Allen Mountain #269 East Trailhead

At less than a mile from the east trailhead, the trail is blocked by massive windfalls of many big, old trees where it descends through an old growth area to the gap prior to the switchbacks that take you up to the slopes of Allen Mountain proper. The trees are difficult to climb over or under or circumvent on steep slopes. We gave up after about a dozen trees and turned around. This trail requires MAJOR tree removal work. I wonder what the west entrance off Cougar Gap may look like this year.

How to get there: Having had the displeasure of driving FR 84 from its north entrance off FR 52 twice last year, and reading other WTA trip reports in 2007 about the potholes on the northern section of FR 84 on its way to High Rock L.O., we tried a different approach to Allen Mountain Trail No. 269 East this year: We drove FR 85 by going straight shortly after the bridge across the Nisqually River instead of taking a left toward Big Creek C.G. and FR 52. The first six miles of FR 85 are paved, but sections of the remaining 14 miles between the end of pavement and FR 47 are potholed just as badly as the northern half of FR 84. In addition, there are numerous fallen trees and rocks, but all have been cleared and pushed aside to a width that at least a pickup truck can get through. There are also two washed-out spots where a low-clearance vehicle will have to navigate very slowly. Once on FR 47 (FR 47 toward Randle is currently closed) you take the only open option by going east for ~3 miles (part of it on paved road) to the junction with FR 84 to the left. Here is a small sign showing the symbol for a sedan passenger car with the words NOT RECOMMENDED, but actually the south end of FR 48 between FR 47 and Silver Creek Pass and FR 8460 is in very good shape, having received recent maintenance with culvert replacements and drainage improvements. That sign should have been placed at the north entrances of FR 84 and 85! The short 2 miles of FR 8460 are slowly growing in with alder and willow bushes from the sides, but are drivable to the parking area and turnaround just short of the 0.1-mi. rugged profile spur at its end. For the best connection, instead of using FR 85 and making a 62-mile loop, drive in the way we drove out: From Skate Creek Road, FR 52, take FR 47 just short of Packwood (the first 3 miles at the east end of FR 47 are paved) and follow it to the junction with the south end of FR 84. Banks and ditches along the first 4 miles of FR 47 have recently been cleared of brush and trees to allow better maintenance of drain ditches along the road. This approach is a little longer, but is easier on nerves and shock absorbers. Apparently you can reach Silver Creek Pass also by way of FR 5240, but we have not yet tried that option since we don't have a 4WD vehicle.

Allen Mountain Trail #269

This trail is open to motorcyles, mountain bikes, horses and hikers, but it is rarely used by motorcycles because it has many obstacles and fallen trees. It is not often used by hikers, either. The main hazard for hikers are the numerous holes tunneled by rodents under the trail, often obscured by dense brush hanging over the trail from both sides. It would be easy to misstep into one of the holes and strain or break an ankle.

The trail first ascends through young growth to a gap where you look down on a clearcut basin on the other side. From the gap a faint side trail leads a few hundred yards back to a viewpoint on top of a ridge. The trail descends through a thicket of salmon berries and goats beard (watch for gopher holes) and enters a short stretch of old growth trees. It switches back once, moves to the other side of the ridge and opens up onto another clearcut at a low gap. From this low gap you have a good view of Mt. Rainier. The trail then ascends the long massif of Allen Mtn. proper, first in a series of 8 switchbacks, then another 14 switchbacks where it gains sufficient elevation to provide good views of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams.

The USFS trail info at

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/trails/locations/cvd-0269-allen-mountain.shtml

describes this trail incorrectly by stating that it ""climbs 2.5 miles to the *** top *** of Allen Mountain"". It never reaches the true top which the maps indicate at 5095 ft. elev.! Instead, the trail only skirts the various peaks on their southern flank and stays at least 300 ft. below the true ridge line. On an earlier hike where we started from Cougar Gap, we scrambled up to a ridge and attempted to follow the ridge to a view point, but were not successful because much of the ridge was forested.

The distance to the junction with Greenwood Lake Trail #253 at Cougar Gap is about 4 miles. Along its course, elevation varies from 4240 to 4720 ft. There are rocky ledges and stretches with battered old-growth forest. One stretch across an open slope is totally overgrown with Bracken Fern (watch for gopher holes). The best views toward Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams are from some of the rocky ledges. Between the rocky ledges there are brushy sections rich in blueberries (when in season). On this day, we explored only the eastern 2/3 of the full length of the ridge until we connected with where we had hiked the year before.

Maps: USDA Forest Service ""Glacier View and Tatoosh Wildernesses"" scale 1:63630, GPO 1990-792863

How to get there:

Drive SR 706 from Elbe through Ashford to FR 52, also marked as leading to Packwood and Big Creek Campground. FR 52 curves around where FR 85 branches off. Stay on FR 52 (paved) about 2 miles east of Big Creek C.G. to the start of FR 84 (sign indicating High Rock trailhead at 9 mi., gravel and many pot holes in the lower parts of the road). FR 84 crosses Big Creek on a bridge and passes several branches (8410 to Teeley Cr., 8410 to Big Creek/Cora Lake, 8440 to High Rock) until you reach the 8460 turnoff with 2 more miles to go to the trailhead. Road 8460 is in better shape than some of the lower sections of FR84. It ends at a turnaround and parking area, shortly after a 4WD spur splits off to the right (uphill). A 4WD road continues another 0.1 mi. beyond the lower parking spot and ends at a turnaround that is littered with hunters' trash. For most vehicles it is best to turn around at the lower wide spot, but please park out of the predicted path of several unstable rocks that are suspended loosely on the slope above and ready to roll at any moment. Instead of driving back on potholed FR84, you can also continue on FR84 across Silver Creek Pass to a junction with FR47, and then follow FR47 east towards Packwood. This is a little longer, but the last mile before FR47 crosses Skate Creek and comes onto FR52 is paved with smooth asphalt which makes driving a lot easier.

Elevation gain 930 ft. inbound, 410 ft. outbound.