Zach
Collier: After a trip down the Wild and Scenic Rogue
River I decided to drive back
home (Hood River) via Big Marsh Creek in order to learn a little more about
it. I went for a nice hike up the creek above road NF-60 and enjoyed the
high elevation marshes. After getting back to my truck I noticed a road that
would take me to nearby Crescent Creek, another Wild and Scenic River so
I started driving.
The small tributaries of these creeks are also marshy and I found one that intersected the road. I hadn't been stuck in the mud for at least a year so I decided to go for it and quickly regretted my hasty decision. The mud was thick and my truck quickly sank in.
I spent the next few hours winching my truck through the mud and moving logs that had been buried in the marsh by previous drivers. When I was close to getting my truck through the mud bog my winch cable broke. I grabbed a sleeping bag, water, phone, and my one wheel and "one-wheeled" out to cell coverage. Once I was near Highway 58 I met a nice guy who knew a guy who could help pull me out the next day.
Ken was the old tow truck driver and had pulled someone out from this marsh the previous day. He said he'd pulled 200 vehicles out of this spot over his career. We drove out and as we got close he got his truck stuck in another marshy spot. With jacks and shovels we were able to get his truck out. After that debacle we walked over to my truck with his jacks, shovels, boards, and got to work. After a couple hours in the mud we were able to get it out and headed to nearby Manley's for some lunch. If you're in the area I highly suggest stopping by Manley's for some food, drink, and ambiance.
