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Post by Philip on Jul 6, 2010 6:58:38 GMT -9
I did a counter clockwise loop hike around Monashka Mountain yesterday and came down the ridge that is just to the north of the reservoir. When coming down off the ridge we used to just descend to the dam spillway, cross the spillway, and then walk down the service road. To go up to the ridge we would do the opposite: walk up the road, etc. They raised the spillway a few years ago and crossing it is no longer possible without a swim. I think Patrick said there is a good trail from the bridge over Monashka Creek or the end of the road to get to this ridge, but I thrashed through all sorts of alders and salmonberries on my way down and never ran into anything very developed. Any advice?
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Post by mrsquishy on Jul 6, 2010 9:26:43 GMT -9
There is a trail that starts from the White Sands parking lot, but it's easier to follow going up; even though I've used it several times, I still have a hard time picking it up on the way down. It's hard to describe the beginning of the trail going up - you skirt the marsh, cross the little creek and eventually there is a steep, muddy trail that heads up. The trail is pretty overgrown until you find that uphill trail. Once on that trail, it's pretty evident until you get up the ridge a ways. I know that coming down, I head toward a grove of spruce through which the trail goes. My suggestion is try to find that trail up and hike it that way. Unfortunately, there are a number of trails leading from the marsh, so it can be difficult to find that one that leads to the uphill trail. You might try hiking along the creek, looking for the trail on the uphill side. I do remember that if you end up at the king salmon weir/holding pen, you're not at the correct spot. I (think) the uphill trail is upstream of the weir...but I'm not absolutely sure. If I wasn't leaving town, I'd show you that first part.
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Post by mollio on Jul 8, 2010 20:18:28 GMT -9
Seeing this thread made me want to see how the trail was in the summer (I just figured out where it was this winter/spring), so I hiked it today. I took a couple of pictures that might help with figuring out where to pick up the trail . I'll try to be as clear as possible with my directions. As mrsquishy said there are a variety of ways to get to the trail from the parking lot. You can climb up the steep hill to where the buoy swing was and pick your way back on the various game trails eventually descending from the forest to the area shown in the first photo or you can hug the edge of the marsh until you reach where the alders meet the forest and head back toward Monashka Mtn. You want to end up here ( directly to the right is the trail descending from the forest): The blue arrow points to the path to the weir/holding pen area and the red arrow points to the trail. You want to stay in the open grassy area. Once you get closer to the far spruce trees in the photo you should be able to pick up the trail: Once you get into the bushes the trail is harder to see but it is worn enough that you should be able to feel where it is by the lack of resistance at your lower legs even though the salmon berries are tangling at the chest height. A view of the trail from below the bushes: You will eventually be following a tributary. This is not the creek flowing from the reservoir. The trail crosses the creek at this point: You then follow the trail along the other side for a bit before it starts heading upwards. From here the trail stays relatively well defined until you reach the second clump of spruce trees. Here take what looks like the less defined trail on the right. This will lead you through the upper marsh. This photo shows roughly the route I take through the marsh. After the upper marsh, it is a bit trickery to find the trail. It meanders a bit through the bushes and wraps around until you are above the reservoir. Eventually it take you high enough that you can pick you way upward towards the top. It's a lovely hike but very wet. Hopefully these directions helped a little bit. Happy hiking.
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Post by Philip on Jul 10, 2010 7:10:28 GMT -9
Wow. Stunning job on the explanation. Thank you for that. I will need to go out there and investigate at some point. I agree that some of these routes are a lot easier to find in the winter or spring when the vegetation is down.
Thanks again.
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Post by kayakhans on Aug 15, 2010 14:16:29 GMT -9
August 15 I was gone for most of the summer and am just now checking some of the postings. Many years ago I hiked the route in question and agree with Mollio's posting. The beginning of the trail follows from the parking lot along the right side of the marsh and continues through grass and brush land along the right bank of the creek that runs along the southern base of Monashka Mt. As the canyon narrows, and - as I remember - hiking for a while in the creek bed, one has to climb up the left bank of the creek when I steeper well trodden path appears. That is the ill-defined trail to climb the mountain between Monashka Mt. and the reservoir. There are a bunch of game trails, but I remember that one appeared more distinct than the others, apparently a hunter's trail, finally leading to the top.
I would love to explore the trail again soon, perhaps in the company of other interested hikers.
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Post by dadoffour on Aug 15, 2010 15:58:35 GMT -9
Checking the Kodiak Audubon blog shows a guided hike of Monaska Mt. on the 21st of Aug.
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Post by Philip on Nov 20, 2010 23:20:10 GMT -9
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Post by mrsquishy on Nov 22, 2010 10:44:25 GMT -9
this is a great trail - once up on the ridge you can explore in several different directions - there's some great camping spots with water up there as well. As I remember, some folks including me, have a difficult time finding the trail down when we come from Monashka Mtn - the game trails make it easy to head on the wrong trail. These pics will help, for sure. Thanks, P&A.
