Trip Reports

The husband remembered and found the PI article about this trail written up by Karen Sykes in 2008. It was the perfect choice for fantastic wildflowers on the dry east side near Ellensburg when it was all rain squalls and gloom in Bellevue.

We began the hike about 1:15, glad for the clouds as this hike is a steep uphill climb for 2 miles. But the flowers were so abundant on every side that there was no need to rush. Balsamroot, bitterroot, desert parsley, phlox, penstamen, iris, paintbrush, and many more we did not know. Pretty nice views of the Stuart Range as well, along with lush ranch lands in the valley below. Fairly busy trail with all ages and friendly dogs. Every one with a happy hello. We enjoyed our lunch on the boy scout bench beneath a doug fir about 1 mile up the trail.

The ridge top was glorious, but all of the memorials seemed a little tacky, why make a whole cemetary for one person. We went just a little ways beyond the plaques, hooking up with jeep trails where we could have wandered for miles, but instead were distracted by more slopes of flowers. Back down the car much faster than we went up. We'll be back next year.

Directions:I-90 to exit 101 (Thorpe), turn right(south); go 2 miles, turn right onto Cove Rosd. After 2 stop signs, trail head parking is on the right. Hiking poles and lots of water recommended.

This was my first time on this trail, so i didn't know what to expect. I LOVE it. There are enough blowdowns, washouts and landslides to make it interesting and fun for me and my 35lbs Aussie. I wouldn't take this trial if you're not physically 100% or have unruly/very small pets as some of the spots in the trail require a bit of climbing over or up.

We made it to the end of tunnel 2 and stopped at the previously mentioned landslide.

It is beautiful, interesting trail that might be fun for older kids to try out.

This was my first time on this trail. It won't be the last! Excellent for early season-- and looking at the map, I can see possibilities for a short backpack loop as well.

The TH is not marked on the highway but was not hard to locate. There is a small area off road (left side) that allows for about 6 cars. I pulled in and there was a WTA work party already on the trail, THANKS WTA. Just for reference, if you are looking north (direction of travel back to Greenwater) at the edge of the road is a blue sign indicating "Skookum Falls 1/4 mi".

They asked me to write a trip report, so this is my first! Just to cut to the chase for them, I did not see any trail issues in the approximately 5 miles in that I hiked -- one small tree over the trail but very simple to just step over it, not worth sending a work party in there all the way to cut it.

Back to the TH....
A hundred yards or so in on the trail are the trail signs indicating several options. I followed the 1198 trail up, and within 10 minutes noted a fairly good sized coyote eyeing me and my (also good - sized) canine buddy, who fortunately, was on leash. I shouted and the coyote just melted away into the undergrowth. Pretty cool. (I don't mind them, but sure do not want to have a tussle between a wild animal and domesticated pet with me in between.) At the first stream crossing, there was the work party improving it with stones, and a bit higher up, working to stabilize some steep switchbacks. These folks had come from as far away as Edmonds, so double thanks!

 The first section of this hike is very beautiful-- large rock outcroppings, heavy with moss, and a beautiful waterfall. At about 3000 ft or so, I was delighted to find a generous sprinkling of Calypso orchids (Calypso bulbosa) - more than I have ever seen in one spot. One of them was right on the trail, and it was nearly white which is unusual coloring. Of course I had left my camera home. (Please treat these guys carefully and never pick them-- it will kill the plant. ) Also along side were (yellow) violets, probably Viola glabella although I did not verify.

At about 3400 ft is the first overlook-- views were lovely up and down valley-- I noted some orange flowers but had no desire to get any closer to the edge to identify them. A nice place for a break since the first section of trail gains elevation steadily. From here, the trail returns to beautiful open forest with sparse understory and meanders slowly with a very gentle grade. At about 4160ft. it crosses Snoquera Creek (footbridge, easy crossing) and this was the only place I saw a tiny remnant snow patch as the creek valley is dark and cool.

Pushing onward, I noted a section of forest that was distinctly different and very unhealthy looking. Very dense, very small trees (a couple inches in diameter) and lots of broken, blow down branches. I am not sure what created this but I am glad it did not last long. Would be interested if someone knows. It was not an avy slope, nor did it appear burned-- and it had not been logged that I could see.

A bit further on was an area had been logged years ago, but actually it was rather nice to have the sunshine. New trees (Doug Fir) looked good and there is one white pine on the trail, which seemed a bit unusual.
At last coming to the second view area, the trail is nearly on the cliff edge. Hang on to your pets, kids, and gear. Glimpses of Mt Rainier along with dizzying views of the valley-- Here again I saw the orange flowers, this time I could tell they were a paintbrush variety, probably Cliff Paintbrush (Castillja rupicola) but not verified. (I should really carry a field guide as well as a camera.)

I wanted to continue the exploration and hike up to the junction with the Little Ranger trail 1197, but decided to save that for another day so I turned around at about 4500 ft. I had seen no other hiking parties until I approached the first look out (about 3600 ft) where below me I saw some people. I waited for them to get a good lead on me and finished my descent.

Beautiful spring weather. Great time of year to hike the area as the summer heat can be brutal. Watch for rattlesnakes sunning themselves on the trail and it'd probably be a good idea to stay out of the grass.

The guidebook Day Hiking Eastern Washington (http://www.wta.org/[…]/new-hiking-guidebook-for-eastern-washington) has outstanding directions.

The old homestead ruins are pretty neat. The hike beyond to the lake is single trail and has some wonderful views. Birds abound as do wildflowers.

It took us and our dog about 4-hours for the round-trip.

Law Enforcement WILL ticket you if you do not have a Discover pass. It's a fine if you don't have one.

Check yourselves and especially your dog for ticks when you get home.

