Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Crooked River National Grassland

Current Condtions Recreation Report Deschutes National Forest Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District Summer Trail & Wilderness Conditions

OHV REPORT CURRENT ACCESS CAMPGROUNDS SUMMER TRAILS & WILDERNESS Bend/Fort Rock Crescent Crooked River Grassland Lookout Mtn. Paulina Sisters WINTER RECREATION

GENERAL SUMMER TRAIL CONDITIONS -

Increasing fire danger! High temperatures and recent lightning storms have brought and continue to bring dozens of new fire starts to the Central Oregon area. Just a heads up to be extra cautious when out during periods of thunderstorm activity.

Fireworks and Fourth of July: Fireworks are prohibited anytime on National Forest Lands. Please, do not bring fireworks to your National Forest. Fire danger is increasing rapidly and fire fighting resources are already beginning to be stretched early this season. Persons found in possession or discharging fireworks on National Forest Lands will be cited.

Trail Conditions Short Report - Deschutes

Current Bend Fort Rock Trail Condition Report

Summary 9/9/2008:

• Presently experiencing great Sept weather for trail activities. Just a reminder for this time of year, the weather can change in short order as plenty of trail users found out over Labor Day weekend.

  • Well over 100 South Sister hikers found out just how fast as the morning of Aug. 31 started out cool but sunny and ended up with snow, winds and low visability developing at higher and even some mid elevations. Snow flurries were reported that evening down to 5,400'. Most South Sister hikers opted on the side of safety and turned around before reaching the summit, but a few did persist. The earlier hikers made the summit before visability dropped with snow starting falling about 1 pm. Most hikers bailing after the snow started were not prepared for the conditions.

• Three hikers chose to continue to the summit late in the afternoon in degrading conditions; they too were not prepared for snow/wet/windy conditions. On reaching the summit at about 5 pm in near zero visability, they become disoriented and were unable to locate the trail they had just climbed. The trio came off the top somewhere to the west of the trail and soon realized they were lost. About 2:30 am (8 hours after calling in on a cell phone that ultimately lost battery life) a Deschutes County Sheriff Search and Rescue team and Forest Service located the hikers who were wet, cold, lost and stuck at the base of a cliff. In the end, they were warmed, recovered and led out by rescuers after sunrise. The situation could have been quite different had one or two of the hikers taken a fall and been injuried or killed, stumbling around in the dark with snow flurries. Fortunately for them, where they were stopped by a cliff was also a good bivy spot mostly out of the weather. Had they spent much more time wandering in the cold and dark, advanced hypothermia and frostbite likely would have been the price they paid. Again, these hikers were not fully prepared for the conditions, hiking in mostly cotton clothing and light weather gear and pushing the conditions.

• On other trail safety issues over the holiday weekend, canoeists attempted to run Pringle Falls and unfortunately one drowned in the attempt. A mt. biker too ended up taking a crash on Flagline Trail, breaking his collar bone and being assisted out by rescuers. Last weekend a trail accident ended in a horse having to be "put down" near Green Lakes after taking a fall and reportedly breaking a leg.

• These recent accidents are a reminder to all trail users, whether by foot, paddle, peddle or hoof, to take extra care in being prepared for expected and unexpected conditions. Please be safe and remember:

  • If the trail or water you are using is unfamiliar to you, seek out the conditions and what you're up against and if it's even doable.

  • Keep your limits and the limits of others in your group in mind. This time of year the days are getting shorter and nights colder; adverse weather, even snow, can be come in with little warning. Think about if you were forced to spend a night out with freezing temperatures, do you have the gear and knowledge on any given trip?

    • Did you remember to file a "flight plan" with a friend or family member and what they should do should you not return on time?

    • What if you or someone in your party are injured or fall ill, can you handle it?

    • Cell phones and other high tech communication devices are helpful and even life savers, when they work and you have reception. If they fail, are you prepared?

    • Search and Rescue teams work hard to reach those in need in a timely manner. But, they may take several hours or more to organize and access many remote (even some close in) locations. If directions are fuzzy or not known, weather poor, it could be a day or several before locating those in need. Again, in some instances be prepared to spend a night out.

• The good news on the trail front is the mosquitoes are pretty much nonexistent and fall conditions some of the finest for getting out. The summertime crowds have about disappeared.

For more information contact the Bend Fort Rock Ranger District at (541) 383-4000.

USDA Forest Service - Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Last Modified: Tuesday, 21 October 2008 at 15:19:11 EDT