The trail is wide and easy to navigate but the top section is very steep and the loose dirt is … Copy and paste this code into your website. We were there early/mid September and the first spring was trickling. Use these maps to guide your way! Dense, damp forest is all that awaits you up this steep hike, and it’s quite a climb up the ridge with nary a switchback. The south/Adams leg of the trail is nowhere near as good as the north leg. When we descended the Adams Cabin (south) leg of the loop we only encountered one additional spring and it was not conducive to obtaining water. “Next thing you know, he moves just a little,” said Hugh Gray. Thurston, but it's condition is in somewhat worse condition due to the fact that few carry along the ridge this far from Elk. “We scattered her ashes on the clearing where the hunting cabin used to stand,” he said.As Hugh and Connie reflect on the last 150 years of the Thurston Hills land, they also consider its future. App says 12.1 miles but my phone picked up ~18 miles due to the snow conditions altering the route. Elk Mountain Trail to Thurston Mountain is a 9.1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada that features a great forest setting and is rated as difficult. Elk-Thurston trail leads to Elk Mountain followed by Thurston Mountain. Trail to Mt. From mountain biking to family rides, there are plenty of trails to explore in the region. She was among the first teachers of the Davis School, which became part of the Thurston School District in 1927. Lots of loose scrabble on steep descents. Drove in a 93 Land Cruiser with 2.5” lift and 33” tires. Along the way are views the entire time and a bonus peak half way there if you decide to stop early. They had established living spaces in clearings, and they picked blackberries and fished for salmon for sustenance. Frederick L. was born in 1831 to Alexander and Lydia Gray. From I-5, take the I-105/Highway 126 exit towards Springfield. NOTE: Yew Haw and Acer Spades Trails are closed for the rainy season and will reopen in late Spring. by pto | Jan 13, 2019 | Uncategorized | 0 comments. There is a bit of a scramble to reach the actual peak, there isn’t much of a defined trail but it’s obvious where the peak is. Follow the well-worn trail to Mt Thurston (1627 metres), about one hour or so distant gaining a further 150 metres of elevation. This area opened to the public in 2017, providing a growing trail system for hikers, mountain bikers, and nature lovers. I went back down the way I came to avoid bushwhacking like other reviews have said of the Adams Cabin trail. City of Olympia 3. That house is now known as the Heritage House.The Grays were considered a successful family. “They always had bacon curing,” said Hugh Gray. Thurston Peak is listed at #152 on the California Prominence list with 2,052 ft of prominence. The Elk-Thurston Trail takes hikers 4 km, uphill to an incredible viewpoint overlooking the Fraser Valley. It was an accomplishment. There’s a spot that can send you off in a wrong direction if you’re not paying attention to your app. This is my first time out with the all trails app and my first time on the Thurstan Peak and I was not doing that well finding the trail but it was beautiful what I did hike. “They did all the homesteading things that those early pioneers and ranchers did.”Frederick L. Gray died in July of 1915 at the age of 84. The most common approach is those that drive up Francis Peak. Thurston County 7. The second and third springs are the places to get water. Once back on the trail it was so overgrown that I couldn’t really move at a fast pace. Thurston Here to There 8. Elva died in 2010 at age 105.Lloyd, born in 1912, was Frederick J.’s youngest child. “We hope it will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.”. If the family had let nature take its course, the trees might have become overcrowded. These memories, and many others, contributed to Hugh and Connie deciding to sell the property to Willamalane rather than to housing developers. Follow the rock cairns. There's a beautiful meadow section around 5 miles in that offered some gorgeous photo ops. The family’s first house burned down in the early 1860s. In a way this trail is the epitome of western Oregon. This is the highest point on this loop. It should be noted that the terrain is very technical past Elk mountain--this section does not support biking traffic but HIKING traffic for … 7/18/2020 This peak doesn’t get much attention because of its lofty neighbors in northern … Turn left on Main and travel about 1.9 miles to the entrance on the right. The third is a little farther along but lacks the pvc it’s just a fresh runoff/source. Up to 4 miles long, you'll have glimpses of mountain and city views, as well as plenty of mossy trees and meandering streams to delight your senses. Thurston Hills and the Gray Family Legacy, Current Construction and Planning Projects, Download a high-resolution pdf of this map. City of Yelm 5. Their second house, which still stands today, was built in 1865 using timber that came from the hills. The trails will be re-opened when soil