I was hoping for a summit bid for Humerus Hill which lies between Jolly Mt and Elbow Peak. My hope was that at least the first gate would be open on logging road #4315 which starts just after the Cooper Lake Turnoff. The road intersects the Sasse Mt trail close to the Jolly Mt trail. I was at least 3 hours late getting started due to obligations on the home front so I wasn't overly optimistic about my chances. The first gate was shut snugly so I was assured of not making my day's objective. I was only able to walk the road until I intersected with the Sasse Mt Trail. Without any more time before I had other obligations at home I was forced to turn back. The snow was constant and consolidated above 4300ft. I thankfully returned to the truck before the rain became serious. Just before crossing Snoqualmie Pass the rain became so intense I was nearly forced to pull over.

If you enjoy hiking through cut timber in a churned motorcycle rut with dirt bikes whizzing past, and the smell of gasoline in your nose, and the feel of motorcycle parts beneath your toes, then this trail is for you.

I hiked the Sasse Mountain Trail from the south with my son Ben, because it was close to the Wish Poosh Campground where we were staying, and because the Green Trails Map said it was not motorized. Well, all three of the southern approaches to Hex Mountain are motorized - Sasse Mountain Trail #1340, Hex Mountain Trail #1343, and Corral Creek Trail #1340.1. It is the ridge north of Hex Mountain that is non-motorized.

We stopped shy of Hex Mountain because the dirt bikes were becoming such a nuisance and my son was getting tired. The dirt bike riders were all friendly, but only one group was courteous (they killed their engines while passing us, unlike most who zipped past without slowing down). Some of them got off trail and churned up the meadows.

The Sasse Mountain Trail is well signed from the Salmon la Sac Road, but the trailhead is signed #1302 instead of #1340 (this is the Mirror Lake trail number - possibly the Wenatchee NF is trying to distinguish the motorized section of Sasse Mtn Trail from the non-motorized section).

As is usual, we looked to the east side of the Pass for a rainy Sunday adventure, and decided on the climb of Jolly and Skookum as described in the 75 scrambles book. While generally everything goes as described, we found that the forest road 4315 is now gated at the 4800' mark, basically the last switchback in the road before getting to the pass. The first bit is an easy road walk, maybe 1/2 mile. From there, the old trail is unmarked and hard to follow, then runs into the road, which from the pass is being ""put to bed"", been chewed up with a dozer of some kind, and is very hard to walk!! We met some folks not having much fun pushing their mountain bikes up it. Anyways, we got to the next saddle at around 5400', and met the ""real"" trail, that is a motorcycle trail. I have hiked on some of these before, but this one is one of the worst in terms of erosion. All the steep areas and switchbacks are deep gullies, channels for snow run-off. I contacted the USFS to find out what plans they have for this former road and for managing the trails better. Anyways, apart from all that, great views despite a lowering cloud level, an old lookout site, fabulous flower displays, rare bugs!!!, and a great scramble to Skookum, with fun rocks at the top. A good day...

The trail has severely deteriorated in just the past couple of months. Perhaps the winter snows packed down the motorcycle erosion till they started coming up again?

At any rate, lots of loose rocks, heavy erosion, and trails that have become mini-canyons. A pity because it's such a pleasant ridge walk.