[pct-l] Oregon Section B Trail Report

[Phil Baily]

On Sunday, June 1, I started. at about 1 PM, heading south from the 
Summit Trailhead on Highway 140. I spent the night at South Brown 
Mountain Shelter and continued southbound the next morning. I 
discontinued my hike mid-day because of snow as explained below. Here 
are the trail conditions I encountered for those who are planning to 
go there soon.

Highway 140 to Dead Indian Road:
	Trail is well constructed and maintained, passing intermittently 
through lava flows. Trail covered in spots by snow patches (probably 
gone by now), littered in spots with twigs and branches,  and there 
are a goodly number of blown down tree trunks across the trail. All 
of these are easy to navigate over or around and present no problems 
except slowing your pace. Some clean-up might be nice, but no big 
deal. South Brown Mountain Shelter is in excellent shape and there is 
lots of neatly stored firewood for the stove along with a limited 
amount of newspaper available for fire starting. There is no trash 
except for one crushed beer can.

Dead Indian Road to Road 3802 (This is the guidebook designation. I 
saw no such designation at the real place. This road is signed at its 
intersection with Dead Indian Road as Butte Flat Access Road and a 
different numbering system. There are other numbered side roads which 
are not in the guidebook or on the USGS topo maps that I had with me.):
	Heading south from Dead Indian Road the trail tread is well worn and 
distinctive by its definition. I saw one PCT sign on a tree and the 
trail was marked with blue diamonds on trees as a cross-country ski 
trail. There were patches where the trail was covered with snow melt 
water varying in depth from 1" to 5". South of these and less than a 
mile south of Dead Indian Road, the trail disappeared. No markings 
and no tread. In retrospect, I did not try going west on an old 
unused logging road encountered at that point to see if it picked up 
again in that direction. I did try east and south following several 
cross-country trails but foot tread was not there. There is a serious 
need for signage at least, and maybe for some trail work.

Road 3602, AKA Butte Flat Access Road:
	Very quickly, the area become snow covered and the trail could not be seen.

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