Trip Reports
You — and other hikers from across the Northwest — have posted 44,466 Trip Reports to date. Search Trip Reports to find out where others are hiking and learn about current trail conditions.
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trip reports
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Eastern Washington -- Yakima
Wildflowers blooming
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Flowers! The hills of Robinson Canyon are bursting with flowers right now. Lupine, Balsamroot, Pai...
Flowers! The hills of Robinson Canyon are bursting with flowers right now. Lupine, Balsamroot, Paintbrush, and many more. The air was so thick with heady scents that it was difficult to keep hiking! The large meadow is lush and green and makes one envy those who occupied the little cabin there in bygone days.
The trailhead is simply a parking lot in front of an elk gate. Today must have been a horse jamborie because many camper trucks and horse trailers were parked in the meadow just beyond the gate. The trail starts on an abandoned road which is blocked from vehicles by a boulder barrier. It rembles westward about a mile then turns to cross the small creek shaded by trees. A few feet further is a junction; left goes back and up somewhere, right continues up the canyon. A little under a half mile further is another junction; left goes steeply up into the woods but rejoins the main trail later, right continues up the canyon to a third junction with a small cairn in the middle of the road. Left goes up Ainsley Canyon, a narrow, wooded cleft that circles around and eventually arrives at Ainsley meadow. Right continues up through woods and abundant flowers flanked by basalt cliffs to the north on the other side of the creek. The trail arrives at another junction; left climbs the ridge and joins a road, right evenually meets the same road further on. Following this road south also arrives at Ainsley meadow. There is no road through the meadow but it is pretty easy to see where to pick it up again. This makes a nice little loop hike with lots of flowers and not too much altitude. The trail I followed and described here is in fine shape. I never found the washout mentioned in the May 4 trip report. |
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North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Overgrown
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The White Chuck Bench trail is a beautiful walk in the woods along the White Chuck River. Unfortuna...
The White Chuck Bench trail is a beautiful walk in the woods along the White Chuck River. Unfortunately it peters out about half way along and the second half of what is hikeable is deteriorating and getting overgrown.
The trail starts off a small forest road above the White Chuck boat launch. Go south on the Mountain Loop Highway from Darrington to a sign for the boat launch on the left. Cross a really impressive strong bridge to a junction. There is parking and outhouses at the boat launch area. Go up the dirt road to an upper parking area and signs for the White Chuck Bench trail. The trail starts out with a good tread winding through a pleasant forest of tall trees. It skirts the ledge above the White Chuck River, crosses a sturdy wood bridge, and continues upstream. Occasionally one gets a peek at Mt. Pugh which is still domed in snow. There are several nice overlooks if you step off the trail a short way. After about a mile or so, the trail descends gently down to river level and then it gets lost in underbrush. Not much altitude gain or loss on this path. Green Trails map 111 shows this trail going 6.6 miles to connect with the White Chuck road which apparantly skirts the left bank of the river. |
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North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Wildflowers blooming
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The Old Sauk river trail used to be a great early season hike through lush moss bedecked forest. Ho...
The Old Sauk river trail used to be a great early season hike through lush moss bedecked forest. However the Sauk River washed out the northern portion and a new trail has been constructed that is wheelchair accessible. It is broad, flat, paved in fine gravel and lined with stones and trimmed logs. It apparently loops between two refurbished parking lots - one on the north end and one in what used to be mid-trail. There is no more access to the little mid-channel island.
The only remains of the old natural trail is about a half mile on the south end. It is lush as ever. The forest floor is thickly carpeted with mosses, vanilla leaf, young bright green ferns, bleeding heart, violets, and tasty miner's lettuce. The tread is good earth and duff winding gently underfoot. The river is running deep, fast, and full. Because this trail has been severely abbreviated, we decided to drive further south on the Mountain Loop Highway to the White Chuck trail #731. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
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The Kamakazie trail up Mt. Tenerife has often earned its name. However, Mountains to Sound Greenway...
The Kamakazie trail up Mt. Tenerife has often earned its name. However, Mountains to Sound Greenway has built a new trail with switchbacks up to Kamakazie Falls. On a sunny Sunday in May there must have been 30 cars at or near the trailhead and at least 100 people on the trail. Our Outventures group (gay & lesbian outdoor group) added another 21 to the traffic.
The trail starts out at the school bus turnaround on the Mt. Si road past the Mt. Si parking lot (that lot was full to overflowing today). The first two miles are boring road with two very nicely constructed drainages. As the road narrows through the trees it comes to the start of the trail. There is a sign that says 1 mile to the falls. That mile is stony climb up riprap tread to the falls. Fortunately it switchbacks to the stream in the shade once in awhile so it is not too exposed to sun. The final destination is both spectacular and disappointing. Spectacular because the trail takes you right up to and almost under the falls. Disappointing because there is no place to stand to appreciate the scene. The old trial continues faintly up from there to the summit of Tenerife. |
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Eastern Washington -- Wenatchee
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It's a long drive from Seattle to Ancient Lakes just south of Quincy, WA, but worth it. We drove th...
It's a long drive from Seattle to Ancient Lakes just south of Quincy, WA, but worth it. We drove through a blizzard from North Bend to Easton and high winds in the Gorge, but completed the journey in 3 hours - as long as it takes us to get to Cascade Pass.
Ancient Lakes is a large basin carved into the basalt cliffs east of the Columbia River gorge. The trailhead is just a parking lot with an outhouse. It is about 3 miles from the parking lot to the east end of the bowl across a broad valley of waving grasses and clumps of sagebrush. There are many trails weaving in and out across the valley and cutting across prarie from one to another is no problem. The walls of the valley are vertical cliffs of basalt laid down in layers from ancient times. The different formations are striking and there are even waterfalls. Five lakes populate the east end of the valley and three more shallow saucers probably fill with water when it is available. Hiking here is easy, mostly level, and great campsites dot the area. It probably bakes in high summer and the wind can be bracing at times. Nevertheless, this is a great place to visit, explore camp, ride horses, and watch birds. Lots of birds here. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Snow on trail
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Checking out the trailhead I ran into another hiker who had gotten up to and around Lake Ollalie. T...
Checking out the trailhead I ran into another hiker who had gotten up to and around Lake Ollalie. There is a dash of snow on the road up and the trailhead is still full of snow. The hiker reported the trip into Talapus Lake is no problem. He reported that he was able to completely circumnavigate Ollalie because the snow buried all the underbrush.
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Snow on trail
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FS road #9031 is clear and dry all the way to the trailhead. Up to the junction wiht #9030 has been...
FS road #9031 is clear and dry all the way to the trailhead. Up to the junction wiht #9030 has been regraveled and it is a bit mushy driving. The rest of the way is its usual potholed self.
The trail is clean and clear up to the place where it leaves the abandoned road. At the top of that incline, patches of snow cover the trail They are easily navigated and will probably melt out in a week or so. At the first switchback the snow starts in earnest. In the early morning it is still cold and crusty and very easy to hike in normal boots. Later it gets mushy. At about 2.5 miles I arrived at the wide open steep snow fields and decided to turn around. The sun was beating down and it would have been a slippery mess to descend. Others had crossed the snow field and then ascended straight up to the ridgeline. They are obviously younger than I am. |
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Eastern Washington -- Yakima
Wildflowers blooming
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Cowiche Canyon is an easy, fun hike west of Yakima. There are several trailheads - google "Cowiche ...
Cowiche Canyon is an easy, fun hike west of Yakima. There are several trailheads - google "Cowiche Canyon" to find directions and the best option. We started at the top of the canyon and worked down. The best features are in the first 2 miles. There are bridges, interesting lava formations, and birds. The Cowiche Canyon Conservancy group has labeled plants so you can identify them along the route. There are birds to see and in a few weeks there should be more flowers. There are side trails interesting to explore and several caves up high along the rim which have trails to them.
Total length of the canyon hike is 6 miles round trip on very easy railroad grade that gains no more than 100 feet in 3 miles. Why they build a railroad through this lovely canyon is beyond me. There is a perfectly good surface route a mere mile to the south. Engineers gotta have something to dynamite, I guess. Anyway, this is an easy hike and the Conservancy has put a lot of work into it. Locals use it for jogging and waking their dogs. This is supposed to be a good birding location and there were plenty of birds. We saw two turkey vultures, two red tailed hawks with a nest on the cliff, and lots of swallows. Note: some winery has a connector trail for tastings but not on Tuesday or Wednesday. We opted not even to venture there. Getting back to Highway 82 is tricky. We got misdirected onto Highway 12 to Nachez before we realized we were in the wrong place. South on 12 is the best way and it links back to 82 north to Ellensburg. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Blowdowns, Washouts, Water on trail, Snow on trail
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The road up the Middle Fork is fabulous. They just graded it and there are no potholes or washboard...
The road up the Middle Fork is fabulous. They just graded it and there are no potholes or washboards to worry about. The Taylor River trailhead has a sign but no facilities. The first half mile is dry and snow free. The next 2.5 miles to the bridge over Martin creek is full of soft, wet snow that is impractical for snowshoes (because of frequent gaps) yet not firm enough to hold weight. It should be mostly melted out in two weeks with warm weather.
The trail up to Martin Lake is so obscured that we could not find it in two attempts. Beyond the Martin creek bridge the trail is suprisingly dry for the most part. There are drainage problems and some snow patches, but it is mostly clear. After several creek crossings and one washout, the snow begins again and it is deep and soft. There are many blowdowns along the whole trail but nothing that cannot be easily stepped over or around. Past Libby Lake creek there are two pink ribbons marking the way in to Otter Falls. Take the route marked by the second pink ribbon which is attaced to a post at the side of the trail. The snow is deep and soft up by the lake and difficult to navigate. However, there is a good viewing spot for the falls on the creek embankment. Overall this trail needs drainage and corona work and some loppers. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Snow on trail
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Mt. Washington is a good workout - especially in snowshoes. It gains about 3000 ft in 5 miles. 150...
Mt. Washington is a good workout - especially in snowshoes. It gains about 3000 ft in 5 miles. 1500 ft of that gain is in the first rocky, stony 2.2 miles up to a viewpoint called Owl Hike Spot. Up to that point the snow is only an inch or two with a consistancy of crunchy crusted carmel corn.
After Owl Hike Spot the snow gets deeper and softer. I managed to cross the creek and get up to the first meadow before I had to put on snowshoes. From there the snow is 3 to 5 ft deep. I did not summit because previous hikers appeared to leave the trail and go straight up. I did not want to take that route nor did I want to break trail through the deep snow on the correct path. I turned around about 3800 ft altitude. Still Mt. Washington is a great winter hike. The path is well trod now up to the 3800 ft point and several people were out today. There is one blowdown about a mile in from the trailhead. It is not worth checking the box. |
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Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
Blowdowns, Mudholes
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Lily Lake/Oyster Dome is a favorite winter hike. It leaps up aggressively from a non-descript trail...
Lily Lake/Oyster Dome is a favorite winter hike. It leaps up aggressively from a non-descript trailhead right off Chuckanut Drive. Parking is along the side of the road. The first part of the trail climbs up the steep slope to a junction. Right goes to an overlook; left continues to Oyster Dome and Lily Lake. Up to this point the trail is in fine shape.
From the junction to the Bat Caves [no longer accessible because of unsafe trail and potential disease to the bats according the the signs] there are many muddy bogs to cross. Somebody [WTA?] has done a lot of work on this section but some puncheons and turnpikes are desperately needed. From the Bat Caves to the next junction the trail is very steep and rough. This section could really use some switchbacks. A light dusting of snow tinges the trail at the junction where abandoned steel logging cables are much in evidence. Left goes to Oyster Dome which we did not do because it was foggy and sprinking and we would not see any views anyway. So we went right to Lily Lake. This section of trail is very nice, broad, and mostly level. There are a number of blowdowns along the way. I cut many of the branches to make them easier to step over. Lily Lake itself is very pretty in its blanket of snow and ice. Just as Chuckanut Road emerges from the mountains onto the Skagit plain at Legg Road, new owners are sprucing up the Japanese garden and coffee house. No food yet and coffee service is limited, but the dining room is very nice and this will become a fine place to relax at the end of future hikes. |
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Issaquah Alps -- Cougar Mountain
Mudholes
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Long I disparaged these lowland trails to my regret. Cougar Mountain is a fascinating park full of ...
Long I disparaged these lowland trails to my regret. Cougar Mountain is a fascinating park full of interesting trails, loops, terrains, and historical artifacts. In fact, this mountain was home to a large coal mining operation from 1863 to 1963. Pits and shaftes dot the hillsides and historical markers and signs give context to the land features.
Green Trails map 203S is essential for hiking Cougar Mountain. There are so many loops, connectors, and lacing trails that it would be easy to get lost. The trails are well signed but each sign identifies only a certain length of trail and without a map, it is difficult to link the various segments into a route that will ultimately return you to the place you left your car. It's like driving in England. 20 miles outside of London they don't tell you "London 20 miles". They tell you "next town Shepton Mallot". Today we entered from the Red Town trailhead and did the Wildside, Marshall's Hill, Leo Wall, Shy Bear, Fred's RR, East Fork, Mine Shaft, Cave Hole route. See what I mean by trail names? It was muddy in some places but no obstacles to report. The puncheon through Shy Bear Marsh was particularly interesting. Cougar Mountain has several entry points and none of them are dull. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
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Very easy close in hike for a rainy day in Seattle. Twin Falls is right off exit 34 from I-90. The...
Very easy close in hike for a rainy day in Seattle. Twin Falls is right off exit 34 from I-90. The trail gains only 500 ft in two miles to the John Wayne road/trail. The tread is wide and well maintained with several nice construction features: crib steps, bridges, crib platform, and turnpikes. There are no blocking obstacles.
The trail follows the river for about a half mile through trees heavily coated with moss. Then it climbs up to a very nice overlook with benches that offer a good view of the lower falls. There is a very muddy spot along the way but it is clay mud rather than the squishy kind. At the lower falls is a stairway going down for a better view and it is well worth taking. Beyond this is a sturdy bridge and the upper falls and then the trail glides easily up to the John Wayne road/trail. There was a slight dusting of snow but that is supposed to change tonight into a heavier snow. Although this trail is for hikers only, somebody rode their bike down it. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Snow on trail
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The Pratt Lake trail is an easy gentle hike with moderate elevation gain. It's perfect for winter h...
The Pratt Lake trail is an easy gentle hike with moderate elevation gain. It's perfect for winter hiking because the snow covers all the rocks and roots. Many thanks to the intrepid snow shoers who broke trail. The path is nicely packed down and easy to follow. Snowshoes are not necessary but trax are helpful because it is slippery in spots - especially at the stream crossings.
There are two blowdowns near the beginning of the trail, both of which are easily stepped around or over. The avalanche tangle has been cleared and the path through there is open and broad. Another thing that makes this trail a good choice in winter is the fact that the trailhead is right off I-90 at exit 47 and the access is plowed. I hiked up to the Olallie overlook where I found a nice spot in the sun to stomp out a sitting place. The gray jays swooped in and I took pity on them and shared my nut bar. The trail continues from that point up to the Olallie saddle and folks have booted a path up there through the snow. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Snow on trail
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The Iron Horse Trail is a great snowshoe hike this time of year. The grade is pretty level, the sno...
The Iron Horse Trail is a great snowshoe hike this time of year. The grade is pretty level, the snow is deep and powdery, and there is a railroad tunnel at the end for a nice turn around. On a nice day an added attraction is the views of McClellans Butte, Bandera, and Granite mountains blazing white under a blue sky.