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Post by mollio on Nov 22, 2010 19:06:39 GMT -9
Phillip, I am glad that the pictures and directions were helpful. It is nice to see your winter ones for comparison.
This has become one of my favorite hikes. As mrsquishy said the ridge is a good place to camp. I camped there this summer and it was great. I did see a lot of bear sign but (thankfully) no bears. I hiked back towards whale pass and watched the sunset. It was stunning.
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Post by Philip on Jun 24, 2012 17:36:43 GMT -9
Today Seth, Crystal, and I climbed Monashka from the big beaver pond, walked back the ridge west of the peak, and then descended via the Monaska Reservoir Ridge trail. It was a very nice hike though the ridge on the west side of Monashka is getting pretty overgrown by small spruce trees. The rope swing on the way out the Termination Point inland trail: Starting the climb from the large beaver pond: Just out of the forest about half way up Monashka: There are lots of flowers out now: Forgetmenots are sort of rare in Kodiak: Over the peak and out the western ridge, we weaved through the jack spruce: Our route went along the ridge topped with spruce, until we climbed the low mountain on the left above the Monashka reservoir: The final climb before descending via the Monashka Reservoir Ridge Trail (which was a little overgrown):
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Post by Philip on Jul 6, 2013 17:04:48 GMT -9
I did the Monashka Mtn to Monashka Res ridge loop with Maya recently and was reminded on that hike that the spruce trees on the saddle portion of the route are getting annoyingly thick and dense. They force you to crawl in places or sidehill below the ridge to avoid their scratchy obstruction. Today I hiked the loop (counter-clockwise as I always do) with my chainsaw and cut a reasonably wide swath along much of the ridge. I cut for a few hours and went through 4 tanks of gas but still ran out of fuel before finishing the loop. The ridge from the summit of Monashka Mtn down to the lowest part of the saddle is cleared though. I will finish the job sometime soon. 'The Job' being cutting the spruce portion- I won't widen the trail up from the end of the road to Monashka Res Ridge through the alders and salmonberries. You are still on your own there.... On that point, that the Monashka Reservoir Ridge trail is pretty hard to find right now with the veg at it's apogee. If you don't know the trail down off the ridge back to the end of the road pretty well, now is NOT the time to go find it. Late fall is much better. For those who know the route however, the hiking is pretty darn good. Unlike when I was up there a week ago with Maya, there were basically no bugs this time. There was wind on the summit of Monashka Mtn this time, but the saddle and the rest of the hike were pretty calm. No whitesocks though. Go figure. This is one of my favorite loop hikes. It's very close to town and offers a wide variety of Kodiak terrain. I almost never see animals on this hike however. That said, Monashka can't be beat for flowers in June and July, and ocean views all year. Here is a map of the loop. The portion I cut today is in yellow.
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Post by Philip on Jul 8, 2013 19:13:44 GMT -9
I finished cutting the saddle this afternoon. Have at it, folks. If anyone does actually hike it, take a pair of work gloves along and toss the branches aside. I have only had time to run the saw and just let many of the branches fall where they may (generally into the trail). Be a bud and help out, eh?
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Post by steve on Jul 8, 2013 22:25:14 GMT -9
Many thanks Philip, For all your great trail clearing efforts.
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Post by brooks on Jul 9, 2013 7:19:34 GMT -9
I second that. We all benefit from all the hard work you do. Thank you.
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Post by Philip on Jul 11, 2013 17:42:30 GMT -9
No problem, guys. Thanks. Got to keep busy, you know? I walked the loop again and chucked some of the branches. The cut parts are generally on the ridge top or on the Monashka Bay side of the ridge, if you go up looking for the route. I also flagged the climb up Monashka Mtn from the beaver pond with orange surveyor's tape. The problem is always the descent off the Monashka Res Ridge however. That trail is narrow and well hidden by tall veg. Hardly any bear sign in the "Valley of Death" as Patrick refers to it, so that's a plus.
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Post by brooks on Jun 10, 2014 21:18:28 GMT -9
Philip and I headed out to do the Monashka loop after work. It took about 3 hrs moving at a reasonable pace with a few stops for water and such. Heading through Termination Point forest The beaver pond, which serves as the reference point to head up the hill, is empty. Heading along the ridge showing some of the nice trail work done More bear sign on this hike then the others I have done this year. This bear was digging up chocolate lily roots The evidence - remnants of the chocolate lily root
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Post by mrsquishy on Apr 4, 2019 12:00:36 GMT -9
BTW, there is now a "shortcut" to the base of Monashka Mountain that cuts about a half-mile off the old ATV trail route. When you cross the first creek right at the start of the ATV trail, take the trail that runs uphill along the right side of the trail. From there the route is fairly intuitive and I noticed a few flags in key spots when I hiked it yesterday. It's easier to follow going down. When you enter the trees coming down the Monashka Mountain trail, there is a clear fork in the trail - take the right fork. As I said earlier, the trail is fairly evident and intuitive to follow. If you have a waypoint for the beginning of the trail at the creek in your GPS, it helps with picking the right game trails.
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