Kachess Ridge / Kachess Beacon

Well, if anyone wants a good training hike for climbing....this is a good one but it doesn't have a mailbox at the top. :) It was a bit misty out, but I needed a training hike and I got it...but I didn't expect THAT much of a training hike! First of all, getting there. There isn't a sign for Kachess Ridge (as the day hike book suggests) so turn right onto "Kachess Dam" road. Then the directions are correct, but it's easy to miss the turns. The trailhead area is quite small and no outhouse.

The first 1.9 miles are a steady uphill, very nice trail, I was able to do that in 45 minutes much to my delight (20 lb pack). Then, the trail splits. The book says "the main trail goes right"....KEEP READING...."however, we go left". Oops. I went right, nice area but full of snow, trail hard to find, right next to the Silver Creek. It was nice...but not the correct route. SO...back I went to the correct trail.

Wildflowers are all over the place, I've never seen such a brilliant orange Indian Paintbrush before! The trail traverses a hill for a bit (and I was clicking away at all the flowers, including a chocolate lily!) and then goes up. As in UP. Think Mailbox peak. Once again, if I had REALLY read the book.....at 1.9 miles one is at 3800 feet. I got all the way to the Kachess Beacon, which is 4600 feet. 800 feet UP in 1.1 miles; but probably more like 0.8 miles due to the bit of traversing before one ascends. But the flowers made it all well worth it! Hopefully, my legs will agree tomorrow. There is a bit of snow at the top but it's patchy at best. Trekking poles are VERY helpful, especially on the way down, even more so on a wet day like today.

Another highlight...meeting up with a nice couple afterwards at the trailhead who had also taken the RIGHT trail instead of the LEFT at 1.9 miles ("so, which way did you go" was the opening line....), and we chatted about the flowers, sharing photos and trying to name them in the now pouring rain. It really was a great day! And I got to practice cross-over steps, the rest step, and eating all my treats. Chocolate Gu isn't so bad!