We took exit 47 off I-90 and parked at the end of the bridge. High riding 4 wheel vehicles can still drive in to the trailhead and one did but most folks stayed at the end of the bridge and hiked in. It is only a half mile if that. The parking lot has about a foot of snow. The trail up to the Iron Horse is packed, slippery snow where trax are a big help. This is a popular trail well used so it is easy to follow. We were the first to venture up to the tunnel and that snow was 3 feet deep. Snowshoes were necessary and it was still a workout. No obstructions encountered along the way. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Snow on trail
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The world did not come to an end yesterday so I decided to hike Mt. Si old trail again. Apparantly ...
The world did not come to an end yesterday so I decided to hike Mt. Si old trail again. Apparantly lots of folks decided the same thing - it was a very popular trail today.
The trail was clear of snow by and large up to about 2500 feet. It's a good idea to put on the trax at this point because even though the snow is only a few inches, on the trail it is that packed down slushy slippery kind that impedes progress. At about 3500 it gets deep - about 1 to 2 feet. The path, however, is well trod and easy to follow. I turned around at the junction with the regular Mt. Si trail after clearing a few trees. NOAA said 80% chance of rain or snow but it was sunny on Si. Back down on the Little Si and Boulder Garden trails there is some nice new drainage dug. Thanks gals and guys! |
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North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Water on trail, Snow on trail, Avalanche danger
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Lake 22 is an easy, short hike that gains only 1200 ft in 2.7 miles from trailhead to lake. It is a...
Lake 22 is an easy, short hike that gains only 1200 ft in 2.7 miles from trailhead to lake. It is a fun winter hike because the parking lot is just off the Mountain Loop Highway so even if the snowplows pile a wall of snow across the entrance, hikers can park on the side of the road and still only add 50 yards to their hike.
The trail is broad, well graded and demonstrates some of the best crib ladder work in the Cascades. There is lots of water on the trail from melting snow and winter rains and many drainages and culvers are clogged. However there are no washouts or blowdowns. Snow begins at the open slope about 3/4 mile from the lake and is currently about a foot deep. It is compact - even crusty - and the trail is well stomped. Snowshoes would be a nuisance but trax are helpful. Note: the broad open slope is notorious for avalanches. It took the life of a teenager a few years ago Snow is compact and light now, but always check avalanche conditions before using this trail in winter. At the lake the footprint of the trail narrows between high birms of snow going either direction from the bridge. It is not advised to circumnavigate the lake as avalanches are very active on the western shore. As we sat eating our lunch we witnessed many loud tumbles of snow crashing down from the heights. Back in Granite Falls, stop in at the Happy Coffee stand across the street from the schools. The coffee is good, not very expensive, and the barrista is very happy! |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
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Little Si is a short, easy 4.4 mile roundtrip hike just outside of North Bend and a popular destinat...
Little Si is a short, easy 4.4 mile roundtrip hike just outside of North Bend and a popular destination during the winter months when snow prevents hiking in the high country. The trail offers some small altitude gain, some clambering over rocks, and a nice rocky crown with a low altitude view. There are no obstacles but the trail is not as "finished" as the main trail up big Mt. Si.
There is a 1.5 mile loop branching off of the Little Si trail that goes through a Boulder Garden. While not that impressive, there is an unmarked junction on this loop that is the old trail up big Mt. Si. Lots of dogs on the trail today without leashes and leaving poop right in the middle of the tread. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
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Wallace Falls is a hugely popular hike - just look at the size of the parking lot! The trail is rig...
Wallace Falls is a hugely popular hike - just look at the size of the parking lot! The trail is rigorously maintained and is in very good shape up to and past the middle falls. There are many strategically sited viewpoints along the way for the best photos of the waterfalls but do notice the very impressive cribwork at the middle falls viewpoint. The trail to the upper falls is a bit more rough cut but still in good shape.
It is possible to go from the upper falls to the road above but it is not a real trail. Look for the blue diamonds on the trees which lead to a ramp that finally deposits you at the road. There are pink ribbons tied to trees to mark the sketchy part. The road goes left to Wallace Lake and beyond. The road goes right to above the falls and here is the smiling rock. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
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So that's what it's like to hike on an easy, close in trail on a Saturday when it is supposed to be ...
So that's what it's like to hike on an easy, close in trail on a Saturday when it is supposed to be sunny - over 600 hikers on the trail, 14 babies in carry packs, 120 dogs, and cars parked in every stall and all the way down the road. I originally wanted to do McClellan's Butte or Silver Peak but the sunny forcast apparently did not apply east of North Bend. I ran into a blizzard about Tinkham Road and turned around.
Rattlesnake Ledges is an easy 2 mile hike up a nice trail built by WTA a number of years ago. There are no obstacles or drainage problems. Once past the first ledge, the crowds thin out only a few folks get up to the third ledge. If you are lucky you can see mountain goats there. My favorite part is between the third ledge and the road-turned-trail. This part is dark and spooky as it sneaks around up and over along the ridgeline - very much like the Old Forest outside of Buckland. There was frost on the ground and one cloud kept teasing with snowflakes but otherwise perfect hiking. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Mudholes, Water on trail
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The hike up to Lake Serene, near Index, is a popular and easy hike that gains 1900 ft in 3.6 miles. ...
The hike up to Lake Serene, near Index, is a popular and easy hike that gains 1900 ft in 3.6 miles. The first 1.5 miles is on old roadbed, much of which is "paved" in rip-rap which is fist sized chunks of rock that are easy on logging trucks and bulldozers but hard on hiker feet. There are many drainage issues along this section but because of the rip-rap, they will be hard (pardon the pun) to excavate and clear. One very bright spot is that the old scary slippery tilted bridge across the first stream has been replaced by a very nice bridge. Thank you trail elves!
Bridal Veil Falls is running full gush right now and they are very beautiful. Trails, rivulet crossings, and the bridge are all in good shape in this section. Right after the falls, the trail climbs up interminable switchbacks and innumberable well constructed stairs, gaining almost 1000 ft in one mile. Here there are big, wet, rotten blowdowns. The first is a multiple blowdown about 100 yards from the falls and an easy single blowdown is 100 yards further on. There are a few more on the way up. Most of these are big trees, heavily rotted. There are also two recent rock falls blocking the trail. These have caused serious damage to the tread. Some heavy work is needed to make repairs. I had the lake all to myself and the sun came out just as I sprawled out on Lunch Rock. The fish were skimming the surface for bugs and only a few aprons of snow clung to the base of Mt. Index. The best autumn colors, however, are across the valley around the town of Index. On a clear day like today, the valley was blazing with gold. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Snow on trail
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The Tonga Ridge trail is very easy, even trail gaining 500 feet in 3 miles to the junction where the...
The Tonga Ridge trail is very easy, even trail gaining 500 feet in 3 miles to the junction where the trail splits. Left goes down to Deception Creek and right goes on an unmaintained trail up to Fisher Lake. Road 6830 is clear and in good shape all the way to road 310. Road 310 has a dusting of snow but is very passable up to the trailhead which is just a dead end.
The Tonga Ridge trail is a beautiful winter wonderland right now. A light new snow has created delicate tracery with the branches and the trail is easy to follow. It starts out very nice 3' wide along the ridge but narrows to 1' wide on the steep slopes. The spur route up Mt. Sawyer is easy to find. We went further in search of Fisher Lake and got as far as the meadow with the junction down to Deception Creek. The snow there is about 4-5" deep. We could not locate the trail up to Fisher Lake which is not surprising because it is difficult to find when all is clear and dry. There are blowdowns on the trail before arriving at the Mt. Sawyer junction. Snow is light now but in one more storm even the road may become impassable. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Fall foliage
Blowdowns, Mudholes
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Snow level at 4400 ft. The first 2.5 miles of this trail is very easy with small elevation gain. L...
Snow level at 4400 ft. The first 2.5 miles of this trail is very easy with small elevation gain. Lots of bright autumn colors contrast with the dusting of snow at the higher elevations. Little stream crossings are easy. The side of one of the puncheons has collapsed and the whole thing will go if it gets heavy water or snow. The rock slabs a mile from the trailhead are great for photo ops and they rival in size and beauty even the Denny Creek slabs.
Two miles from the trailhead are a series of large blowdowns. Some are 26-28" diameter. It is a climb and slide over situation for 2 of them. At 2.5 miles the trail comes to Box Creek. The water is flowing heavily. The boulders and log jam that might be used to cross it are at odd angles, far apart, and slippery wet. Smartest crossing here is to ford the stream which is not deep. I decided, however, that it was not a safe crossing for me and turned back. Too bad because it was a nice sunny day and seeing the snow dusting at Rachel and Lila lakes contrasting with the autumn colors would have been lovely. I compensated by harvesting a Bear's Tooth mushroom custer for dinner. The road in from Kachees campground is very washboardy and potholed. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Fall foliage
Clogged drainage
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An easy mountain hike, gorgeous autumn colors, and a real sand beach. The Lake Valhalla hike has it...
An easy mountain hike, gorgeous autumn colors, and a real sand beach. The Lake Valhalla hike has it all. The trailhead off Smith Brook Road (FS 6700) has adequate parking but no outhouse, which is surprising because this is a very popular starting point for several trails. There are no blowdowns or obstacles of any kind on the trail although most of the drainages are clogged with twigs and stuff.
The first mile climbs a series of switchbacks then levels out to cross Union Gap. This is a very pretty area in the woods with tall trees, light undergrowth, a big rockfall with a cave and a small meadow that may contain a bog. The trail joins the PCT at Union Gap. Right follows the PCT north to Janus Lake and beyond. Left follows the PCT south to Lake Valhalla and eventually to Highway 2. We explored about a half mile south of Lake Valhalla on the PCT, basking in the views. A map at the main Valhalla campground indictes a partial trail over by the outlet but we could not find a way to get there. We did explore a side trail up Mount McCausland from the Lichtenberg saddle. It is steep and encroached by small evergreens in places but the autumn colors up there are dazzling. Good views of the lake and Lichtenberg Peak from up there as well. Total gain on this entire ramble was only 1200 ft in an overall round trip of about 7 miles. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Fall foliage
Bridge out
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The Denny Creek trail is a complex of tread types. The first mile which passes over a stout bridge ...
The Denny Creek trail is a complex of tread types. The first mile which passes over a stout bridge and under I-90 is big, broad, and soft on the feet with dirt and duff. There are good turnpikes and gentle grades. At the famous Denny Creek rock slabs the trail comes to the washed out bridge which was totally obliterated a few seasons ago and never rebuilt. Too bad, because this is a popular trail that gets heavy use.
The creek is down to a trickle so it is easy to cross it on the rocks but there are signs up with serious warnings that crossing in spring and summer runoff times would be dangerous. There are two cairns a bit upstream which show where the trail picks up again on the other side. From here to the falls (which are also a trickle at this time of year), the tread is decent. As soon as it leaves the trees, however, the trail crosses a long scree and boulder field which makes for a rocky stumbly path all the way up into the first set of switchbacks. These switchbacks ascend to the upper Denny Creek valley. There the trail gets rooty as it climbs up and over a hump before crossing over the creek again. The crossing here is bridged by an old rotten log that I refused in favor of simply crossing on the stones. Again as the trail leaves the trees it crosses more scree-boulder fields and then up a rocky set of switchbacks to Hemlock Pass. From there it is an easy walk to Melakwa Lake and Upper Melakwa Lake. Both lakes are low on water. There are lots of trails lacing the space between them and many good campsites. There is also a box toilet on a rise hidden in the trees. From Upper Melakwa it is pretty much a talus traverse up to Melakwa Pass, interrupted by a few groves of trees. There is another trail going up to Kaleetan which takes off from the Lower Melakwa spillway up past the toilet. I've done both of these before but not on this run. Foliage colors are starting but will probably be in full color in two weeks. Total gain is 2200 feet in 4.5 miles. |
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North Cascades -- Mount Baker Highway
Fall foliage
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Three days, four hikes, totally awesome each one. The Artist Ridge trail to Huntoon Point is actual...
Three days, four hikes, totally awesome each one. The Artist Ridge trail to Huntoon Point is actually a braided network of trails that amble all over the ridge. The main trail is very easy, wheelchair accessible for most of it, negligible elevation gain, and only one mile round trip. The only difficulty is that you have to stop every 5 feet to gawk in awe at Mt. Shuksan which looms in all its glory right in front of you. Of course there are all the heather meadows, deep valleys, and gorgeous terrain which also hold your attention.
Table Mountain is a very different story, especially if you have vertigo. The trail starts pleasantly enough from Artist Point parking lot but then switchbacks steeply up the face of a rock cliff totally exposed for about 50 yards. The tread is wide enough but it is a long way down from the edges. On top, you can wander for almost a mile to the end on gently rolling hummocks with snow in between and groves of trees here and there. Wide open views of Baker, Shuksan, and almost the entire North Cascades from up here. Chain Lakes is a moderate 6 mile loop that takes you through rocky valleys, over passes, around lakes, and along the south slope of Table Mountain for a full frontal view of Mt. Baker. Our work party cleared drainages and worked tread on both ends of this trail. Two of us dashed up to Herman Saddle to look down on Iceberg and the other Chain Lakes. This trail is very popular. There were at least 200 hikers on the south stretch which gave us the opportunity to do more outreach for WTA than shovel work. There is one bad stretch of about 10 yards on the north end of the Chain Lakes trail after it crosses the stone bridges. This is a rock cut section that was blasted out of the cliff years ago but not finished. The tread is uneaven, slippery when wet, and exposed straight down into the lake below. Very difficult to navigate on a damp morning with tools in each hand. |
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North Cascades -- East Slope
Fall foliage
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Short little 4 mile round trip to start off the morning. This is a well used horse trail. It is ve...
Short little 4 mile round trip to start off the morning. This is a well used horse trail. It is very gentle, broad, and open. Beautiful trees and ground cover. The trailhead is well signed, has a large parking lot and a smelly outhouse.
At 1.7 miles is the junction to Cutthroat Pass. We decided just to go to the lake. The path to the lake ambles over a stream and through woods to a bright green basin, broad and shallow, at the base of the mountains. The water level is low right now so the wide shoreline is mucky but is is still very pretty and there are campsites back in the trees. By all means, do not miss the Washington Pass overlook! In the morning light the sun really highlights the stunning Liberty Bell peaks. |
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North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway
Fall foliage
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Breathtakingly beautiful! This is my favorite hike and obviously the favorite of many others, too. ...
Breathtakingly beautiful! This is my favorite hike and obviously the favorite of many others, too. The trailhead is well signed with ample parking and a clean outhouse. This is a loop, but I prefer to take it counter clockwise. This way is easier on the ascent and also allows the trail to reveal its beauties one at a time. The trail is in fine shape all around the loop, but the descent down the east part of the loop is choking in dust right now.
