Trip Reports

The Forest Service is closing Table Mountain and Chain Lakes/Ptarmigan Ridge trails Sept. 13-14 for maintenance. Work on the upper Table Mountain trail’s southern steep cliffs will dislodge boulders and rocks, endangering hikers on the lower switchbacks and on the Chain Lakes/Ptarmigan Ridge trails. The trailhead is located at Artist Point parking lot at the end of Mt. Baker Highway, Scenic Route 542.

Call Mt. Baker Ranger District for updated information on trails or roads at 360-856-5700 or go to alerts and conditions on http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/.

The Olympic Hot Springs Road and these trails are closed through October 2010 for construction on the Lake Mills Delta and the Boulder Creek Trail Rehabilitation Project. Visit Olympic National Park's website at: http://www.nps.gov/[…]/wilderness-trail-conditions.htm#CP_JUMP_150133 for the latest updates before heading this way.

The Forest Service is closing sections of the Suiattle Road (Forest Service road 26) to vehicle traffic for culvert replacement upgrades. Each closure will stop traffic coming from Darrington blocking access to Glacier Peak and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The Suiattle will close at milepost 2 from Sept. 7-10. It will close at milepost 4.2 twice, from Sept. 13-24 and again from Sept. 27-30. Then, there will be periodic daily closures from Oct. 4-30.

“The Suiattle Road is the main access in the area for hikers going into the west side of the Glacier Peak Wilderness,” said Gary Paull, wilderness and trails specialist. "The Suiattle Trail connects to the Pacific Crest Trail and other trails leading to popular destinations of Trinity and Holden Village in the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, Stehekin in the North Cascades National Park. Mountaineers planning on the famous Ptarmigan Traverse need to be aware that the road closure will be 20 miles down the road from Downey Creek Trailhead where they exit this route."

For updates on the Suiattle Road closures, call the Darrington Ranger District at 360-436-1155.

New on the closure list is the Mason Lake Road (Forest Service road 9031) which the Forest Service is closing at milepost 1.85 to vehicle traffic for road repairs. The closure begins on Tuesday, Sept. 7 and goes to Sept. 21. This closure blocks access to the Ira Spring Trailhead, which includes the Ira Spring Trail (Bandera Mountain) and the Mason Lake Trail. Hikers will still be able to the turnoff for FS road 9030, which leads to the Talapus Lake Trailhead. FS road 9031 will be open on the weekends during the closure period. Also, be aware that commercial logging that is happening along FS road 9031, which we first reported back in March. When traveling on this road, be cautious and watchful for logging trucks. For updates, call the Snoqualmie Ranger District at 425-888-1421.

Here is my trip report:


http://alpinelakesaficionado.blogspot.com/[…]/bills-peak-7710.html

Earl Peak is a great choice for a rain-shadow hike! On a day when it was rainy in Seattle and pouring at Snoqualmie Pass, this area had a high cloud deck, a few sun breaks, and zero rain.

It took about 2-1/2 hours to drive the 120 miles from Green Lake to the trailhead, including a couple of coffee stops. We stopped at the campground at the end of the paved road to use the outhouses. Once you're on the gravel section of the North Fork Teanaway road, the four miles to Forest Road 112 is a very rough washboard. No huge potholes but you have to take it slow or the vibration will make you lose your dentures!

From the Beverly Turnpike trailhead, we followed the Bean Creek trail about 3 hours to the summit, 2 hours down, but with one of us in a knee brace, we were taking it at a leisurely pace. The trail has two blowdowns about 18 inches in diameter that were too big for us to clear, but they're easy to step over. The rest of the trail is well marked and in excellent shape. The climbers track from the pass to the summit is an easy staircase, no need to use hands. Great views from the summit of the entire Stuart range.

This hike had been on my list for a cloudy/drizzly day for some time. Today's forecast fit that bill. TNT article this weekend also helped plant the idea.

Arrived at trailhead to increasing rains. As I began putting on raingear I wondered if this 12 mile roundtrip hike (or close to 15 to junction w/ PCT) in wet conditions was such a good idea. The rain subsided by the time I was ready and so I departed. Trail mostly in forest. Steady uphill until about 1 mile mark where short stretch switchbacks down. Shortly past that point a swamp/pond off trail to left. Trail began switchbacking up with Laughingwater Creek below to the right. Trail never real steep but it is long. Lots of horse droppings on trail, looked fresh enough to probably have been from this past Labor Day weekend. Seemed a long stretch before first lake reached. Cabin is between first and second lakes. I was rejuvenated not only to reach the lakes but also for a few rays of sunshine above. The rain had held off for the most part, only becoming steady about half way into the hike. There are some nice campsites above the lakes. The outhouse even had working hand sanitizer! I wandered about the area with the cabin and lakes for awhile. There is a register book at the cabin but I got sidetracked and forgot to sign it. I decided to hike on.

I hiked toward the PCT junction. The 3rd lake is reached just outside of the NP boundary. I noted 2 ducks in the pond, the scene was so serene. That was about the only wildlife other than squirrels/chipmunks and birds. The trail continues on past a couple more tarns/lakes and goes in and out of the park boundary a few more times. It also opens up and a few meadows with lots of blooming Lupine (and a few paintbrush). There had been only one meadow prior to the lakes/cabin. I finally reached the junction with the PCT where in nice weather views of Mt Rainier can be had. Everything was socked in today but it was not raining so I was content enough. I took a break there but did not see any PCT through hikers. I returned to the cabin and had lunch there on the porch. On my return trip I encountered a guy going up to camp at the lakes. I was a bit surprised, I didn't expect to see anyone on this trip. He told me that the rangers told him he probably wouldn't see anybody up here. I told him he had the campground all to himself and that it was nice. Got back just in time to beat steadier rains. A good hike, probably about 15 miles round trip. Trail was in good shape, lots of old blowdowns cut out. I only noted 4 blowdowns still on the trail (2 on the trail to the lakes and 2 on trail beyond) but they weren't hard to get over/around. Some muddy parts due to the rain, but not bad overall. Bugs not a problem.

I couldn't help but thinking earlier resting at the cabin, this would be a great place to stay at for a summer, just enjoying nature and maybe some good books. Leave civilization behind for awhile. Maybe I'm a bit crazy but I envy the rangers that get to spend time here.

This was a steep one! Think: Long staircase up a mountain. Some wildflowers are still there in the meadows. Latter part of hike is on rocky ground, which can get pretty slick in wet weather, making the descent a little slow. Whole day was overcast and misty, no views on the way up or at the top due to all the clouds. Three mountain goats were at the summit, and will come right up to you.

This was my first time hiking Mt Pilchuck Trail. I was hoping for sun, but got rain, wind, and lots of clouds. The trail was in good condition, with some water on it from the over night down pour. Light traffic on the trail today. No view at the lookout due to the overcast skies. I found some huckleberrys near the top of the mountain. Nice treat considering the gloomy day. I will definitely come back on a nice day to see the great views the lookout has to offer.

Well, the description is right, it is really hard to find. In fact, I'm still not sure if the trail I found is this one. The trailhead I found was about six miles from the freeway off-ramp and had a little wooden post with a small Pacific Crest Trail logo on it, but no other marker. No parking lot anywhere either, so it's probably not right one. There was a small foot bridge early on with a little pond on the right. Oh, well, pretty trail anyway! I foraged through bushes for a couple hours until my pants and shoes got soaked and my fingers wrinkled from mist. No bear sightings (sad).