Darrington road conditions

[Mark Hanna]

I just wanted to express my sincere thanks to the folks at the Darrington Ranger Station (FS) for their diligence in maintaining the Clear Creek road throughout the winter slides and damage. Typically, my first few trips to the area involve more boulder yanking/windfall cutting/getting the truck unstucking than actually climbing. Despite some big time damage, they were up there last week. Their efforts are greatly appreciated by those who frequent the crags and hiking trails!

Mark Hanna

[Matt Perkins]

I just spoke to a roadway person in the Darrington office and he says that, while the road up Clear Creek has been repaired following the severe damage earlier this winter, the repair was only "temporary" and the road remains a little rough. With that, and with a significant washout remaining up by the Eightmile Creek trailhead, they are hesitant to reopen the road just yet for fear somebody will go up there and damage their car or possibly even get hurt. He assured me that they will reopen it, however - he just didn't know when.

[Matt Perkins]

Additional calls to the ranger station revealed that they had decided not to reopen the road. They say they cannot afford the necessary repair, although they also say that they are repairing other roads in the area and the guys who made the call not to maintain this one say they are sorry but they had no idea there was anything important up Clear Creek.

[Matt Perkins]

In three short weeks, we have gotten our message to the Forest Service and they have responded. The roadway supervisor called to say that they have a contractor lined up to start the repair of the Clear Creek Road next week, and that it may be reopened by the following weekend.

They must have gotten a phone call or two because he asked me three times to spread the word and tell people they could stop calling.

[Mark Hanna]

I called the ranger station today, and was informed that the road is now open! Most Excellent Indeed! Job well done to all parties involved.

MH