Finding the south end state park trail head closed, backtracked to the West Access entrance. Hiked in the clouds with peeks of sun. Vanilla Leaf, Miner's Lettuce, Solomon's Seal in full bloom, others about to flower along Chybinski. Had the entire mountain to ourselves, probably due to closing of state park entrance, but who's complaining?

What beautiful cool weather for our hike. The trail was in great shape overall but it does have some pretty wet areas and a few stream crossings to navigate across. One stream crossing can be a little tricky to get over. The water is running pretty swift and be careful if you have a dog. My german shepherd made it ok but you could tell the water was pushing on him pretty good. You will have to hop from rock to rock so if you have good balance you will be fine. There is one other fairly big stream crossing but it is pretty easy. Marten creek area is beautiful and the water is in full flow! Otter falls is also beautiful. There is no signs to indicate the turn off to otter falls but there is 2 cairns (rock piles) where you will turn up to the falls. You will also see some pink ribbons leading up to the falls which is a little before the cairns which did not seem to have an established trail. It's best to go to the cairns and turn. This hike is definitely recommended and is an easy hike overall. It will be good for children once the water lowers a little.

This Trail started out with massive potential. The trail head was nicely marked on highway 97 and easy to find/park. There is new white rock laid down the whole area. A great sign/map marks the trail along with some other options (there are several you can go on) I was here for the frog pond trail which branches off the Whistler Canyon Trail #100. This area was well updated with trail conditions too.

So this trail is predominatley used by horses but is hikeable by people as well. I was excited as I followed the white rock trail to the side of the mountain, then my excitement began to fade a little. The trail itself was very narrow and rocky. Obviously abused a bit by horses. I trecked on anyways.

The trail is steep at first, the guide book claimed a level 2, but it starts at a 4 in my opinion. The views initially are amazing too. So about .8 miles in the trail is easily marked showing the frog pond trail to the left. Off me and my little dog went. This trail was pretty obvioulsy used less but turned into a level 2 trail as originally stated.

The undergrowth was beginning to overgrow the trail but it was still visible enough to follow. There was small flowers and wild roses plus lots of green!

A few spots were muddy along the way but easily crossed. Regrettably we did not make it to the pond because of a particularly large and grumpy bull snake across the trail. (my dog weighs 9 lbs, I don't like the thought of snakes biting her :) )

Overall the skeeters were just starting to get bad and you MUST watch your step for snakes, I saw two on my short walk (and one frog)

I suggest you try it out!

beautiful hike, it was cloudy but we were glad it wasn't hot -- pretty busy. as other reviewers have said; clean bathrooms, no water, great hike. wish we brought bug spray-- got to the top, sat down, started getting bit.

Headed out from Bothell, WA around 6 AM. Drove through Seattle to I-90, stopping to grab some snacks, and arriving at Little Si around 7:15AM. Got to love that bridge coming in! It is so pretty. When we got there, there were already a few cars in the parking lot. Used the facilities and whatnot, and got on the trail around 7:30. It was a little chilly and rainy out, so we both started with hoodies on, and Emily quickly changed from a fluffy yorkie into a muddy and wet rat. The trail is rather rocky, and starts out a little steep. A short way up there is a view point, that was breath taking! You can see the valley and mountains, and there was some pretty cloud cover. We continued on, and saw a few people on the trail, several of which had friendly dogs with them.

Eventually we came to a beautiful area that felt a bit like a valley. It was thickly covered by trees and many large rocks. There were what you might call rolling ups and downs for a while. Eventually a pair of two gentlemen passed us with packs on, and a little ways down the way we saw them going up a trail that lead to a large rock face. They were rock climbers! Which made us feel relieved, because we were a bit worried that we would have to go up that trail. The ‘valley’ lasted for a while, and was extremely beautiful. It was during this time that a couple of people passed us, and we met a couple of people coming back, so we knew we weren’t too far off from the summit.

After the valley there was a dramatic increase in elevation climb, including several switch backs and some rocky areas that had me thinking, “Hm, I might be able to go UP but how am I going to get DOWN!?” This is especially interesting for me since I am deathly afraid of falling. The last few minutes were very difficult and you could tell we were going through the cloud bank because the air looked like it was thick with smoke. When we reached the summit it was worth it! We could see over the valleys and were actually over the clouds now. Big Si was right next to us, and we were able to compare how much taller it was. There was a cool breeze that helped relieve us from the humidity of the climb up, but eventually we had to put our jackets back on because it got so chilly.

At the top we relaxed by sitting on a rock and having our snacks. Emily got a few big pieces of a peanut butter sandwich, and seemed very happy. A couple of other people joined us at the top, and we ended up striking up a conversation with a young man in college, who eventually hiked back down with us. It may sound cheesy, but this made me very happy since I am always reading these ‘adventure’ books where people make friends on the trail and whatnot, so it made me very happy to have that experience!

On the way down we saw several other families. Coming down the steep rocky areas turned out to not be so bad, though I did have to take my time. I must say that I am proud of myself for not slowing too much though! Between the momentum of the sugar spike from our snack and our new friends conversation, the trip back seemed to fly! Toward the end we passed SEVERAL people, and the trail started to become really crowded. Again, I was happy we got there early. The parking lot was full when we got back to the truck.

On the way home we took the long route on 202 & 203. We stopped at Snoqualmie Falls, which was beautiful, and then stopped in Fall City for a well earned burger, fries, and soda. I would say we will definitely visit this hike again, and I hope to complete Big Si by the end of this season.

With the new Day Hiking Eastern Washington book in hand, we spent a Sunday afternoon checking out the 410-acre property overlooking a bend in the Spokane River. We had the place entirely to ourselves. The area is about 30 minutes northwest of Spokane, and would make a great spot for a family picnic (if the bugs cooperated).

