I couldn't get any takers on the trip I wanted to do so. Rubberlegs suggested I tag along on his trip with the amiable Alan Bauer so I jumped at the chance. Before I knew it, Mike and Kim were also coming along. I knew the day would be full of good company.

We met at the Preston P&R at 11:00am because one of the party members had a ""honey-do"" to do. So after a bit of a late start we headed out toward CleElum. The road to the TH is in good shape except for one tree down across the road about 1/4 mile from the TH. No problem though...most cars should be able to drive around and over the debris.

For an ""easy"" trip this trail doesn't waste any time. It immediately starts out in a series of switchbacks climbing the 1.25 miles to the top of the ridge and gaining over 1000 feet in elevation. The trail is in good shape.

Once hitting the top of the ridge we headed right (north) toward Thorp Mtn. This is a beautiful ridge walk. We hit a tad bit of weather once reaching the ridge. It was hard to find a good combination of clothing. It was windy, spitting rain, and yet kinda warm and kinda cold. At one point Alan said he never saw so many changes in clothing. We ran the ridge from this junction the 1+ miles out to the ""summit"". At the summit there is a great old lookout complete with radio antenae and solar panel. It was such a reward to visit with the lookout since so many of them have been removed. Whenever I visit a lookout I imagine what it's history must have been like. We didn't stay too long here. Just long enough for Alan to take a few pictures, for our group to get a bite to eat, and long enough for rubberlegs and MtnMike to discover two priveys (one abandoned, one new).

We eventually left the lookout site and headed back down the ridge to the trail junction. From here Kim, Mike, and Alan took a leisurely hike back down the the car. Rubberlegs and I darted off toward S. Thorp. The trail continues on the ridge and then contours along the east side of a bumb just before reaching a saddle about 1 miles from the Knox Ck junction. From this saddle we did a rising traverse up the hillside and reached the top of the bump labeled 5841' on the USGS. We peered over at the bumb due east of us and scratched our heads wondering if it was the taller of the two bumbs. Our bumb had a cairn. Just in case...lest anyone dare to say we summited the wrong bumb...we dropped down the the saddle between the two and then tagged that other bump.

We told the other group members that we would be about 45 minutes behind them. So, rubberlegs and I ran - yes ran - down the trail and down the switchbacks and reached the trailhead about 25 minutes after the others.

Great trip. Good company.

Stats: 6-7 miles, 3400' gain

A motley crew of four total imbeciles (Putz-in-boots, MtnMike, Quark, and yours truly) joined Alan Bauer on a photography/lookout/peak bagging expedition. But in order to get our beauty rest, we didn't leave Preston until 11am. We were on the trail about 1pm -- a true alpine start. Usually Alan has hiked 45 miles, shot 16 rolls of film, and eaten three burgers by 1pm.

The road was mostly in good condition (ok, some washboard) except for a downed tree 1/4 mile from the trailhead. But Alan's rig got around it no problem, ""knox on wood"". We hiked 1.25 miles up the Knox Creek trail, with a few steep sections but nothing totally out of hand, to the junction on Kachess Ridge. Turning right, we followed a great ridge (I love ridge hikes) to another junction. The left path heads to Thorp Mt and its lookout. We had a few minor spits but stayed pretty dry. At the summit we viewed the bottoms of several impressive mountains. Alan correctly named Cathedral Rock and the flanks of Mt Daniel.

On the return, Putz-in-Boots and I continued along Kachess Ridge while our compatriots enjoyed a more leisurely descent. We followed this trail to just below the South Peak of Thorp Mt, one of the ""Home Court"" peaks. It's an easy non-technical off-trail stroll to the summit from just SE of the peak. Our compatriots patiently waited at the trailhead for us selfish peak-baggers, for which we thank them profusely.

A beautiful hike on a great Saturday. The last 2 miles of road to Knox Creek is narrow and not well maintained but my Taurus had no problems getting to the trail head.

Knox Creek is moderately steep trail that took about 50 minutes to go up. Once on the ridge crest the Kachess Ridge trail is fairly level going up and down to the junction in about one mile with the Thorp Mt. Look Out Trail.

Throp Mt. tail winds up to the top in a series of switch backs as views open up of Rainer, Mt. Stuart and the Snoqualmie Pass area. The lookout site is occupied by a friendly forest service employee and his dog ""Teddy"". It took about 2 hours to reach the look out from the trail head. After some photos and a snack I headed down. The trip back to the car took about 1 hour.

There was a large group of Mountaineers? on the summit but I hiked most of the trip in solitude getting the trail head at about 10:00 AM. This is a relatively easy view hike with friendly natives at the end. I even got to sign the guest book at the look out.

Recent rain fall was evident on a damp (not dusty) trail.

This trail was on my ""list"" for this year, so decided to take advantage of the clear September skies. The directions to the trailhead are somewhat difficult to follow, as road markers are negligle. But, on first try, we arrived at the trailhead smack dab by Silver Creek. Upcreek a minute or two is a bridge, which beats the ford right from the trailhead. The USFS should take down the old sign on the far side of the creek... As described in other reports, the trail swithbacks up moderately steeply, intersecting with an old logging road. You can easily find the trail to the left at a switchback in the road, but there is no sign. Shortly, we arrived at the junction with the Easton Ridge and Domerie Divide. Taking a left, we contoured along the Roslyn watershed, and really enjoyed views overlooking the country we were about to enter. From here, the trail goes to pot, however, climbing very steeply. I imagine this trail used to be open to motorcycles, but now is only open for hikers, per the sign. Up and down, up and down, we eventually arrived at Thomas Mtn for our first lunch, and views east to the Stuart range. Second lunch was had at South Peak, but after the steepest down I have ever experienced on a trail coming down off of Thomas. Aftern lunch, we headed west up and over one more steep shoulder of West Peak, eventually arriving at the Kachess Ridge trail, which seems more popular with the mountain bike set, than hikers. The trail here was quite chewed up in places. At least it was easy to follow and creek crossings were low. They would be tough in high water, as they are meant for wheels and not feet. Overall, a hike that felt a whole bunch longer than what the map showed. We saw literally noone all day, and on a sunny weekend day, that's pretty hard to beat!