This attached link to the Dept. of Transportation weather page has mountain forecasts for all of Washington state. Just point at the map until the zone you want is outlined and click.
The trailhead is no longer accessible and you have to park alongside the road, a mile short of the TH due to a huge slide
that has blocked it. I talked to a forest ranger and he said he didn't know when it would be cleared, if ever. Lack of funding for road maintainance is a huge problem for the FS these days. Add two miles roundtrip to the Putvin trail route.
thank you for the correction! I've added it on the main page. I'm sorry for the delays but was away from SP for a while. Hope all is well on your side. Cheers,
radek
I was prepared for a bit of road hiking today, but the washout Dean mentioned has been opened to traffic, and you can once again drive up to the Putvin trailhead. It's extremely rough, and there's a sign saying that it's open to "high clearance vehicles," but my Volvo wagon (with almost no clearance) was able to make it over. Mind you, I was going at a crawl and with great care, but most passenger cars should be able to cross it. The section is only about 100yds long, so I'd recommend scouting it on foot first like I did if you have concerns. Truly amazing how much of the hill came down onto the road; big kudos to the Forest Service folks who were able to get it back open.
As a separate note, at about mile 9, less than a mile after the pavement ends, the road is extremely rough where they're in the middle of putting in (replacing?) two culverts. Still passable in a passenger car, of course, but folks should exercise care.
Hey Radek, I gave this one a go yesterday but turned back at about 5500 feet with all the slushy snow and slow going. When will the snow ever melt this season? Anyway, the roadblock at 10.5 miles, although technically "cleared" is not all that passable for low clearance cars. There are a few ruts in the road before that too where low clearance cars will want to crawl over. I made it to the trailhead in my wife's Toyota (please don't tell her!) but most cars are going to scrape the rocks and ruts. Getting to the point where something higher clearance is advisable. Also, no NW Forest Pass is needed at the trailhead now. I think also, where the trail goes down the old road is only about 70 yards or so, not 200.
Quite a trail, over 5000 feet up. I only managed 4000 before I hit my turnaround time and slow slushy snow. FYI, the trailhead is at 1530 feet.
Thanks for the heads up on the road. Sorry SouthRaker :) but it's been a loooong time since we've been up there and all I recall was that it was an OK car to car day. Let me know when you've done this peak & if you want to take over the SP page for it. Thanks!
Just summited last weekend! It was awesome! I did some research and Peakbagger.com has it listed at 4.8 miles one way and 5047 elevation gain for route 1. If you want someone to take the page over I'd be happy to.
Just an FYI, took a side trip up the Hamma Hamma to check out the area and about 11.5 miles up the road, a huge boulder has crashed down upon the road creating quite a deep rut in the road. A high clearance vehicle should have no problem navigating it, but I was hesitant to do it in my Lancer. I'm going to predict that some travelers will take the time to fill in the rut in short time making the road passable to all vehicles again.
rpc - Feb 3, 2004 7:13 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentBob,
I've added your information to the main page of Mt. Stone. Thanks for adding this!
Radek
Bob Bolton - Feb 1, 2004 1:19 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentMt. Stone is the highpoint of Mason County. It is one of 11 county highpoints in Washington that requires over 5,000 feet of elevation gain to reach the summit by the easiest route. Washington has more county highpoints in this category than any other lower 48 state. At 2,132 feet of topographic prominence, Mt. Stone is the 118th most prominent peak in Washington.
rpc - Feb 3, 2004 7:13 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentBob,
I've added your information to the main page of Mt. Stone. Thanks for adding this!
Radek
Dundeel - Sep 4, 2005 3:33 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThe forest pass requirement has recently been dropped for the Putvin Trailhead. Passes are still required at Lena and Mildred THs.
Dundeel - Sep 5, 2005 3:41 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThis attached link to the Dept. of Transportation weather page has mountain forecasts for all of Washington state. Just point at the map until the zone you want is outlined and click.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/forecast/Default.aspx?zone=WA012.