The trail sashays up gentle switchbacks and around a bowl before stretching out for a long haul along a steep slope overlooking Lake Ann. A couple of switchbacks later it arrives at Heather Pass. This meadow is so enchanting that it strongly tempts one to stay here or explore further, perhaps even to mint-green Lewis Lake. Continuing on to Maple Pass is slow going because with every step the views dazzle and delight. The North Cascades are a stunning wonder and in full display here. The pass itself is a large, broad Alpine area with plenty of places to linger, enjoy lunch, or thrill to the views north or south. From here you can see Glacier Peak, many glaciers and other mountains, and slopes ablaze with red ground cover. More hefty altitude gain brings you to the high point of the pass, approximately 6800 feet and even more temptation to stay for hours. The way down is steep but offers even more scenic vistas and lots of larches. The latter are not all quite fully golden yet, but close. The trail threads the narrow ridgeline precipitously at times all the while delivering a feast for the eyes. At one point it is possible to look down into Lake Ann and Rainy Lake at the same time! That's a narrow ridge! The way down from here is a knee killing series of steep switchbacks before the trail finally joins the handicapped accessible paved tread that goes to Rainy Lake. Taking this west completes the loop back to the parking lot. |
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North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway
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The PCT strides gently north up Bridge Creek to the North Cascades Highway, then ambles through the ...
The PCT strides gently north up Bridge Creek to the North Cascades Highway, then ambles through the woods parallel to the highway past the Rainy Pass trailhead before crossing the road and heading north up to Cutthroat Pass. We were exploring from Rainy Pass south and this is what we found.
There is a PCT trailhead parking lot on the highway east of Rainy Pass but no sign to say where the trail is. You have to cross the highway and go east along the guardrail until you come to the end, then plunge into the woods on a spur. This spur comes to a junction with a sign. Right takes you to Rainy Pass over a tilted log creek crossing. Left takes you south on the PCT. The PCT here is gentle, broad, clear, and a fun walk in the woods. At the first junction, right continues the PCT and left (which is blocked but we took it anyway) goes to Stiletto Peak and an interesting prospector's mine. The map shows a route up to Copper Pass from here but we didn't see it. Down this left path a short way is another junction. Left climbs very steeply up Stiletto Peak. Right is blocked but again we took that route. Here there are blowdowns, a nice camping spot, and the remains of a prospector's cabin and mine. This trail eventually goes downhill to Bridge Creek where it disappears. Back to the first junction, we went south on the PCT to where it descends to meet McAlester Creek. The trail is in great shape. The one bridge that has collapsed is red tagged and a nice detour has been constructed. All in all, this is a great little explore south of Rainy Pass on fairly even ground. |
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North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Blowdowns, Overgrown
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The Mallardy Ridge trail to Cutthroat Lakes is an old and somewhat neglected trail which cries out f...
The Mallardy Ridge trail to Cutthroat Lakes is an old and somewhat neglected trail which cries out for lots of WTA love and well deserves it. The trail only gains 1000 ft in between 3.2 and 4.1 miles, depending on which map you read. This is not a trail for scenic views but rather a charming exploration of sub-alpine meadows and small lakes.
The trailhead is reached from Mallardy Road which takes off from the Mountain Loop highway just before the Red Bridge. The road climbs 7 miles, the first of which is paved. At the junction, take FS road 4032 which is in excellent shape. The road ends abruptly at the trailhead with no real parking or facilites. The first mile of the trail climbs up along the side of a mountain. It is overgrown and sloughing in some places. Then comes the delightful 2 miles of gentle ridge walking intersperced with charming meadows, small rivulets, and well graveled tread. Unfortunately the last mile up a steep ridge to Cutthroat Lakes is a murderous stretch. It begins after crossing the boulder field. The trail is deteriorated in many places, heavily overgrown, steep and rocky, and is interrupted by many blowdowns. Nevertheless it is doable and the rewards more than make up for the punishment. Cutthroat Lakes are a charming splatter of snow melt water holes surrounded by heather and glacier scraped rocks. It is a sub alpine wonderland to rival Gothic Basin or Rampart Ridge. The area is laced with trails and there are two small campsites. One could spend many hours exploring this charming place. On the way home, a stop at the Verlot Ranger Station is great for washing up in a heated and lighted restroom facility. The best coffee is at Happy Coffee in Granite Falls just across the street from the high school. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
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Nothing can be better than a September morning with clear blue skies, a favorite mountain trail, nob...
Nothing can be better than a September morning with clear blue skies, a favorite mountain trail, nobody else out there, and 37 degrees. The Snow Lake trail seems to get better every year as detritus fills in the cracks between rocks and volunteers add steps and drains along the way. It is very popular too. There were people still arriving up the trail at 4:30 in the afternoon!
Trail 1013 to Snow Lake is in good shape, no hinderances along the way as it gains 600 ft in 1.5 miles to the junction with Source Lake. The switchbacks up the Snow Lake saddle are clear and the trail down the other side to the lake and indeed to the log over the spillway are fine. Nice steps installed over the years have really made the ascent much easier. Several people were swimming in Snow Lake this afternoon. From the spillway to Gem Lake the trail is a bit rockier in places as it gains 800 ft. in 2 miles. The alpine terrain is beautiful. From Gem Lake to the top of Wright Mountain is another story. A narrow boot track leaves Gem Lake's NE shore to two nice campsites. From there the track is overgrown and blocked by a big nasty blowdown. People have circumvented this with a boot track. Atop the ridgeline the trail is rough but easy to follow. In places such as talus slopes, the cairns are well placed. The final ascent is a scramble up a boulder field. I cleared some of the young trees that blocked the trail but much more work could be done here. The summit of Wright Mountain is about 5500 ft elevation and offers stunning 360 views. South lies Gem & Snow Lakes and the Alpental valley. West is Chair Peak and the breathtaking pinnacle of Kaleetan. East is Thompson, Overcoat, and Hinman and to the north are a parade of Cascade peaks. The north side of Wright Mountain plunges steeply down to the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie and both Wildcat lakes are visible to the NW. The summit of Wright Mountain is 5.5 miles from the Alpenthal trailhead but certainly worth the effort. |
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North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
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Mt. Pilchuck is many things. It is 2200 ft. gain in 3 miles to a lookout cabin perched on a precari...
Mt. Pilchuck is many things. It is 2200 ft. gain in 3 miles to a lookout cabin perched on a precarious pinnacle. It is a spectacular viewpoint from Baker to Stuart, and Adams to the Olympics. It is close to Puget Sound and very accessible up a 7 mile road that is paved at its beginning and end but curiously, not in the middle. It is very popular even on weekdays. We encountered over 25 people on top, 20 more ascending as we descended and 8 more passed us.
Pilchuck is also a very rocky stony ankle twisty climb not suitable for dogs. The boulder fields are difficult for our four legged friends and the final 10 yard scramble to the lookout is impossible. We witnessed several animals tied up in the hot sun down below while their owners enjoyed views and lunch atop the lookout. There is no water on this trail except at the very beginning. The views are really stunning from the summit and inside the lookout are outlines of the views with the principle mountains named. The trail itself starts out through the woods with many turnpikes and wood steps. Some of the steps are lacking fill gravel so they are more "step over" than "step up". After the first mile, the trail is all laborious rock stepping. There are many orange posts to help guide the way which are particularly useful in winter when snow buries the tread. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Overgrown, Mudholes
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The trail from Mason Lake to Little Mason Lake is heavily overgrown and has several mucky mudholes. ...
The trail from Mason Lake to Little Mason Lake is heavily overgrown and has several mucky mudholes. It takes off from Mason Lake at the small rivulet and threads its way through dense brush and vegetation past a bog and a water lily pond before actually arriving at Little Mason Lake.
Too bad this trail is not maintained and campsites are not cleared at this lake because it is a beautiful small lake, hidden away from the hoards of hikers, and not hard to get to. Too bad also that there is not a connector from this lake to the Mt. Defiance tail just up the hill. I suppose that would lead to heavier use and spoil the charm and isolation of the place but it is a thought. It makes a nice winter destination as well when the Ira Spring trail is still passable. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
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Mt. Defiance can be reached from two directions. Most folks hike up the Ira Springs trail to Mason ...
Mt. Defiance can be reached from two directions. Most folks hike up the Ira Springs trail to Mason Lake and find the junction to Defiance to the left and Rainbow/Island/Pratt lakes to the right. The other, less used way is from Granite lakes behind Mailbox peak going up, then down, then back up to gain Defiance.
The trail from Mason Lake to the Defiance summit starts out in good shape. There is one large blowdown about 24" in diameter a short distance from the junction. The trail climbs and switchbacks steeply but not unreasonably up the spine of Defiance until it emerges onto the very steep and exposed south face of the mountain. This south face is 45 degrees straight up and blanketed in thick vegetation. The trail is barely 12" wide in some places and dusty. Not a good place if you have vertigo! The vegetation is tall enough to provide some comfort and reassurance. At the far west end of the slope is a junction. Left continues on a narrow boot track to Lake Thompson. Right climbs up this scary steep slope in a rocky, exposed, and harrowing boot path to the summit. There are a few reassuring trees along the way, but coming back down is a test of will power and balance. The views at the top make it all worth it. The rocks at the summit offer several stunning sitting spots from which to see 360 degrees. To the north, Baker and Glacier stand up tall. To the East are Kaleetan, Chair, Granite, and even Stuart. To the southeast are Bandera, Silver Peak, and many Alpine Lakes. Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams crown the south view with McClellan's Butte in the foreground. Considering the number of people climbing Mt. Defiance today, it is too bad that 100 yd stretch up here is not improved - for safety if nothing else. Sure it was Labor Day but even so, such a popular trail should be improved. Demonstrating the popularity of these trails - there were over 75 cars at the trailhead at 3:00 pm. I'm not making this up. I counted them. They filled the lot and hugged the sides of the road all the way back to Mason Creek. FS road 9031 is less potholed that usual because the logging operators apparently graded it. They left a lot of loose branches on the uphill side, however. There has been some heavy work on the lower Ira Spring trail. The washout at Mason Creek has been replaced by a heavy duty rock ford. Many trees along the sides of the road/trail have been cut and the tread smoothed. PS - the route-that-we-can't-talk-about to Mason Lake is in much better shape than ever. ;-) |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
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It is always a pleasure to hike along the PCT. The volunteers who care for it do a great job. Many...
It is always a pleasure to hike along the PCT. The volunteers who care for it do a great job. Many large blowdowns were cut and muddy tracks filled with chip rock. There is one nasty avalanche about a mile south of Ollalie Meadows. It is a tangle of trees, detritus, and frozen snow obliterating about 10 yards of trail. The volunteers have cut the blockages so it is easy to pass through, but it will be a mess to clean up.
The only other area that has always needed attention is the blue stone switchbacks about a mile and a half south of Ollalie Meadows. This is a rocky ankle twisting section that descends and rises again. The rocks are a beautiful blue color. The cairn marking the trail up to Silver Peak is very prominent and is assisted by a red ribbon. I did not go up far but the path appears to have deteriorated. Not so the PCT. Even the summer vegitation has not crowded it much. The PCT skirts the NE shore of Mirror Lake to the outlet. Then it follows the outlet a short way before plunging down to Twilight Lake and Yakima Pass. Just before it plunges, there is a very nice sitting/lunch spot overlooking the whole valley. I also explored the trail down to Cottonwood Lake. It is in good shape. Some people come to Mirror Lake via Cottonwood and Lost Lake on FS road 5480. From that trailhead to Mirror Lake is only a mile with a gain of 600 ft. I came from Ollalie Meadows which is reached by a washboarded potholed FS road 9070 from Hyak (exit 54 off I-90). This route is 3.5 miles to Mirror Lake on the PCT with a gain of only 700 ft. and a drop to the lake of 300. Final note: It is the end of August and salmon berries are just now getting ripe. No sign of huckleberries or blueberries. Mushrooms are coming up, however. I harvested aome nice boletes and a large cluster of sulpher shelf. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
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Beckler Peak is a sweet hike - good road access just outside of Skykomish, adequate parking lot with...
Beckler Peak is a sweet hike - good road access just outside of Skykomish, adequate parking lot with new outhouse, good trail with 2000 ft gain in 3.5 miles, and an outstanding 360 degree view from the peak with lots of nice rocks to sit upon.
The trail itself is on of the best designed, engineered, and executed trails in the Cascades. The first 1.5 miles is a former forest road, a bit boring and overgrown with soft vegetation in a few places. Once you reach the log jam, however, the real tread begins. The banks are well cut at 45 degree angles, and the tread has no birms, good mineral soil, and firm dry footing. A few drainages are filling up with detritus but they are well placed and will be more effective when cleared. There is one blowdown about 50 feet below the peak. It is old and rotten, about 12" in diameter, but long. Easy to step over. Lots of mushrooms dot the trail on the higher switchbacks in spite of the lack of rain. To get there exit highway 2 on forest road 6066 which is signed. Go under the power lines and look for the road going up to your right with a hiker sign on a tree. There are logging operations in the area and many side roads that don't go where you want to go. The total road length is about 6.5 miles. Only a few potholes but they are deep. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Overgrown
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They call it Paddy Go Easy "pass" but a pass is a way through the mountains, not over them. This "p...
They call it Paddy Go Easy "pass" but a pass is a way through the mountains, not over them. This "pass" is a stiff climb up over a ridge. This is a strenuous hike gaining 3000 ft in 3 miles. The views are spectacular as you emerge from the trees and cross open slopes. Down below is the Cle Elum valley with fish lake. Across the valley is Cathedral Rock and the masses of Mt. Daniels and Mt. Hinman. At the top of the pass is an equally stunning overview of French Creek.
The trail is rocky and largely exposed as it climbs steeply up to the pass. A WTA youth group was working on it as we from the Fireside Circle hiked up to bring them ice cream. They cleared all the blowdowns, did some nice brushing and drainage work, and built a very substantial wall to brace the trail up a steep slope. Wonderful work by WTA youth! At the pass we were greeted by a goat family that was almost too friendly. The parents got within 20 yards of us definitely looking for scraps or urine. The 12 mile road from the end of pavement to the trailhead is awful. Potholes you could sink a smart car in abounded and one water crossing that will challenge anything lower than a Subaru. That road really needs fixing. |
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South Cascades -- Mt. St. Helens
Overgrown, Bugs
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Our WTA weeklong work party camped at Vanson Lake and worked the Vanson Ridge and Peak trails. The ...
Our WTA weeklong work party camped at Vanson Lake and worked the Vanson Ridge and Peak trails. The ridge trail is completely cleared, brushed, tread widened, drainages cleaned or installed, and birms removed where advantageous. This trail is in great shape up to the ridge.
From the ridge to the peak we were able to get some tread and brushing done but the last 10 yards at the summit is densely overgrown. The views from the peak to Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams are stunning and the rocky outcrop is breathtaking - especially if you have vertigo! Some of our party made it to Dead Man Lake and noted that the lake has a very nice beach and good campsites. Others of us bushwhacked our way around Vanson Lake which proved difficult and not very rewarding. There are lots of newts, frogs, and toads in the area and the flies are vicious. One remaining problem is a clogged culvert on the trail between Vanson Lake and the junction to the Vanson Ridge trail. We cleared some of the debris but there is still alot of muck in there. |
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North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Wildflowers blooming
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Dickerman is a tough trail gaining 4000 ft in 4 miles. Yet the trail is in good shape, rocky and ro...
Dickerman is a tough trail gaining 4000 ft in 4 miles. Yet the trail is in good shape, rocky and rooty in some places but mostly smooth sailing. Starting from the trailhead the path climbs up 53 switchbacks just to get to the waterfall. The latter is just a trickle now but it marks approximately a bit less than the half way point up to the summit.