Walking the ridge with a view of the river on our west was lovely. A highlight was being buzzed by a huge raptor (hawk? osprey?). The trail was faintly marked (and dotted here and there by rock cairns) but the walking was easy. It would be nearly impossible to get lost here, since it's bounded by water on two sides and wire fence on the third.

When you come down off the ridge to the river, things turn lush and green. This would be my pick for a lunch spot, but only if the bugs weren't bad (we encountered a few persistent flies, but no mosquitoes).

We made a loop as we climbed back up to the small bluff. It's a relatively short climb, and most kids over 3 or 4 could manage it.

In short: not a spectacular hike, but a dog- and family-friendly spot pretty close to town with some wildlife watching potential.

If you picnic or hike with a dog, please pack out all your trash/poo and keep your pup on leash, since this spot was established as a key wildlife habitat corridor along Long Lake.

More info here: http://www.spokanecounty.org/parks/content.aspx?c=1892

Mailbox Peak is an ultimate workout hike and ensures that you are reminded of its steepness every few minutes. Very few people on the trail and is very peaceful and serene. Mother nature in its purest form! A little bit of snow at the summit rocks but that should not deter you from reaching the mailbox. It has a spectacular view at the peak. The feeling of accomplishment when you sign that workbook is unparalled! Met 2 hikers - Andy and Tina on the way. All of us had a quick bit and trekked down together with my friend Praneetha. The downward hike is hard on the knees but if you wear braces and have hiking poles you should be good. I look forward to returning to Mailbox Peak. Definitely recommend this hike!

Beautiful desert hike and a nice change of scenery. We arrived in the early morning to start our hike in order to avoid the 95 degree temperature that was coming in the afternoon. This hike in is really easy and the waterfalls along the plateaus are beautiful.

After the short hike in we set up camp and began to explore. The lakes are nice to look at but the unavoidable thought that the water is all coming from farm run off was very off putting. We decided to pass on swimming or consuming any of the water. The rocks around the rim of the lake are a bright white and lack any growth which I thought to be a little sketchy. Bring lots and lots of water if you're heading out there. You'll need it.

Aside from the waters origination this location is beautiful and very unique as there aren't many desert settings that include lakes and waterfalls. I would suggest making this a day hike over an overnight destination. All in all we did enjoy this trip.

Beautiful hike today. We hiked from the trail head to Bark Shanty campground & back, approx 5+ miles. We had a big group of 7 people and 3 dogs. Trails were well maintained with two new beautiful bridges. Didn't see any blooming rhododendrons, but did see some other flowers. No bugs to speak of, but we did see a few slugs.

On what appears to be the last day of spring before the rains kick in again, we decided to hike the Boulder River Trail. The weather was high clouds and mid 70's and it appears a lot of other people had the same idea.
The hike is a good one for people of all ages. The sounds of the river were calming and the views of the river and waterfalls were Great.
An enjoyable hike was had be all.

Nice little hike for families. A slight uphill for the first 1/3 mile, then relatively flat around the lake. Conditions were great, although no distance markers. I would print out the map from the County website (http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/parks/squires/index.jsp) just in case. Super easy to get to right off I5. No excuses not to stop and stretch your legs on this little gem of property.

Length: 2.9 miles (5.8 mi out-and-back roundtrip, though there is parking and trailheads at both ends); additional 1 mile RT side hike to winery and canyon views makes for an almost 7 mi day-hike.

Elevation gain: Barely any on Cowiche Canyon Trail (flat gravel trail on canyon floor); short steep climb (200-300 ft in 0.5 mi) to vineyard.

Exposure: Completely exposed for the first 2/3 (dogster was not happy about this when the sun was directly overhead); final 1/3 shaded by creekside vegetation.

Scenery: What a difference the rain-shadow makes. Dogster has only hiked in cascadia, so the temperature, lack of shade, and desert landscape / vegetation were all new to us. The gravel trail is an abandoned 19th century railway along the floor of a canyon full of spectacular basalt cliffs to the north and rolling sagebrush-covered hills to the south, with wildflowers in bloom and all kinds of birds overhead. A double digit number of trestle bridges kriss-kross Cowiche Creek (Jump! Jump! RIP, Kris-Kross' Mac Daddy. I digress...) on this hike--this is Rails-to-Trails done beautifully (strong work, Bureau of Land Management). 2/3's of the way in (coming from the Weikel Rd Trailhead) a steep side trail takes you up the canyon to Naches Heights, and empties in the back yard of Wilridge Vineyards. This is a worthy sidetrip even if you have no interest in winetasting, as heading back down the ridge gives you stunning views of the canyon from above, and Mount Adams to the south on a good day. Plus, the nice folks at the winery made sure dogster had plenty of shade and cold water.

Trail Traffic: Light. Just a handful of cars at the Weikel Road trailhead today. Day hikers and small groups happily clutching wine bottles. A few friendly, dehydrated-looking offleash dogs. Cowiche Canyon also has equestrian and mountain biking trails, though we didn't encounter either.

Travel Time from Seattle: 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on how fast you're willing to drive on the open interstate. Mountain pass conditions shouldn't cause any delays the rest of this season; there is rock blasting scheduled through mid May on I-90 E near Snoqualmie Pass, but I think it's mainly at night. Expect one lane traffic due to bridge repairs between the Pass and Ellensburg, I-90 both directions this spring.

Watch out for: Horse droppings. If your dog's into that kinda thing. And rattlesnakes. And lost wine tasters tumbling down from the vineyard.

The wild flowers were in bloom, so things were really pretty. We saw one small rattlesnake along the trail, but it didn't bother us as we skirted around it. We did come home with a bunch of ticks on our dog that we hadn't thought about. So, before you head home make sure to brush down everyone for ticks and use some tick repellent on your dog before you hike.

