{"id":654,"date":"2025-03-07T01:46:18","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T01:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goatbells.blog\/?p=654"},"modified":"2025-03-07T01:54:09","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T01:54:09","slug":"bridges-along-north-fork-middle-fork","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goatbells.blog\/?p=654","title":{"rendered":"Bridges along North Fork Middle Fork"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

… of the Willamette River. Last night I had four hikes on the table waiting for the morning’s weather, snow pack, and my mood (especially about driving) … North Fork of Middle Fork Willamette River<\/a> was the choice. I was just at the same TH for recent Alpine<\/a> hike, so had a good idea about trail conditions – expect some mud and maybe high water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arriving at the trailhead around 6:30 with no other cars, the weather wasn’t as sunny as expected and colder – started with fleece layer. The fog burnt off around 9:30 …<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mud was less than expected; river was running hard but not as high as recent snow melt would suggest … worst part was the wet grass and other vegetation. I was soaked mid-calf down and even my waterproof boots gave out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bridges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Between the TH and my turn around spot there were four 5 bridge originally … two are now gone. One is so slanted that you have to hang on or fall in and another has holes big enough to fall through. The second missing one left me without a good path beyond, hence the turn around<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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the missing bridge<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The River<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Water was high and running hard with that deep green look that makes it seem colder than it really is. Regardless, wouldn’t want to fall in <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Route<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Started around 6:45 at covered bridge trail head <\/a>and went up river until a missing bridge with a difficult crossing and turned around … but took the Alpine Tie trail up to the main Alpine Trail and then back to the car around 1:00 pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n