushwhacked up the west side looking to flag boggy and swampy areas, but mostly found a lot of snow everywhere. Streams and wet areas have been flagged with dull orange flagging tape. Note that in a few locations, there are some old orange flags that were not placed by us. These seems to have been put up in the winter, since they are quite high off the ground.

• All mossy areas and water bars in the clearcuts are wet
• Flat area at the north end of the south clearcut is a bog - stay high and right on old road bed.
• 1st Slide path is generally wet. Medium slide alder + false hellebore
• small stream 1/2 way across
• medium stream 3/4 of way across near a large boulder. Cross this stream below the boulder. This stream then runs south along the base of the slope.
• 2 more small streams near north edge of the slide path
• when entering forest, keep right to avoid wet area. keep right of a large boulder, then keep right some more.
• There is a large wet area about 75m beyond the big boulder in the forest. Best to keep right of it along a small rise between the wet area and phelix creek. This section has tons of blowdowns.
• 2nd slide path:
  • for first part (diagonal section), keep uphill on the left side along the edge of the forest
  • Then through some trees to main path, slide becomes rocky (dry)
  • Then cross a stream high on a natural boulder bridge. Low is muddy.
  • Then go uphill along another stream. Keep left of it ad cross high.
  • Then traverse to forest entry.
• Entering forest beyond 2nd slide, it is easier to start uphill sooner rather than later. Current flagged route traverses a steep area with big slide alder above the creek.
• Climb up to bench is quite steep - erosion may be a problem if this grade is maintained.
• Bench is rocky with talues, blueberry bushes and many blowdowns. A few big ones here (24")
• 3rd (final) slide area still had snow holding down the alder.
• Entry into forest beyond 3rd slide ok. Could go up a bit higher after entering forest if some blowndowns were cleared.
• 2 creeks beyond - marked route goes straight up the small one then crosses the big one. No need for a bridge here, easy to cross.
• 2 gentle switchbacks going uphill ok.
• steep climb above these gentle switchbacks go straight up a pair of creeks. The route will need to change for this section.
• Above steep climb, route goes gently right to the boulder field. continuous snow beyond this point made ground observations impossible.
• 1.5m of snow at Long Lake.