I finally found a friend who had a car available so that we could cache a car at both ends of the trail and do the full hike between Rattlesnake Ledge and Rattlesnake Mountain. We dropped a car off at exit 27 around 8:20 AM and started out hike at the Rattlesnake Ledge trailhead around 8:45. We moved pretty quickly with very few brief stops and got to our car at the end of the trail in a little under 4 hours. There was a little snow along the ridge, but nothing difficult - you might have trouble in just running shoes, but I had hiking boots on and no poles and didn't have a hard time at all. The trail is pretty easy to follow (a few blow downs between East Peak and Grand Prospect) and we didn't run into too many people between the Rattlesnake Ledge lookout and Grand Prospect. I definitely recommend walking East to West, as you'll be doing uphill for a steeper, shorter, distance, but the a longer, easier downhill.

Perfect weather for a day hike, about 75 degrees, maybe a little hazy. Hiked the round trip to the peak and boy was it worth it! About when I thought I couldn't male it much further a young boy ran past me squealing "The Sky's the limit"! It was a little grueling for an inexperienced hiker...no an unfit person, like me. But besides being a little out of breath, I did great and the reward was a view I will never forget! Being a beautiful weekend day, the trail was crowded but everyone was polite. After my little dog and I returned to the bottom we both refreshed our feet in the lake. Great day!

Lots of trilliums along the trail, no snow & only two logs to step over, one to go under.
We spent a pleasant afternoon on a very nice hike in perfect spring weather on this well-traveled, easy trail, admiring moss and big rocks, bright greenery, big trees and roaring water. On our scenic snack stop on a huge rock overlooking the lake, we watched the floating logs slowly drift in the breeze.
There were about 20 cars at the trailhead, and about that many hikers scattered along the trail, including several with dogs, one with a fish pole (no fish caught), and a young boy with a pack containing a sleeping bag and a couple light sabers he was willing to show and share. Fun for all!

Spent the night near Opal Lake. There are currently multiple open water sites in Necklace valley, so no need to pack in water or fuel to melt it. There is one possible small campsite melted out at the entrance, near Jade Lake. I ended up camping on the snow-pack.

Snowshoes recommended, although on the way out I saw someone had followed my tracks in, wearing crampons. Tough dude, he sunk in 16" in many spots, and had post-holed up to his waist several times as well.

There is a hazardous traverse above the creek, and I needed to cut steps down to the Nesby footbridge, so an ice axe is helpful.

Continuous snowpack above about 3,000 feet, route finding skills were required. No bugs up there yet, although you'll encounter them in the Foss River Valley on the way in.

Trail is in good condition but is covered in thawing snow 1/4 mile before the Lake. I recommend hiking poles in case you slip or your leg falls through a soft spot/tree well, which happened to me and my dog twice. Other than that, food, water and an extra layer are always good to have. Lake Serene is picturesque and I was treated to the thunderous sounds of snow cascading off Mt. Index.

On another note, I stumbled across a fully loaded Smith and Wesson .357 revolver in a rock outcropping before reaching the Lake Serene signpost at the top. To whoever dropped it, I handed the weapon over to the Gold Bar police.

Otter falls is a nice easy starter hike if your waiting for the snow to melt in the mountains. The trailhead is around 30 minutes outside of North Bend, and pretty easy to find. This is a perfect hike for younger kids with a great payoff. There is only around 800 ft of elevation gain and the trail is in good shape. There are a few stream crossings and one river crossing that takes a little planing jumping from rock to rock.

Make sure you keep your eyes open for the pile of rocks along the trail. This will be your 'Sign' to take a left off the trail and hike up 200 feet to the falls. If you aren't paying attention, you can miss it. If you come to the concert 'car' bridge you have passed otter falls.

No blow downs, a few patches of snow right before otter falls.

I have been hiking in the gorge a lot and this is one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever been on. It does not seem to be that well known. There were 2 of us on a beautiful sunny Thursday and we saw no other people or cars.

Like the previous report there are still places where the trail is blocked by snow and downed trees that required some scrambling, but worth it. The views are spectacular. We went about as far as Cold Springs Camp.

Saw 3 bear cubs running on the road as we drove in. No sign of mamma.

It is a steep hike in places, I would rate it as difficult.

Be forewarned, pay attention to the roads as you are driving in. At the trial head there is a junction and on the return we inadvertently took the wrong road out (not well marked) and had to back track, probably lost about 1.5 hours

My First Multi-Night Backpacking Experience.


May 9th / Day One.
Thunder Creek Trail Head 11:45am To McCallister Camp 4:00pm

- Nice Trail, Around 700 Gain To McCallister Camp, River (Creek) Raging. A Few Tricky River Crossings Were The Only Tricky Parts. Between Neve & McCallister Hiker Camps A Crew From The North Cascade Forest Service Were In The Beginning Stages Of Replacing A Small Bridge. 2 Crews. One Other Hiker Out On A Day Hike. The Wash Out Near McCallister Horse Camp Had The Best Views In My Opinion Up To That Point. Shortly After Is The Most Difficult Crossing, No Bridge, River Rushing Too Hard And Deep To Comfortably Cross. Large Tree Has Fallen To Cross Over But It's Pretty Slick. McCallister Camp Was Clear, Chowed Down Happily On Some Mountain House Beef Stroganoff. We Found A Great Spot That Was Both About 70 Paces From The River & A Place To Raise Our Food & Toiletries Out Of Bears Reach. First Time Using A Steripen Pre Filter & Ultraviolet Light To Purify The Creek Water. Worked Great! 7mi.

