Tour Announcement: Barlow Road 8-16

[nightfoam]

Just an advance headsup for everybody so you can make plans....

Trip is along the historic Barlow road from near Government Camp over to either Tygh Valley or the Deschutes River at Sherars Bridge. Well be camping out Friday night probably at Trillium Lake, others are welcome to join us. At mid-morning we'll meet in Govy and head east with the intention of reaching hwy 197 in time for people to get back to civilization at a reasonable hour if wanted. This'll be a trip for higher clearance vehicles. The roads can be a bit rough

More details later
Its August 16th. Hope to see you there!

[Jerry]

We're planning on going! We couldn't make the trip when Rich & Jan did the Barlow Road a few years ago and we don't want to miss it again. The Barlow Road is truly a part of the Oregon Trail. It's like driving back into the 1840's.

The Barlow Road
From The Dalles folks with wagons had two choices on how to reach Oregon City, floating the rapids down the Columbia River or the Barlow Road. Floating the Columbia by yourself was risky. Commercial ferrymen set up shop, but their prices were outlandishly high. One man particularly angry about high ferryboat prices was Sam Barlow. And so he devised a plan to build a road to the Willamette Valley, avoiding the Columbia altogether. Just one thing stood in his way: Mt. Hood. But Barlow was determined--and in 1845 he and a few men began hacking and cutting their way through the forests of Mt. Hood. The thick pine and steep hills proved to be difficult obstacles, but Barlow was determined. By 1846, the Barlow Road was finished, complete with toll gates. The charge: five dollars per wagon. It was an immediate success. Emigrants willingly endured the steep inclines and sheer descents because it certainly was better than the ruinous rapids of the Columbia River--or was it?

[madjp62]

looks like a good run. i posted it over on our twisted axle site. hope thats ok. also marked it on my pda to plan on taking off work for it. mark

[Rubicon Rich]

I will be joining you guys also. Mark just emailed me about this run. Sounds like an awesome time!

[06RUBI]

sounds fun have to check i am going to tom petty in august but if it doesn't conflict i am in

[nightfoam]

Wow alot of replies so soon.
Just to clarify, 4x4 isn't actually going to be necessary, the road should be nice and dry. Just some old downed trees possibly

[Decidion]

Please count me in on this trip. I'll probably bring at least 2 of my sons as well.

[Toy Man]

I might join as far as the intersection.

I need to scout from there to Bennett pass.

Toy Man

[nightfoam]

Went to the library today and got some books about the Barlow road. Kinda weird going there, I haven't done any real research since high school.

[Decidion]

I got the 15th off, so I plan on coming out to Trillium lake to camp as well.

Do we need to worry about (or can we even) make reservations? Or is this not a concern?