moisture has decreased and the trail surface hardens. The trail continues to Mount Thurston for another 3.5km, hike along the ridge enjoying beautiful view of the Fraser Valley and coulourful wild flower meadows. There is actually some type of pipe and it is much more marshy than the other springs. A couple of notes on the springs as you ascend the northern leg of the loop: Bonneville Shoreline Trail: Fernwood Recreation Area to East Mountain Wilderness Park, Kaysville East Mountain Wilderness Park Trail, East Mountain Wilderness Park to Adam's Canyon, Webb Canyon from East Mountain Wilderness Park, Bonneville Shoreline Trail: Layton Ridge to Fernwood Recreation Area, Great Western Trail via Fernwood Recreation Site, Bonneville Shoreline to Hobbs North Ridge Trail, Thurston Peak Loop via Great Western and Bonneville Shoreline Trails. In the process, you reach a good Fraser Valley observation point. Here’s the con to the whole route, the descent via Thurston Peak Trail and Adams Cabin Trail is complete and utter garbage. Thurston is a decent, refreshing hike. I can’t stress this enough: if you are hiking in Summer to mid Fall: top off your bottles at those two springs and take a nice big drink while you are at it; especially if you are doing the full loop. “There’s a lot of treasure there if you can find it,” said Hugh Gray. Many different scrambling routes you could take up to the ridgeline if you're looking for a more adventurous experience. Elk Mountain is a popular hike in Chilliwack. The established trail takes you past the peak about a half mile and then a half mile march up it along the same route the Francis Peak hikers take. Please note that we do not allow E-Bikes at Thurston Hills Natural Area. I’m glad I can check this one off. “Our time at that hunting cabin yielded a lot of venison and good camping trips,” Hugh said. He married Flossie May Gray and together had three children: Glenda, Hugh, and Connie. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. In one of my recent posts, I had talked about the need for a Trip Plan and leaving it with someone. 28. Would not recommend the descent to Adams Canyon unless you're willing to bushwack for a while. Hit my sliders once on a wash out on the backside but otherwise good to go. End of Trail to Mt. Mount Thurston is a worthy hike that extends from the popular Elk Mountain Lookout. It showcases how wet the forest can get, but that moisture results in an abundance of plantlife. Dorris Ranch: Gary Walker Trail System View a high resolution version here. Lots of roots and branches in the trail to trip you up. The views, the animals, the environment are all very unique for a Wasatch Front hike. Very sketchy trail, tons of scrambling, especially in May as there was a lot of snow. The path was a little less maintained in this section, so you need to push aside tree-branches and bushes to make it through! Nobody uses the trail apparently, not even game. Beautiful views at the peak and throughout. The Elk to Thurston Mountaion trail is well maintained with clear orange markers & ribbons and in good conditions, some steep with loose rock section, your reward is the spectacular view of Chilliwack from the Elk mountain summit. Mount Thurston and Elk Mountain Hike Trip Plan. “We got to walk past all the places that were important to us, all the landings,” said Hugh Gray. Great (if a bit hazy) mountain views all around. If you have a dog with you, take a collapsible bowl and an extra water bottle. You can see all the way to Tooelle and south SLC and Morgan Valley and even into Huntsville. However, I believe we could have very carefully gotten water from that pipe without filtering. 13.5+ miles. Thurston Peak is the highest peak in Davis and Morgan counties. As you descend, the heat increases dramatically and the breeze/wind tends to decrease ( unless you are out on a very rare stormy day). Just east of Springfield, the Thurston Hills Natural Area offers five trails, which can be combined for more than 6.5 miles (14.5 km) of riding. The trail steepens and swtichbacks as it nears the top of Rock Candy Mountain, ultimately reaching a forest road known as Army Road. Take lots of water and go early to avoid heat. We ended up not going down the Adams Cabin route and instead went back the way we came. Passed down through generations, the property tells a story of the entrepreneurial spirit and community values of the Gray family.Siblings Hugh Gray and Connie Jaqua, who sold the property to Willamalane in 2012, hoped that the sale would preserve the property as a recreational area rather than being transformed by development. Darlene Larson, Hugh, and Connie’s cousin, sold her piece of land, including the Heritage House, to the City of Springfield in 2012 in the hopes that it would become a historic location. Great view and well worth the scramble to get to the top. Thurston Hills. The grant we received to build the trails was specifically for non-motorized recreation, and as e-bikes are considered motorized, they are not permitted. “Our pioneer great-grandfather started all this, and we’ve hung on to the land for all