There are only 3 tiny patches of snow on the way which should disappear in a week and only one blowdown - an old dry weathered trunk about 7" in diameter up near the top. Just past the waterfall is a switchback through some rocks and one big rock has fallen on the trail. Other than these minor isolated inconveniences, the trail is fine. Dickerman is very popular. I met 3 people coming down already at 10:00 am and 4 more at the summit. I encountered several more groups on my way down. It was cloudy today but that made for a cool climb and a misty magical summit. Wildflowers abound after the waterfall but they are really abundant in their prime in the last bit up to the summit. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
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This is a wonderful short hike, 5 miles round trip, with two named lakes and a handful of smaller on...
This is a wonderful short hike, 5 miles round trip, with two named lakes and a handful of smaller ones and a gain of only 1300 ft. The trail gets steep in places, is rocky, and is facing encroaching vegetation. However, overall this trail provides a short access to the PCT and some nice lakefront destinations.
It is a bit tricky getting to the access road off of highway 2. There are cones set up, some quite close together. You must slalom to get to the outside lane to access the road to the trailhead. Conversely when leaving that road there is a concrete barrier running up the center of highway 2. You must turn right and hang a u-turn at the end of the concrete. The access road itself to the trailhead is in good shape and easy to follow. The trail to Hope Lake is a steady climb of 1.6 miles of uneventfull forest. It is overgrown in the open sections. There is one blowdown whose root system intrudes on the trail. At Hope Lake we took the PCT right up to Trap Pass. Along the way we met some thru hikers on their way to Canada. Returning to Hope Lake we took the PCT left to Mig Lake. There are pretty flowers in the open fields and the surrounds of both Hope and Mig lakes are worth exploring. This area is usually abundant in blueberries but this year they are barely even budding. Some nice 8" trout in Mig Lake feeding hungrily on insects close to the water. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Wildflowers blooming
Blowdowns
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Trails are in great condition. No snow and what little mud there is is drying up fast. All water cr...
Trails are in great condition. No snow and what little mud there is is drying up fast. All water crossings are easy and the only 2 blowdowns are on the short spur into Island Lake. The only floral display of any note is between Ollalie saddle and Rainbow Lake. The hike up to that point is totally forest. Note: Forest Road 9031 had barriers up saying it was closed for logging.
This is one of my favorite and always dependable trails. The trailhead is reached by FR 9030 which gains a lot of altitude in the car - a nice bonus. The road is in good shape. The trail starts out on an abandoned road, then winds its way gently up to Lake Talapus. Some good drainage work has been done on the Talapus outlet field. Climbing up past Talapus comes eventually to the Alpine Lakes sign and beyond that is the junction over the Ollalie outlet stream to the connector. The connector is a short path to the Pratt Lake trail. I usually do the Pratt Lake trail in winter. The inlet stream crossing then is tricky to foolish but today is a piece of cake. The junction at Ollalie Saddle is completely free of snow and it looks like the trail down to Pratt Lake is clear as well. I proceded along the ridge, admiring the stately trees and pretty flowers. Up through 5 sets of switchbacks and over a spur of Pratt Mountain brought me down into lake country. Rainbow and Island lakes are completely clear of ice. There are lots of wandering trails up there, many small lakes and ponds, and good campsites at Island Lake. The trail does go on to Mason Lake, Mt. Defiance, and Thompson Lake all the way down to the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie. That would make a nice cross country hike with cars at each end. Round trip with all the side spurs was about 11 miles. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
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This is a hugely popular trail. Even on a Tuesday there were hoards of people, kids, dogs, and seni...
This is a hugely popular trail. Even on a Tuesday there were hoards of people, kids, dogs, and seniors. The trail up through the ledges is solid and in good shape. There are several places where people have cut switchbacks or even created their own paths. Most disturbing was all the trash and especially tissue. There should be a sign next to the "mutt mits" dispenser that these are for humans, too.
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Blowdowns, Bugs, No water source
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The old trail up Mt. Si, including the complete Boulder Garden loop, is only a half mile shorter rou...
The old trail up Mt. Si, including the complete Boulder Garden loop, is only a half mile shorter round trip than the main trail but it is much steeper. Still, it is in remarkably good shape overall. It is completely dry and only 3 minor blowdowns. The old trail is much less used than the more popular main Si trail but even this morning I encountered 5 hikers coming up as I was coming down.
The old trail up Mt. Si is unmarked. To get there, hike up from the Little Si trailhead to the Boulder Garden loop trail. I like starting at the first entrance to the loop but others like the other end. Eventually you arrive at the high point of the loop where a couple of rock steps start up the old Si trail. There is a sign there for the loop but no mention of the old Si trail. The first half mile is rocky and rooty and then makes a sudden verticle leap up to an abandoned section of road. From there on up to the summit the trail switchbacks steeply back and forth on good packed mineral soil. There are a few portions along the way that are sloughing and need repair. Where this trail comes close to the main trail some thoughtless hikers used it for a latrine. Hold your nose and keep going. The old trail joins the main one close to the summit. The goats were out on the Haystack today and Haystack basin was full of flowers. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Blowdowns, Mudholes
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Annette Lake is an easy, relatively close, and very popular hike in the I-90 corridor. Round trip i...
Annette Lake is an easy, relatively close, and very popular hike in the I-90 corridor. Round trip is 7.5 miles with a gain of only 1400 ft. It was good that I hit the trail at 8:00 am because on the way down I passed at least 73 people and 15 dogs hiking up.
The trail is in good shape all the way to the lake. What snow remains is not worth checking the box. There are mudholes in the switchback area and up on the final approaches to the lake but in this heat they will dry up quickly. There are two big blowdowns on the trail, each just under 36" in diameter. The first is right after the second large talus slope. The second is closer to the lake and is cracked open which will make removal a bit creative. The other problem is the spillway bridge is broken and sunk into the water. Using the other logs and balanced with hiking poles it is possible to cross over to the west shore of the lake. Lots of nice campsites at Lake Annette. The lake is ice free and the cutthroat trout are plain to see at the spillway - about 8" long with bright red bellies. Some really nice handrails on the log bridges done by WTA on June 2 - if I do say so myself. :-) |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Snow on trail
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Granite Mountain is a good stiff workout, gaining 3800 ft in 4 miles. A huge avalanche last winter ...
Granite Mountain is a good stiff workout, gaining 3800 ft in 4 miles. A huge avalanche last winter left an impressive swath of destruction down the main avalanche chute but the trail crew did a very good job of repairing and clearing the upper trail. There is still a large snarl of trees, branches and debris down at the bottom which oompletely obliterates the first big switchback. Somebody flagged a route through the snarl to regain the trail further up but in my opinion that way is still far to dangerous to navigate. There is a detour which cuts through the woods. Somebody blocked up the downhill entrance, but I used it anyway. Nice waterfall created or revealed by the avalanche.
The trail is its usual steep rocky self up to the first big snowfield. Lots of people (including me) propelled straight up the snowfield and promptly found ourselves off trail and too far east. On the way down I flagged the continuation of the trail which is on the left side of the snowfield. At the next snowfield I put on gaiters and trax because from there it is snow all the way to the summit. By mid-morning the quality of the snow is mush for the first 4 inches and solid underneath. Lots of toil up to the first bowl and beginning of the ridgeline and lots of sliding on the way down. We all took the ridge route. The snow crown gets quite narrow in some places but with trax and poles I made it to the top. Great views up there when the clouds part. Beargrass and lupine are coming into their own and further down the bunchberries, false Solomon seal, and paintbrush are out. Thank you, trail crew, for cleaning up the upper trail from the avalanche! |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Mudholes, Water on trail, Snow on trail
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Trail 1054 climbs gently but steadily 1,300 ft from the trailhead to the ridgeline at 4800 ft. eleva...
Trail 1054 climbs gently but steadily 1,300 ft from the trailhead to the ridgeline at 4800 ft. elevation in 3.8 miles. The trail has a few lingering snow patches at the start and then is clear up to about 4000 ft. From that point it is all snow. There are a few openings for views at the ridgeline but one must travel further through the snow to find good viewpoints. We stopped at 4800 ft. and found a nice snow sit from which to see Monte Cristo.
The trail is full of fallen branches and twigs, muddy in some places, and there are 3 large blowdowns. Not much in the way of flowers. The Skykomish River is in full flood and quite spectacular from the bridge. This trail is loaded with blueberries in the fall, up further on the ridgeline. To get there take the Beckler River road from highway 2 just east of Skykomish. This turns into a potholed road 65 up over Jack Pass and down to Road 63. Up road 63 past the Blanca Lake junction and continue to the road's end. Three trails take off from the large parking lot - West Cady, Quartz Creek, and Dishpan Gap |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Blowdowns, Snow on trail
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Trail is clean and dry all the way to the Bandera ridgeline. Looks like a lot of snow yet on the no...
Trail is clean and dry all the way to the Bandera ridgeline. Looks like a lot of snow yet on the north side of Bandera. Mt. Defiance south face also has lots of snow on it yet. Mason Lake is melting out fast and the water is really cascading down Mason Creek in volume.
Over the ridge the path down to Mason Lake is reasonably clear coming down and then dirty salt & pepper snow to the spillway. Snow is thinning out rapidly and the trail is easy. Two blowdowns on the way to the spillway are easily passed but will be a nuisance once they are fully exposed. A number of rocks have fallen onto the upper trail, most between 12 and 18 inches in diameter but there are two big ones. One is between switchback 4 and the Bandera/Mason junction. The other is between the junction and the ridge on the way to Mason Lake. Some really good drainage work has been done on the lower trail. Not too many flowers yet. After the Mason Lake spillway the trail is pretty clear to the big rocks which offer a great place for lunch with good views and dry seating. Beyond that is still all snow hiding the trails. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Blowdowns
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WTA is doing a major piece of work converting this trail to ADA accessibility. There is constructio...
WTA is doing a major piece of work converting this trail to ADA accessibility. There is construction going on at the bridge right at the trailhead. Further on there is a huge blowdown that we are clearing out. This is a short, easy one mile trail in to see the waterfalls which are running quite high now. Lots of people, dogs, and kids on the trail today.
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Wildflowers blooming
Snow on trail
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What a sweet trail and lots of flowers! To get there take exit 70 off of I-90, cross over I-90 to W...
What a sweet trail and lots of flowers! To get there take exit 70 off of I-90, cross over I-90 to West Sparks Road and follow that to Kachess Dam Road (FS4818). From there it is about a mile to a turnoff on the right. There are some papers tacked to a tree at the junction but no sign. The road to the trailhead is not really all that bad. It is single lane but has turnouts. Not a whole lot of parking at the trailhead and no facilities. The trailhead sign reads trails 1325 and 1212.
Trail #1212 goes down to a large campground on Silver Creek. Proceed left and cross a footbridge just below a small dam. From there the trail climbs a bruising 1000 ft in just .8 of a mile to Easton Ridge and then another aggressive 1000 ft in 2 miles to the top of the ridge. Trail #1325 heads north up a steep incline then moderates up through some generous switchbacks 1.9 miles to a junction. The tread is broad and free of rocks and roots. At every clearing the flowers are abundant. The junction is just past a small talus slope and is marked by a small cairn. Go right to Beacon Point which is a steep .9 mile climb up a mostly bare slope covered with flowers. The track is adequate but goes straight up in some places - definitely in the Kamikazi or Mailbox class. Great views up on top with good rocks to sit upon. The left trail from the junction is marked with branches across it for no particular reason. This trail goes up the Silver Creek valley to West Peak, Thorp, and eventually along No Name Ridge, 10 miles one way. It is worth following for a short half mile to the waterfalls but from there it is dirty salt & pepper snow through the forest. Not much to see beyond the falls. When the snow melts, a couple of blowdowns will become evident. |
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Eastern Washington -- Yakima
Wildflowers blooming
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Robinson-Ainsley Canyon is a fun, easy hike with lots of flowers, a cabin, and even a loop route. I...
Robinson-Ainsley Canyon is a fun, easy hike with lots of flowers, a cabin, and even a loop route. It gains only 1000 feet over 10 miles and with the shade of the trees and a little canyon breeze, it is a great hike spring, summer, and fall.
There are lots of trail spurs, abandoned roads, and game trails so here is the route for a nice loop hike. The trailhead is a fenced dirt road with a few informational signs. Be sure to fasten the gate after you pass through. The first part of the trail is a roadbed which passes over Robinson Creek on a culvert. At the roadblock formed by large boulders it is possible to go up the road to the right to hike along the top of the basalt ridge. To the left another road goes off somewhere. The Robinson Canyon trail is straight ahead through the roadblock. In a half mile the trail leaves the roadbed and recrosses Robinson Creek. A few steps beyond is a junction. Left skirts the contours and eventually ends up at the "somewhere road" I think. Right continues up the canyon. Note the basalt ramparts on the ridgeline across the canyon. At the next junction, left goes up Ainsley Canyon and right continues up Robinson Canyon. We went left. Ainsley Canyon is little more than a woodsy wrinkle in the landscape. The trail is a bit overgrown. At the next junction we turned right and went up a gentle trail that took us over the crown of the ridgeline to a watering hole set in among the pines. Big, expansive views, many flowers and sage, and mesquite brush full of tent caterpillars. Continue around the watering hole to a beautiful large meadow of grass that waves in the breeze like water. There is a stone cabin there on the opposite side of the meadow which in former days was the center of a hog farm. We met a Fish & Wildlife biologist out there who explained that all the blue markings on the trees indicate the ones that would be spared when the logging company clearcut the rest. Timber prices fell and the logging didn't happen so there are lots of blue trees (girls have to make up their own pink trees). The biologist was spreading live beetles in the meadow to combat a certain noxious weed. From the cabin go north to find a roadbed that goes back over the ridge and down in to Robinson Canyon. There is a side trail off this road that is easy to see that rejoins the Robinson trail. It is a pleasant walk back to the car from there. Lupine abound but there are many other flowers as well, including paintbrush, yarrow, sweetpea, daisies, and even wild iris. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Wildflowers blooming
Blowdowns, Overgrown, Washouts
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Index Town Wall is a wonderful short early season snow free hike but it is every bit as strenuous as...
Index Town Wall is a wonderful short early season snow free hike but it is every bit as strenuous as hikenwineguy described in his trip report. The trail is steep and narrow and getting overgrown on the lower levels. There are several blowdowns that are easily stepped over and my hiking partner and I cut and cleared a good many. There are 3 junctions. The first two are pretty clear as one fork is blocked off. Also look for the blue diamonds high up on the trees. The 3rd junction is right in the face of a rock cliff. Look for a pink ribbon high up to your left. That's the way to go.
This is a great time to climb this trail. The new growth is just budding, the little ferns are uncurling, and fresh green sprouts are poking up in all their healthy hopeful exhuberance. The flowers are tiny but very nice - starflower, bleeding heart, honeysuckle, and delicious miner's lettuce. This lettuce here is sweet and bursting with chorophyll, not bitter or acidic like some. At the top of the ridge there is a wire fence across a rivulet. Turn left to follow an abandoned road through beautiful forest carpeted with fresh green mosses. Turn right and go up the rivulet to the viewpoints. On a clear day Mt. Baring, Mt. Index, Merchant Peak, and Perseus Mountain are all in their glory and today was special because they still had their snow. After a knee punishing climb down, enjoy a delicious coffee at the Espresso Chalet just up highway 2 from the junction into Index. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Snow on trail
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The Pratt Lake trail from the Granite Mountain trailhead is one of my favorites. It is a gentle, st...
