Alder Ridge-Mad River Tie, West Foss Lake Trail

Arrived at the trail at about 10:00AM and began hiking. It was a beautiful day not a cloud in the sky, no wind and tempeture was about 70 degrees. Some bugs but not overwhelming. There was major trail damage from the trail head to the crossing at the West Foss River. It is not a pleasant hike to Trout Lake. Many windfalls and the trail have been washed out at the crossing of the West Foss River. There is a log across part of the river that was washed over part of the river that is crossable. The trail was also washed just before you entered the Trout Lake Camp Sites. Hiking form Trout Lake to Copper Lake the Trail was in fairly good shape. The Forest Service list the use of this trail as heavy however we encountered only two groups of backpacker at Copper lake. There was one group of 4 at the outlet of Copper Lake and two backpackers going out. We continued about a half mile from the outlet to a large flat rock jetting out of the bank into the lake. This was a perfect setting to enjoy the grandeur of the Malachite Peak as it reflected off Copper Lake. In fact it was such a beautiful day that we lost track of time and stayed in camp our first day the next day and then started our hike out about 3:30 Pm. We made it back to our car just before sunset. This is a beautiful area. I have been here several times but never with weather as outstanding as this. Not a cloud in the sky and not a leaf wrestling in the breeze. It was perfect. In fact it was a dead calm. It seemed that is was the calm before the storm but the storm never came. This is one of the most pristine and inspirational areas in the Alpine Wilderness Lake Area.
This hike is on the Foss River Road #68 a 1/2/ mile east of the ranger station. If you stop at the Skokomish Ranger Station they have a hand out on driving direction to the trail head.