Took a short hike up to Monte Cristo ghost town on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The mountain loop highway is closed at Barlow Pass right at the trailhead for Monte Cristo/Gothic Basin. Road was bare and wet, plowed up to the T.H. There was about 6 inches of snow at the gate where the hike is started and by the time we got up to the town (not much of a town just a few cabins) there may have been closer to a foot. Did not need snowshoes but had them and used them on the way back some of the way. Hiked with two dogs who had a blast running around in the winter weather. The folks at the visitor center on the way to the T.H warned us of how dangerous a log crossing is about a mile in as did another party when we mentioned where we were going. The "dangerous" log crossing is hardly a danger. Snow on the log has provided more than enough traction, the log is fairly wide, and if I were to fall it would be in a few feet of really cold water but nothing that would be a danger. This was a great trip to scout the area a bit, and I can assure you I will be back this summer to explore some of the old mining caves past the town and gothic basin.

It was a cool but dry day to take a hike and the sun was shining at the beginning of my day but that would change as my hike wore on. On the way back it started snowing in earnest with about 3 miles to go and a good 1/2 inch+ of snow was sticking well. A good reminder to be prepared for weather changes this time of year and the fact that winter is just around the corner. The Monte Cristo town site will be shut down for 2 years starting sometime next spring for clean-up from its long gone mining days so get up there while you still can before the weather changes for good and the gate at Deer Creek gets closed. When I arrived at Barlow Pass there were several cars already there and I was never alone for long on the way in or out and there were people all over the town site while I was there. This hike certainly is not one for solitude but it makes up for it with mountain views, history, artifacts and buildings that are around a century old.

Most of the hike follows the old road and is only a real trail in a couple spots were it has been diverted away from the river that has eroded the old road. You must cross the South Fork Sauk River on a large log right before the first mile to continue on. Its plenty wide enough but was a little on the slick side with the frosty morning. On the way back it was covered with a dusting of snow but by going slow and easy I made it across just fine without slipping. The road walk makes for quick mileage and offers great views of the river valley and surrounding peaks on the way to the town site.

At Monte Cristo the history and artifacts are everywhere you go. I lingered for over a hour as I had not been up here in several years. I found a quiet spot just several yards up the Silver Lake Trail after passing the last cabin to take my lunch. I saw some people checking out the cabin but no one bugged me where I sat perched on a rock bluff above it all. While I was at Monte Cristo the sun went away completely and the air cooled off as I was heading out. As I looked further down the valley I could see the snow clouds moving in. Sure enough, about a mile back I saw little snow flakes. By 2 miles back it was full on snowing to the point where I zipped up, put my hood on and and to look down to keep the snow out of my face. It was easy enough to follow the road and I still saw people coming in 1/2 way back to Barlow Pass, I suspect these people came back in the dark. Get up here soon if you plan to go, winter and the clean-up closure are coming quick!

As Halloween approaches, a lot of folks start thinking about ghosts, goblins and haunted houses. While we’ve yet to find a hike out to a haunted house, we do occasionally get the chance to visit a ghost town. Recently we trekked out to Monte Cristo, one of Washington’s most famous ghost towns and the site of the state’s biggest gold rush.

This hike’s only challenge is the river crossing, but that may soon be changing. A new access road will be on the other side of the river, connecting with the current road after the washout. The road is being built to support a massive cleanup effort focusing on containing the arsenic and other heavy metals churned up by Monte Cristo’s mining past. The cleanup will begin in spring of 2013 lasting to the summer of 2015, during that time the plan is to close the townsite. How the new road will be used after the cleanup is still undecided. Luckily, even though a little snow has fallen, you still have some weekends left to visit Monte Cristo before it’s shuttered until 2015.

For the full report, check out:

http://www.hikingwithmybrother.com/[…]/monte-cristo-ghost-town.html

Nathan & Jer

Arrived at 10:40am on this nice Saturday and this was the most crowded I have ever seen Barlow Pass. Wanted to catch Monte Cristo before it closes for a few years. Strangely, I did not see that many people on the trail so many must have gone onto other trails such as Silver Lake. Did see Search and Rescue hanging out too at Monte Cristo town site.

Hiked to town in about 70 minutes and continued onto the Glacier Creek trail. My goal was to find the Justice Mine. At about 3/4 mile outside town, I found what I thought was the trail up to the mine, following a tailing creek and a debris slide which I figured led to the mine. The trail was extremely steep and slippery and because I didn't do enough recon, turned around (or more correctly, slid down) about 3/4 of the way up as I didn't want to get stuck. I did see numerous mining debris and a can of coke-cola tonic that looked recent. So I continued up the Glacier Creek until about the waterfall and spotted other mines but couldn't really find any trails up to them and didn't want to rock hop up to them either. As I came down after taking pictures spied three fellas taking the "trail" up to what I thought was the Justice Mine. Oh well, I guess I shoulda continued up...

On the way back to town, walked down to the old concentrator site which is roped off for eventual environmental cleanup. I followed a trail to Glacier Creek and found it was quite easy to cross and joined up to the old Mine-to-Market Rd/ railroad right-of-way. This path leads back to the Campground which is located just before town.

On my return trip I tried to find the old Sauk Wagon Rd, the right of way which, I believe, will be used for the new road to Monte Cristo.

At one point I found a short trail that joined the remarkably intact Wagon Rd, that extended for about 50 yards until it abruptly ended.

Later, near Hops Hill, where the road descends down towards the river, I found surveyors flags which I think marks the new road. I followed this for about 1,500 feet, but did not see any remnants or traces of the old wagon road. Eventually I crossed into an extremely overgrown logging road, which is marked on USGS maps and perhaps follows the Sauk Wagon Rd? I tried following said road for a few hundred feet, but after tripping onto a chipmunk and numerous downed logs and salmonberry, decided to turn around. I did note the surveyors' tapes/marks continued on the old logging road north. But it would have taken hours to travel this path.

Thus I turned around and tried to follow the logging road back to what I supposed was the main Monte Cristo road. The right of way was extremely overgrown with salmonberry and blow downs, but older surveyor's tape marked the way south. The right-of-way could also be discerned from the presence of trees on either side of the road, with 6ft high salmonberry bushes in the middle. It was not an easy walk, especially in shorts, lol.

At some point, the surveyors marks ended and I had to guess that the road continued south through the salmonberry. I was correct. In about 50 feet, I came out to the Monte Cristo Rd. Right across I noted a trail heading south to the river and possibly up Weden Creek? I scouted the area where I joined Monte Cristo Road. It is remarkable that one would never be able to tell that a logging road started where I came out to. Nothing on the road or the trees etc indicated a road or path. I did take a GPS reading for future reference and noted said trail south.

With that I ventured back to my car and still saw lots of cars. I hope to come back soon before the Mines are finally sealed up forever...