The Pratt Lake trail from the Granite Mountain trailhead is one of my favorites. It is a gentle, steady incline that skirts through the woods, crosses cascading creeks, and links up to the Talapus-Ollalie connector trail. However, a huge avalanche down Granite Mountain this winter has completely wiped out the switchbacks that reach out into the main avalanche chute. A rough & ready boot track detours around the first wiped out switchback and connects up with the trail higher up the mountain. From there the trail is clean and clear to the junction with the Pratt Lake trail.
Many people were going up Granite Mountain and I don't know how far they got but friends reported from an attempt on May 12 that the snow was slushy awful up higher and they turned around. Today we turned left at the junction and enjoyed a sweet effortless hike up to the puncheons. That's where the snow begins. The puncheons are difficult right now because of remaining narrow snow crowns on the wood, yet going around them risks punching through into a snow cave undercut by the running water. It's all salt & pepper snow at the junction with the Talapus-Ollalie connector. We took the connector to the Ollalie stream crossing but judged it too dangerous to cross. The snow was banked straight up on either side about 5 feet and the water was running high over the log. We took the other trail up around Ollalie Lake. There are tracks to follow but it is wise to mark your way with sticks as well because the deep snow all looks the same under the trees. We got up to the northeast corner of the Ollalie basin where we had to stop because of a deep ravine. The snow there has been cut through straight down 12 feet on each side by running water. This is the case every winter. This would be a good place for a bridge. All in all it was a good hike and lots of people were out on the trails - about half of them totally unequipped for conditions. It's all snow from |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Water on trail, Snow on trail
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Lots of snow and it is the mushy melting kind, at least when the temperature is in the 60's and 70's...
Lots of snow and it is the mushy melting kind, at least when the temperature is in the 60's and 70's. Up until the snow, the trail is generally its stony self climbing relentlessly to the first junction with the little wood sign on the tree at about 1.5 miles. From there to the Owl Lookout the trail is in a little better shape. Patches of snow begin at the second junction between the Mt. Washington trail and the Great Wall trail. Snow starts in earnest after the two water crossings.
At this point I put on my trax and gaiters. Snowshoes would have been appropriate as well. The path through the snow is well tramped down up to the scree field. From there folks have kick stepped straight up to meet the trail above. Once the road is reached, most hikers have kick stepped their way straight up to the peak. We did, but chose not to come down that way. It was tricky in any event to make our way down the snow slopes which were rapidly melting in the afternoon sun. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Blowdowns
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Twin Falls is a great little 4 mile round trip close in with only 500' gain. Access via exit 34 off...
Twin Falls is a great little 4 mile round trip close in with only 500' gain. Access via exit 34 off of I-90 is well signed all the way to the trailhead. The tread itself is broad and in good repair except for 3 blowdowns above the upper falls. The middle blowdown is tagged with an orange ribbon and the east blowdown is an easy step over. The west blowdown is 18-20 inches in diameter. People have been clambering around the root ball through the brush to get around it. Access to the lower falls is closed due to damage from falling trees.
In spite of being right next to the interstate with all the traffic noise, this trail does offer some nice highlights. A lot of work has gone into it in the past 10 years. There are the two waterfalls, a very impressive bridge over the river between them, many access spurs down to the water from the trail, benches to sit on, and several nice viewing spots. The trail comes out on the John Wayne trail just a few hundred feet from the beginning of the Mt. Washington trail. |
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Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
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Anacortes is blessed with a wonderful network of forested trails and lakes which form the Anacortes ...
Anacortes is blessed with a wonderful network of forested trails and lakes which form the Anacortes Community Forest Lands. The trails are well maintained, well signed, and heavily used. This is a great place to hike in spring when the mountains are still under snow.
Whistle Lake is tricky to get to. A map is highly recommended. A good series of maps are available at the Lake Erie Store on Heart Lake Road for $10. For Whistle Lake the general direction is to approach Anacortes on highway 20 to the roundabout and go south on Commerce Road aka "O" Avenue. This eventually gets to Whistle Lake Terrace road which has a signed spur off to the right to the trailhead. Today we explored the eastern trails. Each little section is numbered. We took 218, 219, and 29 to get to the lake. Then we circled the lake on 205, 22, 21, and 204. There are some very nice senic lunch spots along the north shores of the lake. Along the way we were greeted by two eagles including a beautiful mature bald eagle. We also met an otter having her own lunch out in the water. Our total distance was only 4.39 miles. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Snow on trail
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Heybrook Lookout is a short little hike with good views from the fire lookout at the top. It is eas...
Heybrook Lookout is a short little hike with good views from the fire lookout at the top. It is easy to get to and a favorite in the mushy questionable season of spring when forest roads are still full of snow. It's only about a mile and a half from the trailhead and gains about 1000 feet. Views include Index and Baring mountains which are gorgeous right now in thick mantles of snow.
There are patches of snow barely an inch deep and melting fast for most of the trail which means some muddy places and some water flowing on the trail. On the forest roads emanating from the watchtower the snow can be 3 to 4 inches deep but we did not use gaiters or trax. There is a blowdown about 100 yards from the trailhead and another up near the power lines. To get there go about a mile past the Espresso Chalet at Index on highway 2 and pull off at the wide shoulder where the trail signs indicate. Afterwards enjoy the best espresso you ever had at the Espresso Chalet. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
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Main trail up Mt. Si was bone dry today all the way up to the steps through the rocks to the Haystac...
Main trail up Mt. Si was bone dry today all the way up to the steps through the rocks to the Haystack basin. That won't last, however, as a big storm front is moving in tonight. There are no drainage, blowdown, or water/mud issues on the trail. It is in super shape and lots of people were out on it. It was like Macy's after Thanksgiving.
At the basin was a little bit of snow but I did not need gaiters or trax. On the way down I took the Talus Loop trail. What a pretty little diversion! The loop is well signed at both ends. It carves a path east of the main trail across a talus field which has a very nicely built wall. It is only 1.3 miles and adds maybe a half mile to the overall hike, but it offers a bit of solitude from the crowds. It is not much used but it is in good condition and the few blowdowns are far enough overhead that they are easily ducked under. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Water on trail, Snow on trail
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My last trip report of the year. We wanted to hike the West Fork Foss trail at least to see the new...
My last trip report of the year. We wanted to hike the West Fork Foss trail at least to see the new bridge, but the snow was too deep and slippery for the car beginning at the Tonga Ridge turnoff. So we parked there and hiked up the road. The snow on the road was 4-6" deep. Off under the trees it was less. We got to the concrete ford in the road and found the water rushing fast and deep and our boots would have soaked. So we hiked back down the road to the East Fork Foss trailhead.
What a gem the East Fork Foss trail is! Barely a half to full inch of snow, steady even path, a couple of blowdowns but nothing serious. Gaiters and poles were all we used. No snowshoes or even trax. Lots of rivulets gushing across and down the path. Some drainage work is needed. We went about a mile in, then our need for coffee brought us back to the car and on to Index for Espresso Chalet. Great way to end the year. |
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North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Snow on trail
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This trail is still clear and mostly snow free. The main avalanche slope is bare of snow. At the l...
This trail is still clear and mostly snow free. The main avalanche slope is bare of snow. At the lake, the snow is 2-3 foot deep but the trail all the way around the lake is well stomped down and easy to follow. The snow off trail is well condensed and frozen in place. It's not going anywhere.
The parking lot is clear and the first 2 miles of trail are in good shape and easy to travel. Where there is a few patches of snow, it is packed down and slippery. We put on trax only within a quarter mile of the lake. Snowshoes and gaiters were unnecessary - in fact I was in shorts! This is a fine winter hike unless an avalanche warning is posted. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Clogged drainage, Washouts, Water on trail, Snow on trail
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Sunset mine was one of the most productive and profitable mines in the Cascades, back in the day. T...
Sunset mine was one of the most productive and profitable mines in the Cascades, back in the day. They hauled out tons of copper and silver here. It is a good low altitude hike and probably a great snowshoe route. It gains only 1400 ft. in 4 miles and there is a pleasant camp/turnaround at a waterfall at the end.
The abandoned road starts from the Index-Galena road just shy of the road closure. The well graded and rip rap coated road is generously blanketed in wet leaves right now. This hides potential missteps but in general is a soft tread. There is a washout right after the first turn which probably will completely go this winter. The road climbs steadily past a huge boulder to a junction. Go left up a really rocky nasty abandoned road up Iron Mountain. Go right up a wet but generally gentle road to the mine. All that is left of the mine is a series of retaining walls and a drain that look sorta like Maya ruins. There is a bridge over Trout Creek just beyond the mine but not much of a path appears to go on beyond it. From the bridge the trail climbs another two miles through rivulets, snow, and leaves to the final waterfall. Along the way is a major washout, many blowdowns, and lots of running water on the trail. At the final waterfall is a camp of sorts with tarps, cable, and a fire pit. There are strange plastic vials with liquid hanging from the trees here. A bit of a view from here to the snow capped mountains on the other side of the valley. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Snow on trail
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Beckler Peak is a 4 star hike! It is 7 miles round trip on a broad, well engineered trail with gent...
Beckler Peak is a 4 star hike! It is 7 miles round trip on a broad, well engineered trail with gentle grade, and magnificent views at the top. The trailhead has been vastly improved since I hiked it last July. There is a brand new outhouse, signs, and a graded parking lot. Improvements have been made on the trail as well.
To get there, take FS6066 at mile marker 52 on highway 2. There is a sign. Follow the bumpy, potholed and sometimes muddy road 7 miles up hairpin switchbacks to the trailhead. The trail itself follows an abandoned road east for a mile away from Beckler, then returns west for a mile until it arrives at the saddle. This road/trail is overgrown enough that it feels more like trail than road so it is not unpleasant. At the saddle, the trail takes off to the left. Note the abandoned cabin there with its old iron stove. The trail climbs gradually up the south face of Beckler, with occasional well made switchbacks, to the ridgeline. By now the whole thing is covered in snow but when we went on the 10th the snow on the ridgeline was only about 6". The path continues up the south face to the final assault on the peak. Here the switchbacks are closer together, steeper, and assisted by stone steps. There is a 12" diameter blowdown on this final stretch to the peak but it is easily stepped over. The summit presents marvelous 360 degree views and has nice rocks to sit upon. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Blowdowns, Clogged drainage, Snow on trail
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This is a tough trail, climbing 3600 feet in 4.6 miles - and the first two miles aren't really serio...
This is a tough trail, climbing 3600 feet in 4.6 miles - and the first two miles aren't really serious about altitude gain. The second two miles climb steep and steady, averaging 25-35% grade and even getting to 40% in places. The good part is that the tread is mostly smooth and unencumbered by rocks and roots. There are many strong, well constructed switchbacks and there is even graveled tread on the lower parts of the trail.
There are 4 blowdowns which are easy to walk over or under but which could stand clearing. It's the drainages that need the most attention. Many are filled with twigs and detritus and will need clearing next spring. The snow above 3000 is just a dusting right now but with thaw and freeze, it makes some spots slippery. It took me 3.5 hours up and 2.75 hours down. The view from the top at which most of us stop is either up or down the 1-90 corridor. If you are a spider with climbing gear and lots of technical experience, you might try the ascent up Perilous Rock, the pinnacle of McClellan Butte. My life insurance has an exclusion for climbing slippery loose rocks with 2,000 vertical cliffs on three sides. For myself the most precious part of this hike is the very beginning early in the morning when the sunbeams stream through the tall black trees. It's magic. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
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This hike is a tree huggers paradise. Magnificent stands of Hemlock and Douglas fir soar into the s...
This hike is a tree huggers paradise. Magnificent stands of Hemlock and Douglas fir soar into the sky, alive and healthy. Great trunks 6 to 10 feet in diameter tower over a gentle forest floor of moss, huckleberries, and devil's club. Clusters of mushrooms peek out from under the brush at the side of the road and along the route if you know how to spot them. No problem spotting the sulpher shelf fungus, however, flaming red from the side of a log.
This is a very easy well maintained trail that eventually arrives at Dishpan Gap and the PCT. To get there take Beckler Road off Highway 2 just east of Skykomish. The road is clear and if you can avoid the strings of deep potholes, you should arrive up and over Jack's Pass and down to FR #65. This road is better. It goes past Blanca Lake to the trailhead, some 20 miles in from Skykomish. There are three trails here - Quartz Creek, West Cady Ridge, and Dishpan Gap. Nice new outhouse, too. The trail starts up a former road for 1.3 miles before coming to an old wooden loading dock. Go left and in a few steps enter a magnificent forest. There are extensive puncheons here with rotten guide rails. Another 1.5 miles comes to a junction with the Pass Creek trail that crosses the river and goes up to Cady Pass. The river is flowing pretty good right now and we deemed it would be a very chilly ankle twisting challenge for ford through. The water is swift and 2-3 ft. deep in places. No long range scenery on this hike but if you like forest, this is it. Very easy, too, with little elevation gain and good tread. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Fall foliage
Mudholes
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This is one of my favorite trails and it did not disappoint today. Contrary to rumors, FR 9030 is c...
This is one of my favorite trails and it did not disappoint today. Contrary to rumors, FR 9030 is clear and in good shape. FR 9031 has some logging activity going on and this may cause delays driving to the trailhead, but it is very passable as well. Trail 1039 climbs 400 feet through quiet forest to Lake Talapus with no obstructions and a nice soft tread of evergreen needles and duff. Where the trail crosses the outflow basin of the lake, there are lots of mudholes. This would be a good place for turnpikes.
From Talapus the trail gains another 400 ft in half a mile to a junction. Go left to the shores of Lake Ollalie. Go right across the stream to the connector to the Pratt Lake trail #1007. This trail is also in very good shape, gently gaining 600 ft. to the Ollalie Saddle. Here it follows the ridgeline over a spur of Pratt Mountain to Island, Rainbow, and eventually Mason Lakes. This ridgeline portion is one of the most charming parts of the trail. Moss draped trees rise from sunlit carpets of bright green moss, dappled with sunlight and contrasted with the blazing autumn vine maples beyond. On the saddle is also the junction down into the Pratt Lake basin. Here some good work has been done on the trail and it is clear at least to the boulder slope where I admired the bright colors of autumn and dominate Kaleetan Peak before turning around. My total distance was 8 miles roundtrip. |
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Mt. Rainier -- NE - Sunrise / White River
Snow on trail
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The ranger at Mt. Rainier White River station said WTA did incredible work over 4 seasons to reroute...
The ranger at Mt. Rainier White River station said WTA did incredible work over 4 seasons to reroute and improve this trail and the result is very evident. Sturdy rock walls, wide smooth tread, solid bridges, well crafted water bars. WTA's work on this trail made today's hike a real pleasure.
The old Glacier Basin trail used to run lower on the slope and was constantly washed out by the river. The new trail skirts the slope from 30 to 50 feet up. From the trailhead at White River campground the trail climbs 1800 ft in 3.5 miles. The grade is gentle and there are no obstructions. Snow starts in earnest after the junction with the Burroughs Mountain trail and gets 4 to 6 inches at the basin. We left Seattle at 6:00 am and arrived at the trailhead about 8:30. It poured rain but was letting up by the time we arrived. After a mile, the sun came out, melted snow bombs off the trees, and burned away the clouds. By the time we reached the Basin, we had bright blue sky, warm sun, cold winds, and an absolutely spectacular view of Mt. Rainier, St. Elmo Pass, and Little Tahoma. There are 6 or 7 campsites at the basin and ample water in the nearby pond. It was so beautiful we wanted to keep on going right up to Camp Schurman! The road to Sunrise was closed due to snow and it is scheduled to close for the winter on Oct. 10. Access to Tamanos Creek and Frying Pan Creek trails is still open. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Ripe berries
Mudholes, Bugs
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Huckleberries! Even Salmon berries. The Surprise Creek trail skirts and switchbacks up a ridgeline...
