West Cady Ridge
Nov 16, 2008
by
Kim Brown
—
last modified
Nov 18, 2008 08:25 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: West Cady Ridge
- Region: Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
- Trails: West Cady Ridge (#1054)
- Avg Rating: 2.57
- Be Aware Of
- Clogged drainage
- Mudholes
- Water on trail
Mt R from West Cady Ridge
A trip report from last week prompted me to visit West Cady again; mainly so I can write up a trip report and remind folks that, as Janice Van Cleve pointed out in her May 2007 report, that the Index-Galena Road is washed out and this trail is not accessible from Index. It IS ACCESSIBLE from Skykomish, on a very nice gravel road suitable for all cars, even Steve Fox's Prius.
To get to West Cady trailhead, take Beckler Road, a.k.a. FS 65 (at Skykomish) and drive it up & over Jacks Pass (this is a confusing intersection, but just stay on FS 65 - it's clearly signed). After Jacks Pass, the road winds down, down, down. At the base of the road, hook a right onto FS 63, clearly signed. This is easy to spot, because you cannot go straight - this is the east end of the Index-Galena closure, and the orange gates are fairly noticeable.
Drive FS 63 til you can't drive any more. Maps show it continuing, but the Wild Sky Wilderness, designated this year, closed the road at the West Cady and Quartz Cr trailheads.
Now. West Cady is a gorgeous trail, nicely graded and well-maintained. When the trail traverses to the upper switchbacks, you'll run into some mud and water running down the trail, but compared to Squire Creek trail the day before, this was like a stroll in the desert. I laughed at this trails' pitiful attempt to get me wet. Ha!
A few inches of snow at the upper-upper switchbacks. A sunny, warm day for us. Glacier Peak was out in full glory; Sloan, a wierd view of Pugh, Kyes, Columbia, and Indian Head Peak. And Mt Rainier too, if that's what floats your boat.
Old growth trees, creeks, moss galore, sunny climes.
To get to West Cady trailhead, take Beckler Road, a.k.a. FS 65 (at Skykomish) and drive it up & over Jacks Pass (this is a confusing intersection, but just stay on FS 65 - it's clearly signed). After Jacks Pass, the road winds down, down, down. At the base of the road, hook a right onto FS 63, clearly signed. This is easy to spot, because you cannot go straight - this is the east end of the Index-Galena closure, and the orange gates are fairly noticeable.
Drive FS 63 til you can't drive any more. Maps show it continuing, but the Wild Sky Wilderness, designated this year, closed the road at the West Cady and Quartz Cr trailheads.
Now. West Cady is a gorgeous trail, nicely graded and well-maintained. When the trail traverses to the upper switchbacks, you'll run into some mud and water running down the trail, but compared to Squire Creek trail the day before, this was like a stroll in the desert. I laughed at this trails' pitiful attempt to get me wet. Ha!
A few inches of snow at the upper-upper switchbacks. A sunny, warm day for us. Glacier Peak was out in full glory; Sloan, a wierd view of Pugh, Kyes, Columbia, and Indian Head Peak. And Mt Rainier too, if that's what floats your boat.
Old growth trees, creeks, moss galore, sunny climes.
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Sloan, wierd view of Pugh Mtn.
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Icy pond, sunglint, and looking south
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Ha! Gotcha! You'll just have to go see the view of Glacier Peak for yourself! (I can't do it all for you!)
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