Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Backcountry Hunting => Topic started by: eburgtrapper on July 28, 2013, 09:29:55 AM

Title: old sheep trails
Post by: eburgtrapper on July 28, 2013, 09:29:55 AM: I've heard of old forest service maps that showed the old sheep trails in the wilderness areas, but i have not been able to find it. Does anyone know of a book or old map with the the old sheep herder trails?

Thanks
Jordan
Title: Re: old sheep trails
Post by: Knocker of rocks on July 28, 2013, 10:12:47 AM: Some old Metskers, USFS and USGS maps will show the old sheep trails. Some old trails may not show, and some old maps may not show them all.

They were everywhere BITD. Look at "Routes and Rocks, Hikers Guide to the North Cascades from Glacier Peak to Lake Chelan" by Dwight Crowder and Roland Tabor from 1965. Route upon route was based on the old sheep trails. I remember my first trip to Buck Creek Pass in 1972, we found a old sheep herders cabins, and there were multiple short cuts straight up and down the hill.

I really haven't noticed many outside the Suiattle and Chiwawa drainages in designated Wilderness, it sure seems like the Pasayten would have been prime.
Title: Re: old sheep trails
Post by: MLHSN on July 29, 2013, 09:59:44 PM: East of the Divide by Chester Marler has a chapter titled "Forgotten Sheep Trails." It's a pretty good read.

Another one to read is Adventures in the Northwest by, I think, Edson Dow if I remember rightly.

As Knocker of Rocks said, most were in the Chiwawa drainage areas. There were quite a few in the Entiat area as well that are still on some maps but aren't in great shape.

I know of at least 2 in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. But those are kind of near and dear so I don't think I'll be posting them on the internet anytime soon. There was a third I can think of in the ALW but it is pretty much completely gone. I could find nothing but a couple of blazes that are now pointless as it's easier to go other directions with all the new growth.
Title: Re: old sheep trails
Post by: MLHSN on July 29, 2013, 10:02:54 PM: Also, the book Knocker mentioned, Routes and Rocks is indeed pretty amazing as far as route descriptions go. An out-of-date print can get pretty pricy. But it is available free on the internet. I have color photocopies of the maps blown up, along with notes and markings an old-timer left to me.

http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/pacnw/nc/routes_rocks.html (http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/pacnw/nc/routes_rocks.html)
Title: Re: old sheep trails
Post by: Knocker of rocks on July 30, 2013, 07:06:01 AM: The trail down into the Suiattle from Image Lake goes by some sheep trail, which makes sense because there are massive meadows there stretching from Miners Ridge all the way around the Bath Lakes High Route, and to Lyman Lakes and Buck Creek Pass.

When I think about it, I must have seen remants in and around Longs Pass out of the Teanaway. And I know that around Iron Gate used to be sheep country
Title: Re: old sheep trails
Post by: mazama on August 01, 2013, 02:11:56 PM: There was a trail off of harts pass but it is pretty much gone now,i backpacked into a bowl,and was disappointed saw no animals and very little sign.
Title: Re: old sheep trails
Post by: cvandervort on August 02, 2013, 09:54:13 AM: Tagging...was wondering the same thing as the OP
Title: Re: old sheep trails
Post by: Knocker of rocks on August 03, 2013, 09:17:28 AM: This is an interesting question. The ones up the Suiattle in heavy forest are (were) clear as day. It been a long time since I've been to Buck Creek Pass, and they've moved the trail.

Parts of ONP date back to TR's invocation of the antiquity act, while some parts were added later when the NP was created. I bet parts of the high periphery would have made good sheep country. I'll try to find a map that show the differences between the initial National Monument, and the later Park.