Shepherd Pass Trail - Significant Damage 7/21/2013

[maverick]

Hi SDD,

Welcome to HST! Thanks for the trail update and photos!

[orbitor]

Sorry for the delay, it's been a busy time at work. Finally got around to downloading my teammate's photos of the trail. This is what it looked like on Monday 22 July when we hiked out. As SenorDingDong noted, more damage was inflicted after the rains of Monday night and Tuesday, so things are looking bad.

Descending the top of the switchbacks below Shepherd Pass


Still on the switchbacks, note the deep gash cutting across on the right


Washout below Anvil Camp


One of the bigger gullies below Anvil Camp


Slide came down from ridge of Mt. Keith


"Bulldozer Gully" - note the human-sized pine tree on the right next to the trail for scale


Climbing down into "Bulldozer Gully"


Path of slide on its way down to Shepherd Creek


Shepherd Creek at Mahogany Flat


Third crossing (from TH) of Symmes Creek


Team member washing off after falling into mud up to the knees

[maverick]

Thanks Orbitor!

[canukyea]

Oh man, that looks incredibly bad. Glad the loose rocks decided to stay still for now.

[orbitor]

Wow... Thanks for the heads up! Pics would be great! I saw those storms in the forecast and cancelled a trip out to Mt Sill on Sunday, sounds like I made the right call... Trying again in a couple of weeks.

J ney,
We were supposed to climb Tyndall before hiking out on Monday. After getting the brunt of the storm on Sunday night, we awoke to cloudy skies and cold wind the following morning. With more storm on the horizon, there was no hesitation drop Tyndall and get out as fast as possible. Good to hear you played it safe in the Palisades.

[Crossdrew]

Thanks for the photos, they really enhance the descriptions provided. We are planning a trip w/an exit down Taboose pass, with llamas in early Sept. Any body have first hand experience w/Taboose after the rains & mudslides? The Forest Service has said that Taboose was similarly affected by the same storm as was Shepherd's pass. Any reports? Thanks, Candace

[SSSdave]

Looks like a 100+ year thunderstorm flood event. Usually big thunderstorms over the Sierra Crest tend to move slowly however at times have seen massive buildups that just stay over a particular area and dump rain massively for hours until cumulus finally gets so tall that upper atmospheric winds finally push them along.

[John Dittli]

We just came out from Shepherd yesterday. The upper switchbacks have been boot worn in and didn't seem all that much different then usual to me (somewhat of a gravel). Most of the smaller washouts have also been worn in and are well cairned.

The big kahuna is pretty impressive though! It is easily passed (for now) up ~100' from where the trail used to be. I say for now because the walls of the ravine are pretty tenuous and could change with use and or further rains.

It is a pretty amazing sight to see how both Shepherd and Simms Creeks have been flushed. Here's a link to a video of the gorge.

One of the smaller washouts

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Simms Creek

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[KathyW]

John - that must have been you and your partner I ran into just after you crossed the gully on Tuesday. Thanks for the tip to go up - it worked fine. By Friday there were ducks all over the place - a lot more than on Tuesday and some of them were down lower in places I wouldn't want to cross, but we all have different comfort levels.