Dean - Aug 24, 2008 8:37 am - Voted 10/10
Road blockedThe trailhead is no longer accessible and you have to park alongside the road, a mile short of the TH due to a huge slide
that has blocked it. I talked to a forest ranger and he said he didn't know when it would be cleared, if ever. Lack of funding for road maintainance is a huge problem for the FS these days. Add two miles roundtrip to the Putvin trail route.
rpc - Sep 29, 2008 5:53 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Road blockedHi Dean,
thank you for the correction! I've added it on the main page. I'm sorry for the delays but was away from SP for a while. Hope all is well on your side. Cheers,
radek
TimmyC - Sep 17, 2009 7:55 pm - Voted 10/10
Road unblocked!I was prepared for a bit of road hiking today, but the washout Dean mentioned has been opened to traffic, and you can once again drive up to the Putvin trailhead. It's extremely rough, and there's a sign saying that it's open to "high clearance vehicles," but my Volvo wagon (with almost no clearance) was able to make it over. Mind you, I was going at a crawl and with great care, but most passenger cars should be able to cross it. The section is only about 100yds long, so I'd recommend scouting it on foot first like I did if you have concerns. Truly amazing how much of the hill came down onto the road; big kudos to the Forest Service folks who were able to get it back open.
As a separate note, at about mile 9, less than a mile after the pavement ends, the road is extremely rough where they're in the middle of putting in (replacing?) two culverts. Still passable in a passenger car, of course, but folks should exercise care.
Brian Jenkins - Jul 12, 2010 1:06 pm - Voted 10/10
some updatesHey Radek, I gave this one a go yesterday but turned back at about 5500 feet with all the slushy snow and slow going. When will the snow ever melt this season? Anyway, the roadblock at 10.5 miles, although technically "cleared" is not all that passable for low clearance cars. There are a few ruts in the road before that too where low clearance cars will want to crawl over. I made it to the trailhead in my wife's Toyota (please don't tell her!) but most cars are going to scrape the rocks and ruts. Getting to the point where something higher clearance is advisable. Also, no NW Forest Pass is needed at the trailhead now. I think also, where the trail goes down the old road is only about 70 yards or so, not 200.
Quite a trail, over 5000 feet up. I only managed 4000 before I hit my turnaround time and slow slushy snow. FYI, the trailhead is at 1530 feet.
Hope you are doing well,
Brian
rpc - Jul 12, 2010 4:40 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: some updatesBrian,
thanks man - give me a day & I'll update the info page. Those fun Olympics death marches eh? :)
Brian Jenkins - Jul 12, 2010 6:21 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: some updatesYeah, apparently I had forgotten what real pain was like. ;- ) Actually, it was a beautiful day and setting. Hope you had a good weekend too.
awilsondc - Aug 12, 2012 8:06 pm - Voted 10/10
Two things...The washout is now completely fixed, its a brand new dirt road. Also, any idea of distance and elevation gain?
rpc - Aug 14, 2012 12:05 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Two things...Thanks for the heads up on the road. Sorry SouthRaker :) but it's been a loooong time since we've been up there and all I recall was that it was an OK car to car day. Let me know when you've done this peak & if you want to take over the SP page for it. Thanks!
awilsondc - Aug 14, 2012 11:28 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Two things...Just summited last weekend! It was awesome! I did some research and Peakbagger.com has it listed at 4.8 miles one way and 5047 elevation gain for route 1. If you want someone to take the page over I'd be happy to.
StukeSowle - May 7, 2013 12:35 pm - Hasn't voted
Road Spring 2013Just an FYI, took a side trip up the Hamma Hamma to check out the area and about 11.5 miles up the road, a huge boulder has crashed down upon the road creating quite a deep rut in the road. A high clearance vehicle should have no problem navigating it, but I was hesitant to do it in my Lancer. I'm going to predict that some travelers will take the time to fill in the rut in short time making the road passable to all vehicles again.
awilsondc - May 9, 2013 12:07 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Road Spring 2013Thanks for the update! I've added it to the main page.
jm141302 - Sep 11, 2016 1:13 pm - Hasn't voted
No pass requiredWriting this on 9/11/2016. According to the National Forest Recreation Opportunity Guide, no pass is required to park at the Putvin Trailhead.
awilsondc - Sep 11, 2016 9:52 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: No pass requiredAwesome! I'll update that section on the page, thanks!