Well a few weeks back Ryan (shown in middle of lower photo) was riding with my partner and I at M4. Ryan is a new Kent firefighter and as part of his training is required to ride with the paramedics. So, anyway, in the course of the day waiting for calls we got to talking about the Green River Gorge. I told him I was doing conservation work to protect the Green River Gorge. Lately I had been doing trail recon to see if there were any places along the gorge that would be problematic to building a multi-use, soft-surface trail. He enthusiastically asked if he could help out. I definitely said yes. I needed some fit enthusiastic adventurers that weren't bothered by steep slopes, groves of nettles and Devil's club or the myriad of spiders webs that crisscrossed the jungle like terrain of the Gorge.
With that the "Green River Gorge Hotshot Crew" concept was developed. Why hotshot crew? Well both Ryan and I had fought wildfires with the Forest Service. Hotshots are the Forest Service's elite firefighters. Hotshots fly all over the country during the fire season and get the toughest jobs and go to some of the most remote places in our American wilds that are on fire. It seemed fitting that for a rugged gorge filled with steep cliffs, and trail less jungle like forest that it required an elite trail crew to figure out if a trail could be built from Kanasket to Flaming Geyser. A trail that would help save the gorge from Mcmansions lining its edge and provide recreation to the growing communities surrounding this last stronghold of wilderness near an urban area.
So this was day one. I met Ryan, Ryan's girlfriend Courtney, and Juan at Krain's Corner restaurant near Enumclaw. I instantly recognized Courtney. She was a new firefighter with South King Fire and Rescue that I'd recenlty met at the Desmoines firestation. Juan is a Gig Harbor firefighter. Juan showed up in track shorts and a t-shirt. Clearly immune to the rain threatening clouds and the wet rain soaked foilage. Was he really gnarly or just clueless? Well, as it proved he was gnarly and looked forward to scratched legs and soaked clothing. Definitely a hotshot state of mind. Since it was raining we decided to stick to the trails (yes, we are still gnarly) and do a little trail maintenance and off trail scrambling. I needed to check these guys out and make sure they were up to bushwacking. So off to the trailhead we went. We left with an axe and my two furry dogs in tow.
I decided to show them the existing trails along the Gorge near Icy Creek. We followed a well established route along the rim stopping to clear out a log that blocked the trail. The upper body workout portion of the day. Then we dropped over a steep hillside for some bushwacking down to the river. Along the way we stopped at a 14 ft waterfall nestled deep in a ravine. Ryan, Courtney,and Juan hopped rocks out to a large rock below the falls. I got to watch as they slipped this way and that trying to get back off the rock to the shore.
Then we wove through tall forest of Cedar and through tight thickets of salmon berry, Devil's Club, and ferns. At one point a fawn ran right in front of me. Spooked by our presence. We corralled the dogs and then continued. At the edge above the river we dropped down a series of root and mud steps. Part of a highwater fisherman's trail. We came out along the river to the south of Icy creek and then walked an old log across the creek. Merlin, my main trail dog, crossed the creek and then came back across to walk the log. He didn't need an agility class to master obstacles. Then we came out to the river gorge at Icy creek. Its a bend in the river that is lined with deep forest and drops just around the bend. A favorite of fishermen willing to hike a mile in on a steep gravel road. I showed them the steep rocky length of the bottom of Icy Creek that tumbles down from the heights we just hiked from before flowing by the hatchery and in to the river. A dark coal lined wall frames oneside and maidenhair ferns undulate off its rocky crevices. All along the cliff wall behind the hatchery are springs that pop out at the cliffs edge and fall along the coal lined wall.
With that we hiked up the steep road. Its my favorite training hill. A short 300ft climb out of the river gorge. Garanteed to get your blood pumping. At the top my old dog, Ashley, (she is 10) decided she'd had enough and looked at us with pleading eyes. Please be gently on this old lady. So we decided to call it a day and hiked the trail that loops back to our starting point. We had to stop along the route for some blackberry picking and consuming. Even the dogs enjoyed eating this forest delicacy.
Just as we got back to our vehicles it started to pour. Rain coming down in buckets. We lucked out and had a dry hike. They passed the test and hopefully are looking forward to the real bushwacking to come.
Hot Shot Crew |
Before |
They wanted a work out! |
Upper body workout |
Get Ready, |
Set, |
Chop! |
Mission accomplished! |
Ryan and Courtney |
Ryan and Courtney - 1 |
Ryan and Courtney - 2 |
Ryan and Courtney - 3 |
Slick Rock |
Slippery |
Ryan and Juan |
Picking Blackberries - 1 |
Picking Blackberries - 2 |