these years,” Connie Jaqua said. Let me start off by saying that it is also rewarding with stunning views all around. The lure of the West called Frederick L. to be a wagontrain scout, which occupied his time for several years.Frederick L. liked the Thurston area, and he decided in 1853 to stake a claim in what is now Thurston Hills Natural Area. The views are remarkable. After that would be those that start at Fernwood and go up the Great Western Trail and go back the way they came. The trail evaporated at least a dozen times and I found myself stopping and getting my phone out to find the trail at least every 200 feet. Intercity Transit 6. “And back then, the only things that mattered were their property and their access to water.”The disagreement resulted in the neighbor stabbing Frederick L. with a long knife. Download its GPS track and follow the route on a map. Deeply rutted jeep trail. We started at the waypoint marked PARK, then rode up the Mt. They also raised cattle and pigs. If I were to do it again, though, I’d figure out a way to go back down that one tricky scramble and I’d not do the full loop (only doing the north leg) and double back the way I came. If you look hard in the photo below (to the right) you can just see Marc disappearing into the trees. Please give right away to non motorized traffic. How about this one. The Elk Mountain lookout pmrovides an endless view that is hard to beat. Only a couple of sections have switch backs. Mount Thurston is a worthy hike that extends from the popular Elk Mountain Lookout. Ogden). I’ve seen people start there but “technically” you should start at Fernwood and join up with the GWT. I agree that is a hard hike. Record your own itinerary from the Wikiloc app, upload the trail and share it with the community. The property that passed to Hugh and Connie was eventually sold to Willamalane.Frederick James Jr., also known as Freddy, was born in 1902. Their sister, Glenda Gray-Cook, died before the transactions were made. He and his family members are buried at Mount Vernon Pioneer Cemetery. Thurston - British Columbia Canada Hiking. Dogs are also able to use this trail. I started at the Hobbs canyon trailhead on Valley View Dr. Views are spectacular but I would wait another month or two. Thurston Peaks are located in the southern part of the vast Trinity Alps Wilderness. The trail is more difficult to follow after you leave the Great Western Trail and head the last bit up to the peak. It is a tight turn with no turn lane, so exercise caution. 27. The effort is totally worth it once you get up near the ridgeline as the views really open up. Therefore we proceeded with the full loop to the Adams Cabin trail. Thurston Mountain Off Road trail in Bridal Falls, British Columbia (Canada). 3-4 stars. Along the ridge line to Elk Mt. Most of it is just climbing steadily and sometimes directly up. “He still wanted it to look like a forest even though it was thinned,” Hugh said. Their father built them a little hunting cabin furnished with old, discarded furniture and a nice little cookstove. Elk Mountain is a popular hike in Chilliwack. Thurston sits a few miles north of Francis Peak, famous in the area for it's two large white FAA radar domes that look like giant golf balls. If you have the time and energy after visiting Elk Mountain, Thurston is a nice hike … In 1849, when Frederick L. was 18, the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in California sparked a gold rush. To the southwest Vedder Mountain, and Cultus Lake beckon. BOTH had pvc pipes when we were there and were easy to see and to access. The main trailhead entrance is located off Main Street and 75th Street in Springfield. She lived at the Heritage House for most of her life.Hubert, born in 1901, contributed to a number of local history and genealogical publications. was recognized, receiving the Public-Private Partnerships and Access to/Use of Public Lands award for its community partnerships while developing multi-use recreational trails. View maps, videos, photos, and reviews of Thurston Hills Natural Area bike trail in Springfield. It was relatively unknown prior to being officially named in the early 1990's, and before county highpoint climbing became popular. “A neighbor was setting a fence line that old Frederick didn’t agree with,” Hugh Gray said. I enjoyed the ascent quite a bit, beautiful fall colors and scenic views once you get up a few thousand feet. What should have taken 6-7 hours took 9 1/2 at a good pace trekking through the snow with poles. Quite a bit of hiking straight up as well. There is so much scrub that your shins will be torn up unless you wear pants or some type of gaiters. The trail actually continues past Mt. Thurston Hills Natural Area is a singletrack mountain bike trail in Springfield, Oregon. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. From that point it’s pretty easy to see your way to Thurston Peak. Hugh and Connie recounted a story from the late 1880s of a property dispute. There’s a well defined trail that heads to the right/west towards that smaller peak but the correct path is to the left and up into the bowl and along the eastern side of Chin Scraper. In what follows, they recount stories of their family’s history on this land.The PatriarchFrederick Lutanner Gray was the pioneer who originally settled the Thurston Hills. I decided to do this route based on the elevation gain and wanting to cross Thurston Peak off my list. The first 3 miles or so are snow-free but once you hit about 3.5, you hit plenty of snow. The knife was removed from his body, and Frederick started to come around. Thurston Hills Natural Area Trails View a … The start point of this hike is on a street marked with no public access. Mount Cheam to Thurston Mountain Loop. View from Mt. It’s a steep grade both up and down with lots of SHORT switchbacks. Wear a hat. Then, the rotting trees would have become a fire hazard for Springfield as it developed toward the east.Hugh and Connie remember their father as a hard-working, diligent man who “loved the land and respected the land,” Connie said. City of Tumwater 4. We didn’t bother because we had plenty. The Elk-Thurston Trail takes hikers 4 km, uphill to an incredible viewpoint overlooking the Fraser Valley. Thurston Peak is a nice Wasatch Mountains hike with a trail nearly to the summit. Environmental responsibility was a strong family value that was passed to Glenda, Hugh, and Connie.The three siblings grew up playing on the land. Thurston Regional Planning Council Hence the review saying that the decent to Adams is hard to find. I got lost for a half hour trying to find the trail in some rough scrub oak (my legs are wrecked). The top of Elk Mountain offers a spectacular view of Chilliwack, Cultus Lake, and the surrounding Fraser Valley area. “Like so many families at that time, the property was split among the children when Frederick J. died,” said Connie Jaqua.Veda, born in 1899, was a school teacher. The trail is easy to follow but over grown so wear pants. The real summit for Mount Thurston was an extra kilometer away. The ridge reaches a false summit with an incredible view into the Chilliwack River Valley. This gets you up onto the long ridge line that runs East towards Thurston. Wish to have a better trail mark for the new hikers. The main focus of the Trinity Alps Wilderness is to the north and centered on Thompson Peak . When the siblings were young, they discovered artifacts like arrowheads all around the Thurston Hills property. Thurston FSR. It’s when you’re about to approach the bowl to the left of the small peak known as “Chin Scraper”. You need to hike up two extra bumps to reach it. Take a machete. Much of the land went to his son, Frederick James Gray.The Gray FamilyFrederick J. took on the homestead, where he lived with his wife Sarah Maude Hastings and their five children: Veda, Hubert, Frederick J. Jr., Elva, and Lloyd. Steep climb up. They learned that Native Americans had lived in the Thurston Hills when Frederick L. settled there. I also logged 13ish miles rather than 12.1 according to Garmin. If you have the time and energy after visiting Elk Mountain, Thurston is a nice hike and much less frequented than the Elk Lookout. Instead of hiking straight up in shallow, scrub oak filled canyons, you are rewarded a easier slope with pine trees, mountain mahogany, and cool breezes. Cultus Lake and Mount Baker are also prominently featured from the viewpoint. Thinking that Frederick was mortally wounded, the neighbor journeyed to the sheriff to report that he had killed Frederick in a fair fight. But if you want a “day hike” go from Francis Peak. presented the award at a virtual ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 22 with participation by award recipients and key trails champions, including members of Congress. The Thurston County Bicycle Map is produced and maintained by Thurston Regional Planning Council with support from the following partners: 1. As has been mentioned, finding the South leg was a bit difficult. There’s a lot of climbs and few flats. There’s one point where you pretty much have to use all fours to scramble over a divide between drainages. One hour after Elk Mountain, we reached Mount Thurston. Thurston Peak Loop via Great Western and Bonneville Shoreline Trails is a 12.1 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Layton, Utah that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. This is definitely a hard hike. Hugh Gray and Connie Jaqua said they saw the signature in person, but the deed was lost when the property transferred ownership in the 1970s.Frederick L. married Olive Davis, and together they had eight children. Mountain View from Mt. From Elk Mountain, the trail carries along the Elk-Thurston Ridge. I left home at 7 am and... Mount Thurston… All in all I’m glad we did it. Gain a new perspective when you hit the trails in the region. … Frederick’s body was laid in front of the grieving family. Freddy was murdered in the woods at the age of 42, leaving behind his wife Elsie and their daughter Darlene Larson.Elva, born in 1905, was a secretary for a lawyer. “These old guys were tough — and lucky,” he said. 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