Access   Darrington:  About:  Access     As of late June, 2008, the main fork of the Clear Creek Road remains in generally in good shape to the Three O'Clock rock trailhead. The road beyond there has deteriorated significantly over the past few years but some parties were driving almost to the end of the road (heading for Green Giant Buttress). A large avalanche buried the road about two miles from the Mountain Loop Highway during the 2007-2008 winter, and minor roadbed damage makes it difficult for normal cars until further maintenance is completed. The left fork about five miles from the Mountain Loop Highway, toward Exfoliation Dome, was also hit by avalances during the 2007-2008 winter, and is presently blocked about a half mile before the customary parking spot for the "Granite Sidewalk" approach to Exfoliation Dome. As recently as a few years ago, the Forest Service was proposing to gate the roads to Exfoliation Dome and to Green Giant Buttress, and the trail to Three O'Clock Rock had all but disappeared where it approaches the crag. However, climbers wrote letters generally objecting to the road closures and voicing an active interest in working with the Darrington district headquarters to keep the area open. In 2005, the Clear Creek road was blocked by a major washout about four miles short of the closest climbing destination, Three O'Clock Rock. Initially, the Forest Service decided not to re-open the road, but a letter writing and telephone campaign spearheaded by the Washington Climbers Coalition and the Access Fund, two climbers' access advocacy groups, succeeded in getting this decision reversed. Thank you to all who helped with letters and telephone calls. In 2000 and 2001, the Access Fund, The North Face, and the Washington Trails Association (WTA) sponsored work parties on the Eightmile Creek trail. In 2003, a Forest Service trail crew or contractor performed further maintenance on up toward Squire Creek Pass. In 2006, the Everett Mountaineers sponsored a trail project targetting that portion of the trail leading to Three O'Clock Rock. The Forest Service has a very limited budget for road and trail maintenance but your support can make a difference. Please contact the WTA to sign up for trail project or contact the Access Fund and the Washington Climbers Coalition to offer support for, donate to, or get directly involved in efforts to promote and perserve access to Washington climbing areas. The recreational management staff in the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, and the local staff at the Darrington Ranger Station have been helful and responsive in dealing with related concerns. Letters of support for continued roadway and trail maintenance may be helpful there as well.       Jacob’s Ladder, photo by Matt Perkins