May 10th / Day Two.
McCallister Camp 945am To Junction Camp 11:00am

- Today McCallister Camp To Junction Camp. Around 1100 Gain. Excellent Views From Junction. Nice Trail. A Few Small Blowdowns. Nothing Major. Nice Steep Switch Back Section. Father & 2 Sons On Trail. Plus A Hippie Back At McCallister Camp. 7mi



May 11th / Day Three.
Up And Out Of Camp By 7:30am
Difficult Crossing Right After Horse Camp.
A Lot More Folks On The Trail. 7mi


Excellent Hike Over All!
Logged 21 Mi In These Three Days.
Personal Best.

Pictures In Imgur Link
http://imgur.com/gallery/G4rO2/new

There seems to be confusion as to the correct name of the trail, but in both cases the name Road should be now be removed. This 5 mile long logging road has been converted into a meandering trail, such that new hikers would never believe that this had been a road. Even the bridge over granite creek is gone, replaced with a log bridge. The log bridge, now has a side rail on one side, unlike the photos taken in February in other reports. This was an amazing conversion. The many stream crossings had stones making crossing easy. The conversion does make the this a harder trail on the legs, with the continuous meandering, and a lot of small ups and downs, but much more attractive.

The trail head is not signed, and the old yellow gate gone but there is now a parking area to the side of the road large enough for 4 cars. We had the trail to ourselves.

The trail was clear of snow up to about 1/2 mile from the turn off to the lakes, and the new drainage meant minimal mud, despite lots of snow melt. About 1/4 mile on the snow was continuous. We were glad of gaiters, but now need of snow shoes or crampons.
After the turn off there were 2 stream crossings, involving negotiating snow banks 3 feet high and a confidence testing step between stones. But nothing too tricky. After that it was thick snow the rest of the way. Snow is soft, and occasionally post holed, so pick your route carefully.

With all the warm weather I thought I would explore the Meadow Mountain Trail, but snow blocked access. Since it was such a nice day I decided to explore the decommissioned White Chuck River Road. Started out a little after 10:00am. The first mile there were quite a few blowdowns and windfall, but after a mile it wasn't to bad. This is not a bad hike. There were waterfalls, forest, peek-a-boo summits. It seemed like a cross between the Meadow Mountain Rd and the North Fork of the Sauk. Quite a few stream crossings and some of them not good for small children or small dogs. You can tell this is the road less traveled and felt like you were in a wild wilderness. Went a little ways past milepost 9 and had to turn around because of snow. There was also a great viewpoint at what I think would be about milepost 8, but no milepost sign. A great day to be out exploring. When I got home I looked at my Glacier Peak map and it looked like the road ended at Owl Creek. I crossed the Owl Creek bridge, so I must have been on the trail, but did not see any signs. Earlier, when heading to the Meadow Mountain trailhead, I saw that the road crews have been clearing the road of blowdowns and windfall as far as the snow.

  Even though I took the Oyster Dome Trail, I went to the right at the T. The left goes to Oyster Dome or Lily Lake. If you go to the right there is a great look out where they launch hang gliders and you can connect to the Larry Reed Trail and continue on to Lily and Lizard Lakes and also reconnect with the Oyster Dome Trail. I use these trails for conditioning for later in the hiking season, but they are great hiking trails in their own right. Forest, wildflowers, wildlife, and lakes, with significant elevation gains. Also great views of Puget Sound and no spring avalanche danger. Trails are in great shape and feels like your in the middle of the Cascades.

Wilkeson > Carbon R. Rd > Left across Carbon R. to USFS Rd 7810. Low-clearance street car; some care required. Snow began above 3200'. Road might be rougher above this point, but it was easy to here.
Ideal snow conditions with perfect summer weather in early May. Avalanche danger was considerable, but this route avoids the one open slope (E slope of Pt 5737 above the lake).
We did not cross the trail bridge at 4600' (Bearhead Mt. should be a straightforward ascent from here). Above the bridge, the valley opens to a basin, where we turned N to the ridge. We followed the ridge to the lake, gaining an unnecessary 100'. Ascended the NE ridge to the 5737' summit, descended the SE ridge. Did not take or need ice axes, but they might be almost necessary with harder snow in the steep forest. We had easy plunge-stepping with no postholing.
Descending, we traversed to just SW of Pt. 5682 and headed SSW (straight towards Coplay Lk) to the road.
In a small gully, we heard strong water flow underneath, so we got out of there.
An odd hazard: in the clearcut 2nd growth near the road, one of us fell chest-deep into a tree-well around a logging stump. This had been invisible beneath the smooth snow surface. It was awkward to get out of, and could easily have swallowed a dog, maybe a human.
Do this hike in good visibility; you want the view of Tahoma. Our view was crystal-clear. A NW wind blew away the usual Puget Sound pollution. Baker and Shuksan were distant enough to have some haze.
Along the road 3600-3800 is a portable piece of an exhaust pipe with a catalytic converter; if you pack it out, I think the scrap platinum is worth some money.

I did this hike this time last year, and I just couldn't believe how many people were up there on the Ledge compared to last year! We got on the trail at 10:30am. A lot of people were already leaving the parking lot, so we got a good parking spot by chance. I highly recommend avoiding the weekends and starting out early.

This is a very good hike to start off the season. There were 8 of us women and we all felt we got a good workout. The toilets were freshly cleaned at the trailhead, and good thing because the toilets at the park were horrible!

Take lots of water because it is all uphill and when it is hot one tends to drink more water. The views are wonderful - lots of peekaboo look-sees - and of course the view at the top is breathtaking.