Huckleberries! Even Salmon berries. The Surprise Creek trail skirts and switchbacks up a ridgeline that has plenty of seeps to enourage berry growth. The trail is in good shape. There is a nice new log bridge with improved approaches and many thanks to the crew that did the good brushing job through the bracken.
This is not the easiest trail to find. An unmarked exit off Highway 2 just before it ascends Stevens Pass leads to a railroad yard. Usually there are yellow trucks and equipment there. Cross over 3 sets of tracks and follow a rocky bumpy road to the right for a couple hundred yards. There is an official trailhead here with picnic table and limited parking. Climb up the rocky road under the power lines to find a new sign pointing to Surprise Lake. The trail gently climbs 2 miles through lush forest on many puncheons and stairs. Cross the log bridge and climb a bit more briskly through boulder fields, bracken slopes, and forest. Then come many switchbacks along which are the berries. At a signed junction with the Trap Lake trail, turn right to Surprise Lake. On a promontory are some very nice sitting rocks for lunch. The trail continues, however,up another 400 feet to the junction with the PCT. Go right and find Glacier Lake which also has big rocks on the shore. The whole distance is 10 miles round trip with an overall gain of 2800 ft. The lake shores are pretty buggy and there are a few mudholes on the PCT but for the greater part, this trail is in good shape. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Overgrown, Bugs
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The good news is that the contractor is even now building the bridge. The other news is that it pro...
The good news is that the contractor is even now building the bridge. The other news is that it probably will not be completed until November. The West Foss trail to Trout, Malachite, Copper, and Little and Big Heart lakes is one of the favorite backpacking hikes off of Highway 2. The problem is that back in 2006 the beginning of the trail was wiped out by flooding and the river crossing as well.
WTA has been key in rebuilding a new trail to a new bridgehead over the West Foss River. The new trail is wonderful. About a half mile in there is a junction. To the left is the path up to the new bridge, marked with a "no public access" sign. We went up there anyway and talked with the contractor. Beams and bridging are staged and work on the span is in progress. To the right is a flag marked path over stony cobbles to a log crossing which is now quite safe since the water level has dropped. From there to Trout Lake is pretty brushy with several big blowdowns which are easily ducked under. From the Foss Avalanche to Trout Lake the trail is really nice and shows signs of recent improvements. Along the way, note the Mother of all Douglas Firs - a huge tree with a base as big around as an SUV. Beyond the lake, the trail is alternately stony, overgrown, and in a few places, decent. It curves around the mountain on the right through the first of 20 switchbacks. These climb steeply and steadily up over stones, through thick brush, and occasionally decent trail up the canyon to a bridge. Look for scenic views of the spectacular waterfall on the canyon wall opposite. After the bridge the trail climbs to a pleasant bowl, then more switchbacks to a signed junction. To the right is a steep but short trail up to Malachite Lake which reportedly still has snow down to the waterline in places. There is a big cluster of pinesaps at the junction. To the left is the way to Copper Lake. Copper Lake has many nice campsites, big rocks on the water on which to sit and enjoy the view, and box toilets. It also has several very nasty blowdowns with branches and mess that discourage further exploration. Backpackers we met were going on to Big Heart Lake which reportedly still has some snow. We ate the few salmon berries along the way. Some huckleberries are out already and a few mushrooms are beginning to show. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
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Snow Lake is one of the most popular destinations in the Cascades so I made sure not to go on Labor ...
Snow Lake is one of the most popular destinations in the Cascades so I made sure not to go on Labor Day and to arrive at the trailhead no later than 7:30 am. WTA and other groups do annual maintenance and improvements to this trail and it shows. The logs are cleared, the brush is knocked back, drains are dug and cleared, and new steps and tread improvements are always being made. WTA in particular did a great job in August because another hiker I met said that in July the trail was a mess. There is even a new dual outhouse this year. Unfortunately the crowds on Labor day overflowed the dumpsters and left a lot of trash on the floor.
The trailhead is at the end of the Alpental road. It climbs immediately up a nice set of stairs and then gracefully crosses meadows and woods 1.5 miles to the junction with the Source Lake trail. To the right, it climbs up briskly up .5 miles through 9 switchbacks to a saddle overlooking Snow Lake. This section is pretty exposed to the sun and this afternoon it was 83F. Down at the lake are the remains of an old cabin and several camping spots. On the eastern shore of Gem Lake is a boot track that benefits greatly from the clearing I did on it last year. However, now a very nasty clutter of blowdowns blocks the way requiring a little bushwhacking detour. From there it is a half mile to the summit of Wright Mountain following an intermittant track marked sometimes by cairns, sometimes by tread. The last 100' is a boulder scramble. But it is worth it. The summit of Wright Mountain is bare talus with good sitting stones and 360 views. Baker, Glacier, Daniels, Hinman, Overcoat, Thompson, and Snoqualmie peaks are all in view. Then you turn around and see Kaleetan spiking the sky like a knife, and a glorious view back to Snow and Gem lakes. The whole Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River lies below all the way to Dutch Miller Gap. From trailhead to summit is about 5.75 miles, gaining with all the ups and downs about 3000 feet. A good workout, stunning views, and a good tread for the most part. From the Snow Lake spillway to Gem Lake is 2 miles. There are some rocky sections but still the trail is in great shape. Some folks were going to camp at the lake and there are at least 3 very nice campsites. Others were pushing on and down to Lower Wildcat Lake which is a steep 2 miles and 1000' down from Gem Lake. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
Blowdowns
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The trail up Beverly Creek is a sweet 8 mile round trip that gains only 2200' up a gentle, well grad...
The trail up Beverly Creek is a sweet 8 mile round trip that gains only 2200' up a gentle, well graded path. Most of the flowers are past their prime except at the very top and the dry, crisp breezes of autumn are already in the air, but the trail loses none of the exhilaration of being out in the mountains on a great day.
Beverly Creek trailhead starts at the end of a dirt road deeply bisected by at least 8 axle-scraping drainage swales. Across the bridge the trail goes a half mile to the junction with the Bean Creek trail. Beverly Turnpike goes left and steadily up through peaceful pine forest, switchbacks up through open prarie dotted with trees and fading flowers, and then crosses a large talus slope. There are two blowdowns easily crossed and otherwise the trail is in fine shape. Finally at 2.7 miles, the trail comes to a junction. This is a classic embarassment of riches. To the right, the trail ascends to the boundary line trail, a delightful ridge walk that connects to many other Teanaway trails. This opens many possibilities for loop hikes or two-car traverses. To the left, the trail ascends gently up through a beautiful valley to Iron Peak pass or Turnpike Creek pass. A WTA crew was completing a sturdy heavy duty puncheon there as we passed. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
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It's a bit of a workout, but Mt. Washington's trail is well engineered and the summit has wonderful ...
It's a bit of a workout, but Mt. Washington's trail is well engineered and the summit has wonderful views. The trail is completely clear and dry, the bugs aren't bad, and there are still salmon berries ripening in several places due to the late summer. There are even patches of miners lettuce up near the summit.
The trailhead is off I-90 at exit 38. A right turn from the off ramp and then another quick right turn arrives in an ample parking lot with clean outhouse. The trail starts right up at a brisk gain to the John Wayne road-trail. Go west along the road, past the junction to a sign about keeping dogs on a leash. There is a reflector on the post that beams back to a spy camera attached to a tree. This is probably a simple counter but maybe it is the NSA? Anyway just 10 yards beyond this sign is an unmarked trail off to the left. This is the Mt. Washington trail. The trail climbs briskly up a stony tread through several switchbacks. Pass a dry waterfall and a cave used by climbers to a junction. Here is the first directional sign. A blocked trail to the left follows the contour. My friend and I explored it for a mile on a previous occasion. It's easy but boring. The sign says to go right which continues at a more level pace and friendlier dirt tread to a nice lookout. Beyond that is the next junction. Left bushwhacks through the underbrush to a nice road which climbs around an adjacent mountain and eventually arrives at The Great Wall. This is an impressive ridge connected this mountain to Mt. Washington, 40' wide and 200 yds long. It's a valid route to the Mt. Washington summit even if it adds a mile or two to the journey. A right turn at the junction charges into the brush, across a stream and up a very stony trail. This switchbacks to the stream and through a heavily overgrown section. Once past this, the trail improves remarkably. It gains up to a washed out road, sharp left through another switchback, through a horse barrier and on to the newer trail. This section climbs aggressively through rock piles and trees but is very well engineered. It finally emerges at the summit where a small floral display competes with a magnificent view of Mt. Rainier. The summit itself has a nice rock to sit upon, a weather station, and an interesting little flat place in a cluster of trees that somebody might use to pitch a tent. There is still ample water along the route up to the newer trail. Gain is 3000' in 4.5 miles. I did it in 2 hours, 15 minutes and had the trail all to myself - and three frogs. Sighting frogs on a mountain trail is great good luck. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Wildflowers blooming
Blowdowns
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Scorpion Mountain possesses one of the most brillant and prolific floral displays in the Cascades. ...
Scorpion Mountain possesses one of the most brillant and prolific floral displays in the Cascades. It's broad, steep, open meadow facing south is in perfect position to encourage and show off a dazzling array of mountain wildflowers and it does so with abandon.
The trail itself offers many other attractive features: 1. A well graded road takes you all the way up to 3600' in your car. You get to alpine bliss without working too hard for it. 2. Two miles of gently rising ridge walk through cool, dreamy forest. This is a welcome treat after a hot day of hiking. 3. Some stiff climbing over Sunrise Mountain and again up Scorpion 4. Pretty meadows filled with glacier lilies, heather, and blueberries. 5. Snow. Yep, this year several of the meadows still have snowpack in August. 6. Breathtaking 360 degree views from Glacier Peak to Mount Rainier. Visible are Fenrow, Pugh, White Chuck, Stuart, Daniels, Hinman, Rock Mountain and many more. 7. Did I mention the gorgeous flowers? The trail is in great shape. The snow patches are easy to cross without losing your way. There are 8 large blowdowns (sit upon and swing legs over) and 4 half blowdowns (tree snout in the trail but easy to walk around). The abandoned road up to the actual forest trail is brushy in spots but also festooned with penstamin and lupine. Lake Joan, 500' down below Scorpion's summit, is melting out but still has ice. Except for a few steep spots, you hardly really notice that you gain 2300' in and 300' out on this 9 mile round trip. |
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North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Wildflowers blooming
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Pass. noun, a narrow passage between mountians. Stujack does not qualify. It is a small notch 3700...
Pass. noun, a narrow passage between mountians. Stujack does not qualify. It is a small notch 3700 ft. above the trailhead that leads to nowhere. Yet it is a strong, challenging hike on a well engineered trail with far views and a stunning proliferation of wildflowers. It is 3.8 miles one way which is an indication of how agressively this trail climbs.
The trail consists of four parts. The first part is a long, steady climb through deep forest cutting diagonally across the very steep slope. The second is a series of looping switchbacks that eventually arrive at tiny Lake Metan. Next comes another series of generous switchbacks through more open trees with intensely bright green undergrowth. Because of the late snowfall, it is still spring up here on the mountain. This section of the trail continues to the much steeper and more challenging talus slope. Here the last vestiges of snow give way to rocky slopes and densely crowded floral spendor. The small notch called Stujack Pass at the top offers a few places to sit and views to the north when the fog lifts. Some hearty souls with technical training, stamina, and ice axes continued up another 2 miles and 1600 ft. to the summit of Mt. Pugh. Coming down from the notch can be scary on tired legs and weakened knees but overall the tread itself must receive high praise. It is a popular trail, judging by the number of people we met. To get there, go to Darrington and take the Mountain Loop Highway south. There is a nice, new shiny sign marking the road up to the trailhead. Parking is limited and there are no facilities. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
Wildflowers blooming
Blowdowns, Mudholes
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Meadows full of flowers. Butterflies so tame they land on your arm. A trail clear and dry with gen...
Meadows full of flowers. Butterflies so tame they land on your arm. A trail clear and dry with gentle grade and stunning finale. Blue sky and time to enjoy it all. What could be better?
Stafford Creek trail is a beautiful trail. It is an easy, clear, 12 miles round trip to Navaho Pass with 2900 ft. gain in 3 miles. This is a horse trail so the grade is gentle and the tread is wide. There are some rocky portions and one large blowdown about a mile from the trailhead, but otherwise this is a lovely trail. The avalanche is totally cleared. I made the 6 mile trek to the pass in 3 hours and returned in 2.25 hours. This trail, like all the trails in the Teanaways is best started no later than 8:30 am to gain the most altitude in the cool shade. The sun can be brutal and although there are still water courses along the route, it is important to bring plenty of water. To get there, exit I-90 at the Blewett Pass/Leavenworth exit and go to the Teanaway road. Up this road to the end of the pavement, take the right fork and procede on a very washboarded gravel road to the Stafford Creek junction. Right on this junction about 3 rocky, potholed miles over the second bridge to a parking lot with a good outhouse. The trail ascends gradually 4.8 miles to the junction with the Earl Peak trail. Take a right and several generous switchbacks later come to a delightful meadow full of flowers and alpine breezes. Beyond this is a fantastic moonscape of barren slope with alpine vistas. The final 100 yds are surreal until you top the ridge and behold the majesty of the Stuart range. From here it is possible to hike left to the Beverly Turnpike trail or right to the summit of Navaho Peak. Down from here you can hike to Ingalls Creek and out to Leavenworth (hopefully you have somebody to pick you up there). The Teanaways offer a multitude of wonderful hikes and loops for any interest. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Wildflowers blooming
Blowdowns, Mud/Rockslide, Mudholes
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The trail to Barclay Lake is short (2 miles), easy (only 200 ft. gain), and very pleasant. It has r...
The trail to Barclay Lake is short (2 miles), easy (only 200 ft. gain), and very pleasant. It has recently been brushed and cleared and is very popular. Lots of nice campsites next to the lake with stunning views of the soaring north face of Baring Mountain. Just beyond the campsites, the vegetation does encroach on the trail and there are a couple of blowdowns, but nothing insurmountable.
Eagle Lake, however, is another matter. It is a strenuous 1400' gain, most of which is in the first mile up from Barclay. If you really have to go there, cross the bridges at the far end of Barclay but stop just short of the last little water crossing. I put a triangle of three stones at the beginning to point it out. The first third of this route climbs steeply through forest with minimum underbrush. The path is barely discernable and intermittant. Flags on the trees are some help and the colorful clumps of coral root help take your mind off the pain. Near the top the trail is a bit more obvious as it approaches the rock slide. The middle third is the rock slide itself which is marked by flags and cairns. It is nasty, thickly overgrown in places, and very steep. At the top of this is another stiff climb over rocks through woods along the edge of another rock slide, but at least this portion is clear of underbrush. Finally you reach Stone Lake, a pleasant little pond nestled in the trees. From here a much nicer trail takes off to the left over a hump to Paradise Valley. This is a very pretty place and possibly good for autumn colors. Lots of blueberries just budding right now and shooting stars and marsh marigolds share the bogs and rivulets with the frogs. No real trail here. Cut across country, spotting faded flags if you can, with Merchant Peak as your goal. Eventually you will come to a forest with a clear trail. This leads to the shore of Eagle Lake, wonderful views, and nice campsites. There is no snow and the bugs were not too bad. There is a cabin at the lake but we did not get to it. Round trip is 9 miles. Eagle Lake and Paradise Valley are beautiful enough to justify at least a little improvement to the route to get to them. Even consistant, clear marking for a safe route would be very helpful. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Wildflowers blooming
Blowdowns, Overgrown, Mudholes, Water on trail
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Kelley Creek trail has deteriorated a lot since we last hiked it in Dec 2008. Then it was winter an...
