Western Oregon Ghost Town Tour - April Fool's Day, 1995
     (A.K.A. The Lost Boys)
     
     Met at 8:30 and waited around until 9 for Gary and Heather to show.
     They didn't (Gary had too much fun the night before) X:-o
     
     Left went through Dallas then Falls City.  We started our search 
     there. The first ghost town Blackrock.  We were on Blackrock Rd and 
     drove right by the site.  There were the two mill ponds across the 
     road from it was supposed to be but otherwise nothing. We didn't slow 
     down and continued to the next junction. 
     
     We ended up near Riley Pk so we thought we would go up it. The gate 
     was closed. So we turned around and missed our first turn. Not 
     thinking it was a big deal we just kept on driving. Big mistake. 
     
     After awhile we hung a left and we think we were on Center Line Rd. We 
     drive through big puddles and creeks and snow (12-18 inches) and after 
     a few dead ends we think we know where we are and drive some more. 
     
     We find a road to get around this peak that is hugging a cliff with 
     very slippery snow. The plunge to the right is hundreds of feet and 
     the heavy snow is very slippery. The rock wall to the left goes 
     straight up for 50 feet. Tom slid sideways toward the edge and so he 
     stops to get a grip. Then he slowly creeps along until we are off the 
     snow pack.  
     
     After some more driving we run across an interesting road marked 
     "Center line RR Grade"  I would like to see trains run on this road we 
     took. I understand where the idea for roller coasters came from. It 
     was hilly and twisty but easy in 4wd. 
     
     When we came out there was a newly made road with trees across it from 
     our recent windstorms. Matt and I managed to move one tree enough to 
     get everyone through. It was springy so I used a rope to pull back as 
     far as the road would allow and Matt slipped through. Then he turned 
     around and pushed the tree enough to let everyone through. After 
     continuing a bit we ran across a main logging road and a state 
     trooper. We topped to ask where we were. Turns out we were so lost he 
     wasn't sure where we came from. We didn't think to ask him what the 
     hell he was doing back there. 
     
     Following his instruction we took the "S-line" to the NorthFork of the 
     Siletz River and broke for lunch.
     
     I pour the extra 5 gallons of gas into my tank because the plastic can 
     I had was leaking and fuming enough to make me sick. Don't ever use 
     plastic cans. They don't seal well enough for the jostling of offroad. 
     I thought it would be OK since I have seen logging trucks with them 
     but they are not.
     
     Off we go to the town and lake of Valsetz. On the way we pass by the 
     site for Western Camp. It's a nice large flat area down by the South 
     Fork of the Siletz. Make a good camp. :-) 
     
     Valsetz is found. There are big red signs practically fencing the area 
     off. The signs were very explicit about visitors saying something like 
     "THIS AREA IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC AT ALL TIMES" no vehicles or 
     pedestrians. "That goes for your little dog too." :-)
     
     So we look for areas to get in where the road is accessible (its 
     across the river) and there are no signs but no luck. 
     
     The Lake is very large and the west end is full of 10 year old poplar 
     saplings (the lake was drained in 1984, the town was razed then also) 
     thanks to the lumber giant Boise-Cascade. They owned the whole works 
     and didn't want the liability once the area was logged out so they 
     kicked 600 folks out of their homes and closed down.
     
     We drive around to the east end (a few miles) and there is a lot of 
     old dead stumps and grass with some swampy areas where the feeder 
     streams come in. The road we need is on the other side of the lake and 
     river and we are hoping to find a crossing. When we get to the bridge 
     it is closed. A rock pile was placed at each end. We could of  driven 
     over them, maybe, but it was leaning toward bad ethics. So we continue 
     to drive.
     
     We are headed out, back to Falls City now. At least we are trying to. 
     After taking a couple of roads that are not on the map we climb to a 
     small peak. It is very easy to pin point where we are now from using 
     peaks and ridges shown on the map. We actually see the road we want up 
     on Fanno Ridge to the north so we saddle up and head for it.
     
     Easily found we are much more relaxed now (at least I am) and we play 
     a bit on the way to Falls City. A quarry provided the most 
     entertainment by giving us some loose rock and soil climbing 
     challenges.
     
     Rick's Blazer blows a valve stem and does body work to his drivers 
     door and quarter panels on a stump/root. And somewhere on the trip he 
     sheared a couple of grade 8 bolts. Maybe on a couple of logs we 
     climbed over after the Center Line RR Grade.
     
     Finally we go to Falls City and visit the local watering hole for a 
     couple of brews.
     
     All in all it was a lot of driving on forest roads. I logged 80 miles 
     on the loop we took. We didn't see much on the way of ghost towns but 
     Valsetz Lake was a sight to behold. The 4wd challenges were minimal. 
     We were out from 9am to 5pm.
     
     NEXT MONTH TILLAMOOK STATE FOREST
     
     *                                       _____   *
     Bill Lewey         blewey@peak.org      |___|
     Corvallis, Oregon  blewey@cv.hp.com    -o|||o-
     93GC 78CJ5 84Tercel-4wd                ##***##
     *                                      ##   ##  *
     Bill_Lewey@hp-corvallis.om.hp.com