Got to the trailhead just before 11- lot was packed- all the lots were for Mt Si and little Si too. Just too beautiful of a day! But I didn't have to wait more that 15 minutes before a slot opened. There was people coming and going all day, so a good place for off day or early hikes.
    The first part to the junction is an easy stroll, and so is the second to the switchbacks but prettier. So that part rates an Easy walk. The switchbacks tho, oh my. The elevation change is good, but add the rocks that the trail is made of and its a chore. That is not a walk at all. Hike medium+ when added all together.
   But the payoff is grand. Coming up to the stream and the lower falls- the coolness next to the falls was great on this 80+ degree day. And the upper falls, just beautiful. Angel and I sat and had lunch- tho she was eager to leave- The falls scared her a bit- and the rocky path was not happiness for her princess feet- but she made it like a champ. A little mountain goat in there I think. Well worth the hike.
   Some bugs, but found no need for spray. Sunscreen was needed today, tho.Some flowering but mostly old growth. Good day.

Headed out from the Bothell area around 6AM, and reached the trail head at approximately 7:15 AM. The drive was extremely beautiful as the sun rose over the Cascades and the valleys were dotted with morning fog. Once we excited I5 and took Chuckanut Drive it was even more beautiful, and the winding road was a lot of fun. Very few hikers/cars in the small parking lot when we arrived, so we had the start of the trail to ourselves. It was pretty easy going at first, but our heart rates got pumping on the switch backs (especially since this was our first hike of the season). Josh was constantly pestered by flies and/or nats, so he kept his sweatshirt and hood up most of the walk. I took off my over shirt about half way up.

On the way up we ignored the detour to the view point, deciding to wait for our return trip. Didn't really see anyone on the way up. Once we reached the lake the sun was starting to penetrate the trees and the air was warming up.

The bugs upon reaching the lake were unbearable and the lake certainly had a 'fragrance' to it, but as we made our way around the loop the bugs seemed to thin out. Due to the bug problem we decided to eat and walk, instead of stopping for a break. This confused Emily a great deal, and she got into an annoying habit of turning around and looking at us every few seconds to see if we were going to give her a bit of food. The loop around the lake was really nice, and I would encourage everyone to take it, even if you are tired, like I was, upon reaching the lake. The loop is very flat and pretty, with some large rock formations to ooh and aah at. We had a laugh when Josh told me he saw a bear track and I freaked out a little bit. Of course, he has never seen a bear track, so he wouldn't know one if he DID see one. But I am so gullible that didn't register right away.

On the way down we saw a few more hikers, but it still wasn't too bad. The trail was large and relatively flat, so we were able to do some running on the way down (always feels good after you have that sugar spike from a hiking snack).

When we reached the view point option we took it, and it was well worth it. It was relatively flat and quick to get to, and wow, what a view! There were several ships dotting the sound, and the air was crisp and cool.

We finished the hike just as many others were starting it, and were happy again that we started earlier rather than later, as the parking lot was full when we left.

Afterwards we had lunch at Boundary Bay Brewing Company in Bellingham. It was wonderful and the service was spectacular. Ended up getting back home around 1:30 PM. Was a great day and would definitely recommend this hike for beginners or as a warm-up hike for the season. As always, I recommend getting there early to avoid crowded trails.

Started off with taking a right into the campgrounds instead of turning left to get to trail 1313. Wondered around the campgrounds for a bit to check it out then headed in the right direction. With about 3 miles to go to drive to the trail head we ran into snow. A lot of snow. Decided to park the car on the side of the road and snowshoe it in. There was still anywhere between 2-4' of snow on the road. The sun was out and it was a beautiful day so we enjoyed the hike to the trail head. We decided not to go any further since we got a later start than we wanted but the trail itself was also deep in snow. Going to try this one again after the snow has time to melt off.

This is a great trail to get an overview of the city of Wenatchee (East & West) along with the Columbia River. It's usually very dry and hot so make sure to bring water. Also be cautious of rattle snakes (I haven't seen it in person but the locals say be cautious). It was about 75F with a slight breeze so it was perfect for hiking this usually hot and dry trail. This is the greenest I've EVER seen it!


My youtube video of the trail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4-DN9Xpbo8

If link doesn't work search: Hike Up Saddle Rock Hiking Trail In Wenatchee, WA

Great weather! It was over 90 degrees outside of the forest but once you got inside it was much more comfortable. The parking lot was packed (as should be expected) but the trail itself was not too crowded. Hiked all the way up to the Upper Falls and got to see some wonderful views. Read more here, with pictures : http://thepierogiemama.blogspot.com/[…]/squirt-earns-his-keep.html

For Cinco de Mayo, I finally made it out to a hike that's been on my list for awhile - Boulder River - since I'm a waterfall lover. This was a great hike! The 700' elevation gain part was a bit of a curveball as it felt like there was more than that, but one foot in front of the other moved us up an down as the trail requested. I was not ready for the stunning waterfalls that are a part of this trail - two main ones and many creek crossings w/baby waterfalls if you stop to enjoy them. Those are the hidden gems in the hikes I enjoy - the baby waterfalls. They have so much character!

This would make a great backpack destination as there are quite a few campsites - though getting water may require a bit of tramping from some of them.

There were trilliums, bleeding hearts and the little yellow flower - whose name escapes me - blooming. The blow downs were quite manageable and the mud made it interesting. We did not come out looking like Tough Mudder participants luckily!

I don't hike many trails more than once because there are so many more to explore in this great area, but I'll be back to this one for sure!

SNOW! You still can't drive up to the trail head and there is more than a foot of snow on the road. It is slippery and COLD, even with 80's in the towns below it - dress warm and with good shoes.

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.

No snow until about a mile and half before the lake. As you get closer the snow gets heavy, probably about 5 feet of snow still starting before you get to the junction that splits the trail to thompson lake or granite lakes. Did not go down to granite lake turned around at the junction, however it is doable. Snow has settled pretty well so post holing will not happen a lot. There are several decent sized creeks causing wide gaps between snow. Hopefully by June the snow will pretty much be melted out on this hike. We will see as long as this weather continues :) Great hike for dogs, only saw 5 people all day and most people never even make it to the lake even when the trail is snow free. Not the most exciting hike but the route does provide some backdoor avenues for summits of mount defiance, little visited thompson and granite lakes, and revolution peak.