Kelley Creek trail has deteriorated a lot since we last hiked it in Dec 2008. Then it was winter and the vegetation and bugs were already down. Today was not only the height of summer but many more blowdowns clogged the trail. O'Rogers was not exaggerating in his report July 24 about the massive logjam. It is truly impassible.
To get there, take the Old Cascade Highway off Highway 2 at milepost 55. At the junction, take FS 6710. There is a sign there for the Iron Goat Trail (which is a much better maintained and popular trail than Kelley Creek). Go past the outhouse for another mile and a half to a junction to your left that goes down and over a small bridge. The "trailhead" is a one stall spur to the left just over the bridge. The first mile of the Kelley Creek trail is an abandoned road choked with vegetation in some places and victim to an avalanche of blowdown and debris about 500 yards in. Once in the trees the trail threads its way up the slope, hindered by several large blowdowns and messy blowdown patches (several trees down with lots of branches). Barbella and I cleared as much as our little pruning saw, time and energy, allowed but there is much more to be done. The trail is faint, creeping downhill, with mudholes and the last vestiges of rotting puncheons in places. WTA did fix the stream crossings and the ravine rope has been replaced with a nice tread. At 3 miles, there is a gynormous blowdown of large logs which does indeed appear to be a quarter mile across. It is impassible. We tried to bushwhack directly upslope on the near side of the blowdown field but after a valiant effort and several hundred foot gain straight up, our progress was blocked again by more downed logs and underbrush. We and a hiker we met up there came to the prudent decision simultaneously that further effort would yield no rewards, so we turned around. Rumor has it that a new trail is planned from the Iron Goat trailhead at the outhouse to Kelley Creek. This would be okay if it cut directly across the Martin Creek valley and completely avoided old overgrown road that now constitutes the first mile of Kelley Creek. However, until the big log jam is cleared, Kelley Creek will still be a hike to nowhere. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Ripe berries
Blowdowns, Mudholes
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Salmonberry heaven! This trail is loaded with ripe salmonberries for the first mile. It is also lo...
Salmonberry heaven! This trail is loaded with ripe salmonberries for the first mile. It is also loaded with people - a huge number for a Friday morning. We even met 2 rangers from North Bend and we saw a frog - a lucky sign on the trail.
The Middle Fork road from North Bend to the Taylor River parking lot is in better shape than usual. Potholes abound but not as many. The road to Dingford Creek is closed for construction. There are no facilities at the Taylor Creek trailhead, which is called Snoqualmie Lake trailhead because if you go the full 6 miles and up a couple thousand feet, you can reach. The Taylor River trail is a former road, easy grade, and for the most part dry. A few blowdowns are easily crossed. At about 2 miles a bridge crosses the outlet stream from Marton Lake. Maps show a trail up to that lake. We tried to find it without success. Beyond the bridge are two serious washouts and with the spring runoff they take a bit of caution to cross. A mile past the bridge is a cairn in the middle of the trail. This is where you turn left and make your way through the forest some 50 yards up to Lipsy Lake and its spectacular Otter Falls. This is a very popular destination and it would be well worth it and not difficult to create a formal trail from the cairn to the lake. Another 3/4 mile further up the Taylor River trail is a bridge over Big Creek Falls. This is where most day hikers turn around. |
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North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Mudholes, Washouts, Snow on trail, Road to trailhead inaccessible
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WTA crews are working this week on the first mile or so of the Weden Creek trail which ultimately go...
WTA crews are working this week on the first mile or so of the Weden Creek trail which ultimately goes to Gothic Basin. The ranger reports that the ascent to Gothic is still under deep snow and when that melts out, it will still be gnarly. He reports there is a major washout up on the trail as well.
That's not the only washout. The access road to Monte Cristo and the Weden trailhead has washed out again big time. A rough, temporary route has been cut through the woods to the outhouse. From there the trail ascends through woods and a very nicely brushed meadow (even if I do say so myself) and on to a series of puncheons. These have been cleared and cleaned to extend their life. Note on the Mountain Loop Highway after Silverton there are several construction projects on the road. Careful, some of the dips, bumps, and cuts can be hard on your shocks at speeds above 25. |
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Blowdowns, Snow on trail
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The Mountaineer book "55 Hikes Around Stevens Pass" does not do justice to Beckler Peak. This hike ...
The Mountaineer book "55 Hikes Around Stevens Pass" does not do justice to Beckler Peak. This hike is actually easy to find, not in bad condition, and gentle on the feet. Exit Highway 2 about a mile east of Foss River Road at the sign for FS6066. The signs are well placed in both directions. The road is in fairly good condition except for the potholes in the lower stretch. The road takes you up to 3000 feet in 7 miles to the junction of FS6066 and FS6067 which is the end of the road. Note that there is an informal shooting range under the power lines at the beginning of the road. Somebody has shot the junction sign at the trailhead to bits as well. The trailhead has no facilities but somebody has recently installed two posts which may indicate some future plans.
The trail follows the former road FS6066 but it is not unpleasant. It passes several washouts which is why the trailhead is back at the junction. Trees shade the route while the floor is blanketed with flowers, ferns, and miner's lettuce. After one switchback the road ends at a large logjam where logging crews apparently dumped their load. From here a very nice trail leads up to the ridgeline saddle which is completely covered in snow. There are twigs and branches from the trailhead to here but only 3 easy to cross blowdowns. To proceed, find the rotted puncheon sticking out of the snow directy across the snow field from the end of the trail. Go straight up from here to reconnect with the trail about 200 feet up. When the snow melts, I will get up here again to find the inbetween trail parts. The trail can be followed through intermittent snowbanks for a ways, then becomes completely salt & pepper trackless snow. We climbed directly up from here another maybe 200 ft. gain to the shoulder of the summit. Here is a wonderful winter wonderland. Undulating hills covered with 6' of snow invite exploration. The 2003 Mountaineers book speaks of an east summit with wonderful views but we did not find it. We enjoyed peekaboo views of Glacier Peak and playing in the snow and then found our way back down. Note: There are very fresh signs of bear clawing on the trees and fresh scat. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
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The East Foss trail is one of the easiest, most pleasant forest hikes in the Cascades - at least for...
The East Foss trail is one of the easiest, most pleasant forest hikes in the Cascades - at least for the first 4.5 miles. It follows an old railroad grade for the first mile, then gently ambles along the East Foss creek to a log crossing at 4.5 miles. Then it ascends up into the beautiful Necklace Valley which is dappled with several pristine Alpine lakes.
The trailhead is adjacent to the Foss River road. It immediately plunges into an easy forest walk until it comes to Burn Creek. There it climbs up to a tilted bridge and then back down to the grade. Further on it clambers over some rocks and roots to gain another 100 or so feet but then continues its modest gain up the valley. We only went in about 2.5 miles to the marsh lake but others were going on to a campsite further up. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
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Wow! Many thanks to WTA and all the other groups who have been working on the West Foss Trail. The...
Wow! Many thanks to WTA and all the other groups who have been working on the West Foss Trail. The trail has been completely realigned and graded. The first part is paved with gravel and there is heavy rock work where needed. All blockages have been cleared and new turnpikes constructed. It is really a fabulous introduction to the Foss River. After about a mile, there is a "not open to public" sign and a detour. The detour points to a rock-hopping adventure through brush and braided streams to the Foss River where a sunken log offers crossing. However snow melt has the river running high and fast. The water is over the log for the first 4-5 feet. No way I was going to cross that! According to the trailhead sign, some folks have made it up to Trout Lake. The ranger on site reported that serious snow starts about 3500 feet and the lakes are still snowbound for the next month.
So we explored past the "not open to public" sign to see where they were putting in the new bridge, which is supposed to be completed in late August. Even here where the trail is just roughed out, solid stonework has been constructed. The trail ends abruptly about a mile from the trailhead at a narrow gorge where the new bridge is intended. The road into West Foss trailhead has been graded and cleared and is in great shape. However,from the junction with road 68 all the way back to the pavement the road is a wet gravel slurry that makes driving more like steering a motor boat. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Snow on trail, Bugs
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FS road 9031 is in the best shape I have ever seen it. It has been graded and potholes minimalized....
FS road 9031 is in the best shape I have ever seen it. It has been graded and potholes minimalized. The trail itself has been extensively improved as well. The first part has been graded and smoothed. The washouts have been repaired. The trail is clean, clear, and dry all the way up to the last switchback before the Mason Lake-Bandera summit junction. The first snowfield is a small one but steep and slushy. The second is a big one that covers the upper and lower trail. It is very steep and exposed. The snow is slushy. There are boot tracks but poles are definitely needed. There are two small snowfields from the junction to the Mason Lake ridgeline and these are easy to cross.
Not so beyond the ridgeline. There is a very steep corniced snow blockage right after the ridgeline. Snow dominates the trail from here to the lake. It is difficult to find the trail amongst the salt and pepper mottled snow but in general head for the noise of the lake spillway and you'll be fine. The snow is compact and easy to tread without trax or gaiters. I crossed the spillway without difficulty and found a nice rock in the sun on which to sit. Lake Mason is mostly iced over. A very nice side trip worth doing is to go around the hill to visit Little Mason Lake. Few people go there. It is private and easily accessed now across the snow. Later the way will be muddy, wet, and overgrown. By the way, there is a newt living in the outhouse. Very cute. Stunted tail. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Blowdowns, Mudholes, Water on trail, Snow on trail
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Annette Lake is a very popular, accessible hike, 7 miles round trip and 1300' gain. However it is b...
Annette Lake is a very popular, accessible hike, 7 miles round trip and 1300' gain. However it is badly in need of work. The outhouse at the trailhead is full of bulletholes and the window is broken. There is a twin blowdown at the power lines and many more big, wet blowdowns on the switchbacks. Most can be easily passed but one large one causes a significant detour. Some parts of the trail have suffered minor erosions.
The main avalanche chute still has a snow bridge but that is rapidly melting and is undercut. It will go in 2 weeks with this warm weather. The rest of the snow is pretty wet and consolidated so there is no danger of avalanches. However there are 9 snowfields to cross and some are relatively steep and exposed. Best to cross them in the early morning because on a warm day the snow gets mushy and it is a long way to fall. Spring is a challenging time to hike in the Cascades because the snow is speckled with dirt and following tracks - even your own - can be difficult. Starting at the snow fields I inserted twigs vertically along the way and they helped me find my way back. The lake itself is gorgeous in the sun. Still mostly iced over. All the streams and rivers are running high and loud. The bridges and puncheons that are free of snow are in good shape. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Snow on trail
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It was great to see so many people out on the Pratt Lake trail today. Normally I never meet anybody...
It was great to see so many people out on the Pratt Lake trail today. Normally I never meet anybody, but then I usually hike it in the snow on a mid-February weekday. This Memorial Day it was packed with hikers both prepared and clueless.
The Pratt Lake trail branches off of the Granite Mountail Lookout trail off I-90 exit 47. The trail climbs at a steady even pace diagonally across the face of Granite Mountain to the Talapus junction. From there it climbs at an easy grade around the east side of Olallie Lake to the Olallie saddle. From there it is a two mile descent to Pratt Lake and beyond. There was no beyond for me this day. I sped along the dry trail across several gushing ravines up to the puncheons where the snow started. From the Alpine Lakes Wilderness sign the snow is continuous. It is very dense, compact snow, and the boot tracks mark well the trail. Trax are handy but gaiters and snowshoes are not needed. It is all deep, compacted snow around the east side of Olallie Lake until the big ravine - about 3.5 miles from the trailhead and .5 miles from the saddle. Here the snow banks are 6 - 10 thick and undercut by a rushing stream. Two well equipped women ventured uphill trying to find a crossing point but I decided not to follow them and the gap was too dangerous to punch steps down and back up. So I investigated the short connector trail to the Talapus - Olallie trail. It is deep under snow but easy to follow until the normal crossing. There the snowbanks were too high and the stream runoff was too swift and deep to attempt a safe crossing. These barriers notwithstanding, the Pratt Lake trail is a great way to get a good 6 mile round trip hike. |
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North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Wildflowers blooming
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NOAA said 70% chance of rain but we must have timed our hike for the 30% because it was just the rig...
NOAA said 70% chance of rain but we must have timed our hike for the 30% because it was just the right window in the weather for hiking the Old Sauk Trail. This trail was earlier reported clogged with blowdowns but thanks to somebody, they are all cut away and cleared. There is only one modest log to step over but otherwise the trail is clear and in great shape.
This is a 6 mile round trip easy level hike in a verdant forest alongside a rushing river. The forest floor is bursting with bleeding hearts, vanilla leaf, ferns, bracken, violets, false lily of the valley, coltsfoot, foamflower, Oregon grape, salmon berry, youth-on-age, and bunchberry. Some tasty Siberian miner's lettuce is out as well. Most are just beginning to blossom but it is such a treat to see the vibrant greens alive and vigorous after winter's chill. Yoda would go nuts with joy in this forest. The best parts of this hike is that it is very accessible, easy and level, and provides abundant examples of forest floor flora. It is possible to leave the trail and cross the shallow river branch to the island and then bushwhack to the sandy beach on the far side. Great place for lunch. |
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North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Water on trail, Snow on trail
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This is a very popular trail frequented by the locals for their morning walks. The road to the trai...
This is a very popular trail frequented by the locals for their morning walks. The road to the trailhead is clear and the potholes are filled. It is not possible to get to the Pilchuck trailhead because of snow and the rangers ask that those hiking up there all park on one side of the road. Parking on both sides makes it impossible for some cars to leave.
The Heather Lake trail is a short 2 miles of gradual ascent through some really wonderful huge old trees. Evidence of logging in bygone days is everywhere marked by the huge stumps, some 12 feet in diameter! The trail starts out relatively smooth and easy walking but becomes rocky after the first half mile. About a mile and a half in is a water hazard which would be no problem in ordinary circumstances but with the spring runoff it is flowing pretty heavy. Snow begins about a half mile before the lake. It is mostly compact. Snowshoes are not needed but trax definitely help. The lake itself is beautiful. It is beginning to melt out at the spillway but the rest is iced over. There are no trail blockages or damage. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Water on trail, Snow on trail
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Who would have guessed that you need snowshoes in May to hike above 2600 ft? Granite Lakes nest in ...
Who would have guessed that you need snowshoes in May to hike above 2600 ft? Granite Lakes nest in a bowl around the back of Mailbox Peak just below Dirty Harry's Peak. The gain is about 2200 ft on an old abandoned road 5.5 miles from trailhead to lake shore. Thick, slushy snow begins just after the S curves at 4.1 miles and gets up to 4-5 feet deep in places. There is lots of water running down the trail as one would expect and the shoots of new brush are sprouting in the median and along the sides. This will be a brushy trail in July!
