Now, this isn't for anytime soon; being that I'm currently in France and that Opal Creek is probably still buried under quite a bit of snow, it won't be for awhile (I'm thinking probably September, actually). However, I want to start a discussion/organization thread for this trip.

There's been some discussion on the Opal Creek in the Gorge, but this is for the Opal Creek east of Salem. Some of you may remember my thread on our attempt at the big falls from last August. This time, we hope to finish it, but it's going to require an overnight stay somewhere in the canyon. The bushwhack probably won't be that difficult; at least, it wasn't as far as we got last time. However, it will be long, as it's at least four miles from Cedar Flats to Opal Lake. The reward, of course, is the big falls
 (allegedly 250 or so feet tall) on Opal Creek, pictured in the attachment. I guess it would be easier to go up from above, but what's the fun in that? ;)

So, who wants in on this? Does anybody have any advice, for those that have done this before?

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Photos: http://mattisnotfrench.smugmug.com/
Facebook: add me! (Matt Reeder, Portland State University)

Hi Matt,

The only fun in starting from above is that you could combine it with a trip to Phantom Arch on French Creek Ridge- there is a trail right across the road from the Opal Lake trail that'll get you up there. In fact you can just see the arch from Opal Lake.

If you are going the traditional route, I recommend biking to Jawbone Flats to save time and energy for your big bushwack. It's an easy non-technical ride.

 

Phantom Bridge! I remember going there when I was 10...I haven't been back since then, though I'd love to go back. We'll have to see what ends up getting planned. I'd love to throw that in too if possible.

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Photos: http://mattisnotfrench.smugmug.com/
Facebook: add me! (Matt Reeder, Portland State University)

Bonjour Matt,

I'm definitely game for this.

Greg

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Greg Lief
LiefPhotos.com
OregonWildflowers.org

September is a ways away (well, that's what I thought about tax day..) but please keep me in mind when you have a definite plan! :)

    I'm in, even though we haven't met yet, but would be a good time… this is one I've wanted to see.

Jamie

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When going back makes sense, you are going ahead.
- Wendell Berry

Hey Matt,
It is a ways out, but I would definitely like to throw my hat in the ring for this.
Adam

Matt,

I lead a hike down there last October and I have one word for you: wet. We went to the arch (the route off the main trail to the arch has a few blow downs over it so is a bit concealed now), did a little bushwhacking on a nearby ridge (what a view of Jefferson!), and descended down to Opal Lake where we would have been better off wearing waders with tread. It's one of those deals where the trail IS the creek in some spots. I don't know about the terrain in the lake drainage below because the sun went down before we could explore any further.

However, if you are a fan of red-bellied salamanders with tiny orange toes, a lake surface so still it seems like a giant sheet of glass, and mosquitoes the size of your fist, by all means, start at Opal Lake and go down. There's plenty of parking off Forest Road 2207 for a dozen vehicles or more. The four-wheel-driver in you will probably get excited by all the side roads and steep, rocky possibilities, but listen up: half of them lead to air. Bring a detailed--DETAILED--topo. Oregon ain't known for its signage.

anna

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"When you follow your bliss...doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors; and where there wouldn't be a door for anyone else." --Joseph Campbell

i would definately want to know more about / do this. "Anna" what exactally do you mean by the roads lead to air?

 i might be interested

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jamey pyles

anna in boots:

Matt,

I lead a hike down there last October and I have one word for you: wet. We went to the arch (the route off the main trail to the arch has a few blow downs over it so is a bit concealed now), did a little bushwhacking on a nearby ridge (what a view of Jefferson!), and descended down to Opal Lake where we would have been better off wearing waders with tread. It's one of those deals where the trail IS the creek in some spots. I don't know about the terrain in the lake drainage below because the sun went down before we could explore any further.

However, if you are a fan of red-bellied salamanders with tiny orange toes, a lake surface so still it seems like a giant sheet of glass, and mosquitoes the size of your fist, by all means, start at Opal Lake and go down. There's plenty of parking off Forest Road 2207 for a dozen vehicles or more. The four-wheel-driver in you will probably get excited by all the side roads and steep, rocky possibilities, but listen up: half of them lead to air. Bring a detailed--DETAILED--topo. Oregon ain't known for its signage.

anna

I've been meaning to reply to this for awhile but work and Barcelona (last weekend) got in the way. Anna, that's an excellent description of that area. By rock arch do you mean Phantom Bridge or something else? I don't think we were planning on hitting Phantom Bridge as part of our bushwhack but it might be a fun stopoff on our way out. I won't be driving, so I don't know yet.

The Opal Lake area is fascinating. That hike is in the Field Guide, featuring a scan of a photo I took of the lake when I was 10 using my crummy little first camera. I don't think we'll be starting there now, since it's so marshy, but I'm still not sure. The last time I talked with my co-planner, it sounded like he wanted to go in September sometime to assure his friend currently hiking the PCT would be able to come. I'm not sure when this is going to go off then, but it will be in August or September sometime, probably September.

Here's the logistics as far as I know:

1) Park at the trailhead on 2209, the traditional Opal Creek trailhead.
2) Backpack to around Cedar Flats and set up camp.
3) Bushwhack up to Opal Lake and back the next day.
4) Hike out the next day back to the Opal Creek trailhead.

The reasoning for making this a multi-day trip is the sheer impossibility of doing it in one day from the trailhead at the end of 2209. We tried, and got to within maybe a mile of the big falls but were forced to turn back at around 3:30PM-this after hitting the trail at 9AM. We got back to the car at 9PM. I really don't think we'd be able to move any faster, and I could barely move by the time I made it to the car. Granted, I'm in much better shape now after a year of walking hills in France, but I really don't think we'd be able to do it any faster, and without a car shuttle (which would take a long time given how far out of the way you'd have to go to reach the Opal Lake trailhead), we aren't going to do it in one day.

The reward, of course, is to be able to have more time in that canyon, which is one of Oregon's wildest and most amazing places.

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Photos: http://mattisnotfrench.smugmug.com/
Facebook: add me! (Matt Reeder, Portland State University)