The trail is currently closed for a reroute project. There are no signs announcing this until after you have walked the 2.3 miles up the access road to the trail head.

I finally got the whole family out for a hike this beautiful Sunday morning. Since we usually end up at the Oyster Dome via one trail or another, we decided to take on a different area.

I had heard the Alger Alp was a nice easy 4 mile round trip hike so thought we would tackle that. There is only room for 1 or 2 cars at the actual trailhead without blocking the gate, but just about 100 feet up the road there are some wide spots on the shoulder where seveal more cars can park.

You are on a forest service road (1000) the whole way up. It is beautifully maintained, wide enough to walk three across the entire way.You start out going UP and you keep going UP almost the entire way. You gain about 1000 feet in the 2 miles to the top.

There are two spots almost to the top where the views of Mt Baker are stunning. From there it's just a short distance around a corner until you are facing SW again and you can see Anacortes, all of Skagit Valley and on this day, the Olympics. Worth the climb! Do be aware, the trail abruptly stops at the top and there are no railings or barriers. The next step would be a doozie.

The bugs were pretty bad about half way up but once we reached the top they seemed to mellow out and as it warmed up, they mostly disappeared on the way down as well.

We had our dogs off leash the entire time so they really enjoyed the outing as well. We will definitely make this hike again.

Criteria for a Cinco de Mayo Hike:

-within a 90 minute drive of Seattle
-snow-free trail in early spring (no snowshoes after May Day. It's the Pac NW version of the South's 'no white after Labor Day')
-dog-ideal (mostly shaded, medium foot traffic, fresh water on the route)

Boulder River trail gets a check, check and check, with views that are worth it and up and down elevation gain for a hike that never goes above 1600 feet.

Getting there: I-5 exit 208 to get on SR 530 E. You're only on 530 for about 25 miles before you get to the turn-off (NF Road 2010 on GPS, aka French Creek Road), but blink and you'll miss it. If you get to the Shell gas station, you've gone too far (although you can get a great un-obstructed view of the mountain range...right behind the gas station. I'm being serious. It's a photo-op). After miles of fields, there's an unexpected housing subdivision in between the towns of Arlington and Darrington--marked by a green highway sign reading 'French Creek'. This is where you turn (yes, onto the narrow gravel road going into the forest). The gravel road itself is a minefield of pot-holes; there's an outhouse about 1 mile in, and then you continue for another 2.8 miles past the last restroom opportunity to the parking "lot" (essentially a turn-around right before the trailhead--cars start lining up on the side of the road up to half a mile away from the trailhead depending on how packed it when you arrive).

That's the hard part. The hike is easy breezy beautiful cover squirrel.

Though "Boulder Falls" is the headliner, there are actually 3 seriously high waterfalls across the river on your right, within the first 1.25 miles of the hike (how's that for instant gratification? some people turn around after the 3rd waterfall for a quick hike).

The rest of the hike undulates up and down parallel to the riverbank, with the namesake Boulder River, mighty this time of year, always within earshot or visible through the trees alongside the trail. If you hike the whole way, you'll cross many, many streams (about 24 without a proper bridge--we counted) which range from shoe-bottom deep to ankle deep, but are all safe and ice-free. The second half of the trail is still fairly muddy in parts as of this first weekend of May, and there are a couple blowndown trees to climb over, but altogether worth it.

About 4 and a half miles in, the trail dives down to the riverbank and dead ends in a shallow section with enough dry gravel bed and boulders for everyone to spread out and eat lunch by the water. The trail is mostly shaded, which must be a nice bonus on hot days...but the payoff destination / cooldown by the river was out basking in the open sun today.

Leisurely 2 hours on the way in; dogster was in more of a hurry on the way out and we made it back to the trailhead in about an hour and a half.

Nice first non-snowshoe hike of the season.

Conditions were beautiful; sunny, moderately warm, and there's plenty of shade on the trail. (But sunscreen is still a good idea.) There isn't a very 'defined' parking situation at the trailhead as you park along the sometimes narrow road, and we had a very difficult time telling if we were at the right trailhead due to a lack of signage.

There is a large parking area/trailhead before the end of the road that we originally stopped at thinking it was the correct trail, and the Otter/Big Creek Falls/Taylor River trail is not named anywhere on the maps that are at said parking area.

Also be aware, the dirt road you drive to get to the trail is *horrendous*. It's probably the worst road I've ever driven on as it has not been maintained very well at all, and sometimes-nearly-foot-deep potholes *litter* the thing. It took almost an hour to go the distance from I-90 to the trailhead due to all the panicked swerves and hard braking to avoid the massive potholes. (Also due to the fact you can't see them in the shaded areas as well.)

There is a fair amount of snow closer to the cement bridge, but nothing too major; it was a little confusing trying to figure out where the smaller trails connected to the larger one however.

All in all a beautiful hike, but it was a long haul to get there!

We hiked this trail for about 3/4 of a mile. It was good hiking with some obvious blow downs from the winter. We stopped at Granite Creek and turned around since the creek was running quickly.

The Trail head is not very accessible since the local builder is putting a pipe in place to put a road over the creek. You will need to park on one side and walk a log or jump the stream to get to the trail head. See the pictures.

 

Found the trail good in most spots. Forded several small falls feet got wet, but wool socks saved the day. There is a large washout with tight trail access on a very steep side. Some muddy & soggy ground. Gorgeous hike with trilliums, new spring green moss, shamrock shaped low ground cover with yellow blossoms, tiny pale lavendar orchid shaped flowers, new fern fronds. Cathedral Falls were beautiful & mesmerizing. I didn't hike down to the bottom too narrow & slick looking fragile ground nor did I walk under the falls as it too was slick. Met several families with young children who all had an easy time of hiking. I'm a novice hiker over age 60 & I'll be back!