The trail starts at a small, unmarked turnout on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road just past the Mail Box parking lot. It is barred by a blue forest road gate. The trail slogs 2.4 miles in the shadow of Mailbox before coming to a right turn to go up the Granite Creek watershed. The creek is really running high and strong right now. Cross a bridge overgrown with soft ground cover and continue a gentle climb about 1.5 miles to the S curves. From there on it is a steady straightforward gain up to a road junction. The left fork climbs steeply almost 1000 ft in a mile to the ridge overlooking Thompson Lake. You can follow this trail all the way to Mt. Defiance and beyond. The right fork goes downhill then up again to a broad opening in the trees overlooking the Granite Lakes. It's about a 100 ft descent to the lake shores but there are spots along the way to sit for lunch and admire the view. The lakes are still mostly frozen over. |
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Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
Mudholes
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The Anacortes-Bellingham area abounds in hikes that are a welcome alternative when the Cascades are ...
The Anacortes-Bellingham area abounds in hikes that are a welcome alternative when the Cascades are snowy, sloppy, avalanche endangered, or just plain too wet. The Whistle Lake area south of Anacortes includes Sugarloaf and Mt. Erie along with other small hills, deep forests, and lots of lakes. It's just an hour from Seattle, so really no further than Snoqualmie Pass, and lots of fun. Be sure to stop at Lake Erie Grocery or in Anacortes for maps! This place is laced with trails going all which ways. They are all very well signed but in numbers so you have to have a map to know how to get from 215 to 238 then down to 226 and over to road 21, but don't go up 313 but instead take 320. Get the idea? The map is your friend.
We took Campbell Lake Road to Heart Lake Road and parked at the main lot which is where the road up to the top of Mt. Erie starts. You can drive all the way up to the top of Mt. Erie on paved road. We chose instead to hike from the parking lot up to the top of Sugarloaf mountain. It has elevation gain of only 500 ft. Trail 215 is clear and dry and climbs right up with no dilly dallying. The top of Sugarloaf is charming. A large open space of moss covered boulders, stately trees, and views over Anacortes and the Sound. Mt. Erie next door is 750 feet gain and a favorite of technical rock climbers. There are many trails up the back side but we did not think the views were any better than Sugarloaf. Trail 230 in the valley took us to Whistle Lake. It is muddy. The lake is unimpressive. The trails here are open to hikers, horses, and mountain bikes and the road/trails are open to motor bikes as well. This area deserves a lot more exploration. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
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Road report:
Road to Ira Spring, Bandera, Mason Lake trailhead is cleared and passable. Lots of re...
Road report:
Road to Ira Spring, Bandera, Mason Lake trailhead is cleared and passable. Lots of reconstruction from last winter's storms. Lots of forest thinning ongoing. Still more work to do on the road. Bandera still has a lot of snow on the exposed south slope - although I did not hike it today. Road is potholed as usual. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Mudholes
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This very popular trail is clear, wide, and dry. There is a large blowdown in the first mile has be...
This very popular trail is clear, wide, and dry. There is a large blowdown in the first mile has been cut once but needs more work to remove it. Between the first and third ledges are many mud holes. These are the result of forest detritus still soaked from melting the last vestiges of snow. No water source needs to be drained. About a quarter mile above the third ledge is when the snow starts. It is shallow, crusty, crunchy snow that probably turns mushier in a warm afternoon. No trax, gaiters, or snowshoes needed at least up as far as the road.
I had other things to do so I did not get up to the East Point radio tower. Besides, my favorite area of all of Rattlesnake Ridge is the little winding Hobbit trail section just above the third ledge. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Snow on trail
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Mt. Si was very popular on this sunny day. People with babies, with dogs, with tennis shoes, t-shir...
Mt. Si was very popular on this sunny day. People with babies, with dogs, with tennis shoes, t-shirts and no packs. The better equipped hikers got up to the top early and were already coming down by noon. It was cold, windy, and foggy at the top. The trail is in great shape. At 9:00am the trail was pretty solid snow from the 2.5 milepost on. At 1:30 pm everything below 2.5 was slush. Snow bombs from the upper tree limbs were constant and very wet. One hiker brought an umbrella - smart person! Trax are helpful especially up near the top, but the new snow did offer excellent traction. Many of us stopped at the rock clamber because we were in a nice place with sunshine and a view and further up in the haystack basin was totally in cold fog. Great day to be out on a hike.
After today, snow should be melted out up to milepost 3. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Snow on trail
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Forest Road Report: Forest road from highway 2 is clear and dry up to within about a quarter mile o...
Forest Road Report: Forest road from highway 2 is clear and dry up to within about a quarter mile of the trailhead. Slushy snow from there on. Road closure sign at that point. It was cold, rainy, and nasty so I did not hike the trail.
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
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Great hike. Good workout. Wonderful views. Thanks to terpene and geezerhiker, their trip reports ...
Great hike. Good workout. Wonderful views. Thanks to terpene and geezerhiker, their trip reports were a big help in finding and following the trail. The map at www.stanford.edu/~clint/index/trailmap.gif indicates many trails around and along the top of the Wall, but the reality on the ground is somewhat different.
To get to the trailhead, go through Index south along the road until you come to a small, unmarked parking lot next to the railroad tracks. Cross the tracks and immediately follow the road alongside the track until you get to an "authorized vehicles only" sign. Enter here and you will come to the base of an impressive rock cliff with a sealed tunnel at its base. Imagine the Doors of Durin! There is a picnic table there and the trail heads off to the right. If you cross the tracks and go forward instead of right, there appears to be some interesting little trails to the left. Do not take the trail to the right which follows along the base of the rock cliff. It is a bushwhacking scramble over boulders the size of condominiums and no fun. The trail from the Doors of Durin climb steeply through many switchbacks 1/2 mile to a junction. Go right 0.1 miles to another junction marked by blue diamonds on the trees. The map says there is a trail to the right but there really isn't. Go left another 1/2 mile around the south shoulder of the Wall then ascend more switchbacks. The trail is easy to see and no obstructions or snow. There are plenty of blue diamond markers. Go under the cable fence with flags hanging on it and up the creek bed about 35 yards to a wonderful lookout. Great place for lunch. Don't forget Espresso Chalet on Highway 2 just east of Index. Great way to reward yourself for a good hike. |
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Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
Blowdowns, Mudholes
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Oyster Dome trailhead on Chuckanut Drive is only 1.5 hours from Capitol Hill, even at 8 am in the mo...
Oyster Dome trailhead on Chuckanut Drive is only 1.5 hours from Capitol Hill, even at 8 am in the morning. This is a wonderful hiking and exploration opportunity in the spring when the Cascades are threatened with avalanches, storms, or simply sloppy with mud. Oyster Dome trail is completely clear of snow. There are a few blowdowns and some mud holes that need turnpikes, but on the whole the trails are in great shape.
The trailhead is nothing more than a sign at the side of the road. The trail starts right out gaining altitude. At about a mile there is a junction to a lookout but if you stay on the main trail you do get to a nice park bench with an even better view. The trail continues on a long loop around the first mountain, crossing some small drainages before beginning some serious rocky ascents. The steepest is up Oyster Creek. Along the way is a side trail to so-called "bat caves." These are nothing more than a cluster of huge boulders that have fallen off of Oyster Dome above. Maybe bats lived there once. The rickety wood bridge to get there is exciting. At the top of the long steep climb is cable junction (so named because of all the heavy steel cables left there from logging operations. To the right is a very pleasant 15 minute level walk to Lily Lake. This is a pretty, quiet spot rarely visited with lots of camping opportunities and even the remains of an old abandoned cabin. To the left is the route up to the top of Oyster Dome. There are many other little side trails and exploration paths in these hills worth a try. The best coffee afterwards is in a charming little bakery in Edison, just south on the Skagit plains. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Mudholes, Washouts, Snow on trail
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The Lake Serene trail is a mess. It is blockaded by several big, nasty (as in lots of branches and ...
The Lake Serene trail is a mess. It is blockaded by several big, nasty (as in lots of branches and broken bits) blowdowns, washouts, and water running on the trail. Nevertheless, lots of hikers were up there today in beautiful weather getting all the way to the lake. Snow on the trail does not start in earnest until well beyond the falls and it is a benefit rather than a hazard. The snow base is crumbly and the 3 inch fresh on top combine to give good traction while covering up the rocks. No gaiters or trax were needed up to the lake. We stopped just short of the lake because a crossing over a rivulet was deep and slippery. However, many did cross there and got to the lake successfully. Some folks even had little dogs on the trail and they seemed to be managing fine.
The blowdowns start early - even on the road before the "minimalist" foot bridge. There are more just after the falls and they continue until the snow line. The big snowfields are easy to cross. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Blowdowns
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Two very popular trails. Hundreds of feet have compacted the little dusting of snow which, along wi...
Two very popular trails. Hundreds of feet have compacted the little dusting of snow which, along with thaw and freeze, have made very slippery conditions. Trax make hiking these two trails so much easier and safer, although we had to take them off for several dirt sections.
The Boulder Garden Loop branches off the Little Si trail. The east branch follows an abandoned road easily up to two junctions. The first junction is a spur that goes downhill. The second junction connects to old Mt. Si trail. After the high point the Loop trail descends steeply and slippery back down to the Little Si trail. The ascent up Little Si is slippery and there is ice on the rocks at the summit. The trail is easy and clear except for one large annoying blowdown just where the climb begins. Lots of people and dogs on the trail today, and two babies in baby carriers. |
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Issaquah Alps -- Squak Mountain
Blowdowns
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Squak Mountain may be closed soon because of budget cuts and too bad. It is very easy access and fu...
Squak Mountain may be closed soon because of budget cuts and too bad. It is very easy access and full of lovely woods, rustic trails, and interesting remains. Just south of Issaquah, Squak Mountain sports 6 access points: 4 on the north (3 of which all join the west access trail), one on the west off the Renton-Issaquah Road, and one on the south off the Seamay Valley Road. Trail junctions are very well marked with brand new signs and clear directions, but there are lots of interesting little unmarked footpaths as well.
Formerly owned by the Bullitt family (KING 5 broadcasting), the mountain was donated to the State of Washington in 1972, but there still remain traces of the family's home and business. The famous stone fireplace and chimney are all that are left of the home. Atop west peak, are the ruins of the so-called Greenhouse. Last year it was still standing, full of large batteries, and an antenna which climbed up a tree. All that is flattened now and the batteries are no more. Further on Chybinski Loop is an old blockhouse off to the north side of the trail. Today a modern complex of radio and microwave towers dominates the central peak and highest point on the mountain. The easiest and least altitude gain is from the water towers access point on Squak Mountain Loop SW. Gotta love any trail where most of the gain is in the car! This entrance, like the one a block away, takes off right from the edge of a subdivision. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Blowdowns, Snow on trail
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Heybrook Lookout is a short easy winter hike and offers fun snowshoe opportunities along the ridgeli...
Heybrook Lookout is a short easy winter hike and offers fun snowshoe opportunities along the ridgeline access roads. The trailhead is literally on the side of Highway 2 just east of Index past the world famous Espresso Chalet. The snowplows cleared a bit of shoulder for parking. It is total snow right from the start - about 3" at the trailhead and a foot or more deep up at the top. We cleared the smaller blowdowns but there are many more up there. All are easily stepped over. The views from the lookout are fabulous, especially Mt. Index and Mt. Baring.
Definitely gaiters for this hike and trax are very helpful. Snowshoes on top will allow you to ramble off trail and explore. Heybrook makes a good little side trip in conjunction with other shorter hikes if you need a little more workout. |
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Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Mudholes
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Wow! A lot of very good trail work has been done here lately. More steps, turnpikes, and puncheons...
Wow! A lot of very good trail work has been done here lately. More steps, turnpikes, and puncheons have been installed on the trail up to Lake Dorothy, although there is one big, old, wet blowdown nose down in the path at one point. The bridge is gone over the main Lake Dorothy inlet at south end of the lake but it is crossable on rocks as long as the flow is not too deep. The climb from Dorothy to the pass is a slog, stony in some places muddy in others. From the pass to Bear and Deer lake is like a dream. Perfect trails, gorgeous scenery, solitude, and some very recent sturdy puncheons and stairs. Bravo work crews! Your efforts are much appreciated!
It's a long drive from Highway 2, over the RR tracks, and up Miller Road to the trailhead at 2200 ft. Then an easy 2 miles brings you to Lake Dorothy, gaining 800 ft mostly on timber steps or log stairs. The next two miles along the east shore of the lake are a delight, especially on an October morning when the sun brings out all the colors on the opposite shore while steam rises from the cool waters. The tread along the lake is relatively even, although rocky in some places. On the south end of the lake, after negotiating several inlet streams, begins another 800 ft. climb. This mile is rocky, rooty, and muddy in places but still has some very nice stone steps in place. Not a lot of views during the climb. But it's worth it to see Bear Lake and Deer lake. Sparkling waters dancing in the sunlight, very nice tread to walk, lovely campsites, and a nice rock at Deer Lake that juts out into the water for sunning. This is a marvelous day hike, 12 miles round trip with 1600 ft. gain in and 100 out. Best of all, the place is loaded with mushrooms of every sort and variety. Good thing the Mycological Society show is this weekend at the Urban Horticultural Center in Seattle. |
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Mt. Rainier
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this is a test of the WTA website....
this is a test of the WTA website.
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North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway
Fall foliage, Ripe berries
Blowdowns
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Stunning vistas. Brilliant fall colors. Beautiful larches laced in delicate gold. Easy trail. Bi...
Stunning vistas. Brilliant fall colors. Beautiful larches laced in delicate gold. Easy trail. Big black bear scarfing abundant blueberries. It is a long drive from Seattle to Rainy Pass on the North Cascades but on a sunny October day it is more than worth it. The trailhead for Maple Pass Loop and Rainy Lake begins at a large parking lot at Rainy Pass. The path to Rainy Lake is paved for wheelchairs and takes off to the left. It is logical that if you want to do the Loop hike you would also start left, but there is no sign at the trailhead for that option. So we went to the right and ended up doing the loop Widdershins (counter clockwise).
The tread is broad and gentle passing up through forest and then diagonally across a log exposed slope. Expansive views to the east and south display Lake Ann below, Maple Pass to the south, huge talus slopes, and fleeting hints of golden larch glory dancing along the ridgelines. Eventually the trail arrives at Heather Pass where the larches begin. A footpath from here takes off west toward Lewis Lake and Wing Lake. Continuing forward we rounded the bowl high above Lake Ann. Blueberries abound and that's where we saw a huge black bear high up above us on the slope. Maple Pass itself is a long, mostly bare alpine park dropping off to deep valleys on either side. Breathtaking views of the North Cascades all the way down to Glacier Peak and Mt. Hinman. It's a place where the Sound of Music virtually leaps to mind and feet cannot resist skipping or dancing. This wonderful playground undulates up to a high point at 7000 feet, 4 miles from the trailhead and a great place for lunch. The descent along the crest of the Frisco Mountain ridgeline is even more beautiful. Larch groves compete for attention with dark spruce, rugged rock crags, and a dirty glacier. The ridgeline is so narrow and the path so close to the top that at times you can peek over the rocks and look down into Lake Ann and see the trail you climbed in the morning. At the end of the ridge the trail descends more steeply until it joins the Rainy Lake trail. On this descent there is one 8" diameter blowdown and there is a puncheon at the bottom that is totally destroyed. The only other trail problem is a large (3'x3') boulder than has fallen onto the trail just past Heather Pass. |
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