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Contributed by Gary Elnan, CONC Firewood Coordinator

The firewood stocking is now completed for Swampy, ACDC, Swede, and Nordeen winter shelters.  We have stocked a total of 7.4 cords of firewood.  All of the efforts of the CONC volunteers and Deschutes NF folks is deeply appreciated.  We just need a bit more snow and away we go!

I tried to make a few measurements to track our stocking now and will measure again at the end of the winter season. Ideally, we can get to the point of knowing what we use on average at each shelter and stock only enough to use up completely during the winter months and leave no firewood leftover for summer use where it presents more fire hazards.

The firewood is mostly in front of each shelter and some stowed under benches.  Each has a plastic jar with matches, fire starter cubes, kindling, and newspaper to get a fire going.  The exterior firewood is well wrapped with lumber wrap kindly furnished by Miller Lumber.

Thanks to all who helped!   

This week, Dennis DeLapp, Christie Crowe and Frank Florence completed work on the new AC-DC Shelter Snowshoe Trail by installing junction signs and reassurance markers and trimming for marker visibility. This trail offers an out-n-back snowshoe route to the AC-DC Shelter and its views of Mt Bachelor. To get to the trail, one snowshoes 1 ½ miles to the west from Edison Sno-Park on the Tesla Snowshoe Trail to junction “E”. At the junction, turn right, and snowshoe 1-mile on this new trail to the shelter. The trail is rated as “most difficult” due to the 2 ½ mile distance to the shelter from the sno-park and an elevation gain of 500 feet; though none of it steep.

The history of the AC-DC Shelter Snowshoe Trail goes back to about 2009. Jim Davis, AKA Dr Snowshoe, and his group of volunteers proposed and flagged a route to the AC-DC Shelter from the Tesla Snowshoe Trail. Unfortunately, Jim couldn’t get approval for implementation of the . When Jim passed on the stewardship responsibility for the snowshoe trails in 2013, he included a map showing the proposed AC-DC Shelter route.

Fast forward to December 2020. With encouragement about getting new snowshoe trails approved, Chuck DelCambre and Dennis Delapp joined me to snowshoe Jim’s proposed route. Amazingly, we found a few bits of Jim’s flagging in the trees. With approval in October 2021 by the Forest Service of CONC’s request for new and re-routed Nordic and Snowshoe trails, Dennis DeLapp, Chuck DelCambre, Christie Crowe and I returned in February 2022 to detail flag the trail. The trail was 4th on the list for implementation in the fall of 2022. After completing the Long Loop re-route, followed by the Tesla Short Loop Snowshoe trail, we stashed the extension ladder along the trail, ready for use on the AC-DC snowshoe trail the following week. Unfortunately, snow came early and implementation of the trail was deferred to 2023. The extension ladder waited patiently along Tesla for our return this fall.

Earlier this month, Gary Evans and Dennis DeLapp helped with initial clearing. A week later, David Alward, Frank Florence, Christie Crowe, and Dennis DeLapp spent a long day clearing blowdown and brush. Work was completed this week with installation of junction signs and markers. 

Oct 15, 2023, contributed by Kelly Cleman

A group of six hikers met up at Thump Coffee to hike the Dry River Canyon. This trail is closed seasonally for nesting birds and reopens in the fall and winter to hikers. The approximately 6.5 mile trail one way goes from an obscure trailhead near the Badlands wilderness and ends at Hwy 20. There isn't much gain although there is a rocky area to cross where poles and sure footing is a plus. The day was very sunny and warm and we enjoyed a nice ramble in this picturesque area. We walked up-canyon, admiring the colors and textures of the rock surrounding us. The trail winds through sagebrush, juniper, and the occasional ponderosa pine. We decided not to go all the way to the Hwy 20 junction and opted instead to stop about 1/4 mile short and enjoy some lunch. On the way back, we encountered what we thought was some scat, but couldn't identify what creature it was from. Perhaps a reader of this blog can identify it.  (CONC Members: If you are logged in, you can enter a comment below.)

October 1, 2023, contributed by Kelly Cleman

A full group of 12 hikers showed up to do the 9 mile hike up to South Matthieu Lake via the Scott Pass trail. Although this hike goes up to Matthieu Lake, the Scott Pass trailhead does not require a Central Cascade Wilderness permit. It is also not very heavily trafficked, so it makes for some good trail solitude. Although the weather had been rainy on the days prior to the hike, this Sunday dawned clear and not too cold. The trail goes through some pretty wide open terrain due to a burn from several years ago, so we enjoyed views of North Sister for most of the hike up to the lake. We arrived at the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail, and then walked for a few minutes down to South Matthieu Lake. We found a nice spot by the lake and enjoyed our lunch and the views of North Sister and Yapoah Crater out in the lava field. We then headed back to the trailhead at a leisurely pace. 

Contributed by Mitch Luftig

A few years ago, my wife, Stephanie, and I were skiing the North Loop out of Ray Benson Sno-park. We brought along a snack of tangerines and string cheese, which we looked forward to consuming once we reached the Blowout Shelter, designated for day use. However, when we arrived, a large group was overnighting at the shelter, with backpacks and camping equipment strewn along the wooden benches and hammocks strung like spider webs from the walls and ceiling, leaving no room for us to get out of the cold and enjoy our snack.

The good news. According to the National Forest Service, there are two Santiam Pass Area Shelters appropriate for skiers and snowshoers to use for an overnight stay.

 Mountain View Shelter can be accessed from the Maxwell Sno-Park. It is open for both day use and overnight stays. A maximum capacity of 15 persons are allowed to overnight.

 Described by Hike Oregon as spacious, fully enclosed shelter with lots of windows and a big wood stove. The shelter is usually stocked with fire wood, although if you are going late in the season, it is best to bring your own just in case the supply at the shelter has run out. There is an outhouse close by for convenience. 

 Views from the shelter area include Mt. Washington, the Three Sisters (to the south) and Three-Finger Jack and Mt. Jefferson (to the north).

 South Maxwell Snow Shelter can also be accessed from the Maxwell Snow-park. The shelter is open for day use and overnight stays, with a maximum overnight capacity of four persons. South Maxwell has a wood stove, no door, and a gravel floor.

 Forest Service Shelter Regulations:

1.        Shelters cannot be reserved and exclusive use by individuals and groups is prohibited.

2.        Overnight stays are permitted from November 15 to April 30.

3.        Maximum stay limit is 3 nights.

4.        Shelters must be shared with whomever would like to use the shelter.

5.        All shelters are backcountry sites – all garbage and human waste (if there is no restroom facility) along with extra food and supplies should be packed out. Follow Leave No Trace principles as you enjoy your winter outing.

6.         Candles are not allowed. Please bring your own lights.

7.        Firewood (if provided) is to be used in woodstoves only.

 

 Directions: Maxwell Sno-Park is located 3.5 miles west of Santiam Junction on state Highway 22.

According to GAIA GPS, one-way distance from the snow park to the shelter is 4.7 miles, taking approximately 2 hours, 33 minutes to complete. There is 676 ft of elevation gain.

Amy Brown of Outdoor Project says the easiest route to shelters heads north from Maxwell Sno-park on the Flat Loop Trail and then northeast along the Mountain View Loop. All of the trails lead through the thick Douglas fir, hemlock, and cedar, and generally the trails are very well marked with blazes and signs at junctions; note, however, that abundant fresh snow may make route finding a bit of a challenge, so be sure to travel with a map.

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