Our hike today was great. It was the first really nice weekend of the year, so there were hikers all around. The parking lot was packed and there was a lot of stopping for passers. The trail is well maintained with only a small amount of mud for creek water. Great views, but quite a bit of crowding.

Another trip back to Umtanum area today. After doing the Umtanum Creek Canyon a couple of months ago we decided to go check out and find the falls and see if there were any wild flowers. We found both.
It is quite an easy trail to follow and sooner than you know it you are at the falls. There were quite a few people on this part of the trail as the day went on, but we went beyond the falls and up onto the ridge and followed the ridge line and intermittent road trails up there and had the place to ourselves. Flowers are blooming and it is quite a different sight than a few months ago. Much more colour around.
No rattlesnakes sighted, for which I am a little relieved and a little disappointed.
The wind was a welcome coolant up on top and the creek kept the dogs cool down below.

Party of 3 started in the morning around 9:30, clear skies, cool weather and shade in the trees at the beginning of the trail head. After a series of switchbacks we came to an open meadow at the end of the tree line, here we saw a mother bear and two cubs, around 3400'.

Continuing up the eternal switchbacks we encountered patches of snow in the huckleberry field, around 5000'.

At around 5400' was consistent snow and difficulty keeping track of where the trail was.

At around 6400' we had to turn back, beautiful scenery and a long hike back, we slid down the slopes covered in snow.

Trails are in good condition with a little mud from recent rainfall. We saw about 100 volunteers working on many trails in the park. In recent years mountain bikers have created new trails that are great for hiking on also. The overall mileage of trails in the park has almost doubled because of the added trails. We hiked 6 miles today. We brought first time hikers that want to go again!

A ton of SNOW on the trail. We couldn't even drive up to the trail head due to snow and fallen trees. Hiked about a 1/2 mile to the trail head through snow and cotinued to hike the trail on top of copact snow and ice.

Went with a dog, 7 year old and 13 year old. Definitely wasn't prepared with tennis shoes, shorts and t-shirts. Definitely very cool and crisp. But, if we could do it being completely unprepare, anyone can do it with the proper shoes and appropriate clothing. I only caution that it is pretty slippery and a bit chilly.

GOREGOUS hike, running water, and crazy to think on a 70 - 80 degree day we could be hiking in snow. A very fun experience if you are up to.

Perfect day for a hike. About 2.5 miles up is where the snow starts to build up making it necessary for snowshoes. Try to get there early to take advantage of the least-slushy snow. We at least 2 sets of large cougar tracks that were fresh in the snow on our way down. So keep that in mind if you have a small dog with you.

  What a fantastic day for a hike. I got a late start but headed up to Ross Lake in The North Cascades which is part of Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Parked just off Highway 20 at Ross Lake Trailhead and headed down the .8 mile trail to the top of Ross Dam. Trail in good shape with lots of water. Crossed over one nicely constructed bridge and several other creeks on the way down. Make sure to follow the signs to get down to the dam.
  The views from the top of the dam looking east and west are breath taking. Down below the dam is the east end of Lake Diablo and the place small boats and kayaks can be picked up and delivered into Ross Lake. From here I walked across the dam and hooked up with The Big Beaver Trail where I headed out to Green Point which is about half way to Big Beaver Creek campground. From my pictures you can see the view from Green Point is well worth the hike out there. Trail is in great shape with several creeks to cross so there is always lots of water. I recommend you bring a water filter if you need to get fresh water along the trail. Even though it may be safe to drink why take a chance water filters are light and small so they fit in even a small pack.
  I decided to turn around at Green Point after having lunch. I was out here to scope out the trail because I have plans to do the 13 mile loop from Diablo Lake over Sourdough Mountain and come out at the Ross Lake Trail Head. This will be a 1 to 2 day overnight stay and two cars would work better so if anyone is interested in say late August or September leave me a note and I will get back with you. I am interested in waiting until most of the snow is off Sourdough Mountain. The view of Diablo and Ross Lake and the snowcapped mountains are worth this rather strenuous up hill hike.
  All and all it was a great day to hike The North Cascades along Ross Lake. Come check out this trail. I saw very few people even though there was ten cars in the parking lot. Most of them must have been overnight campers. Checkout my videos of this hike on my youtube channel at "lmm3181" or click on the direct links below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q341RQyUSiE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAtlPbqcEUg (This is a long video)

As always get out and see this great state and enjoy your hiking!

Take Care
Mike

A late start and our lack of condition meant we only went about half way to the lake. Still worth it. There were a number of small waterfalls to admire along the way. And the spring growth contrasted nicely with the old growth. Met a number of hikers coming back from the lake including quite a few small children. The trail was not crowded at all but it looked like the parking area had been full earlier in the day.

As of Saturday, Mount Ellinor was in ideal condition for a safe snowy ascent with plenty of glissading on the way down. The road was snow free to the lower trailhead. Snow started about a mile up on the North side of the ridge that the trail follows (about 3400ft).

The huge glissade chute in the gully below the summit saddle was an exciting site as I left the tree line. Ascending that gully was probably the crux of the climb. Near the top the slope extended well past 45 degrees and large moats were forming against the rock on both sides. Luckily the snow pack was well consolidated, otherwise there would be substantial avalanche danger along this route.

When I exited the gully i turned to see what the pair in front of me was looking at, it was a large mountain goat lounging in the sun on a ledge in front of Tahoma. In the other direction the summit was visible,a few people nearing the top and a few coming down. There were two short hills from there to the summit, both complete with deep glissade chutes. By 10 am the snow was starting to soften in the sun. I watched a few folks glissade past, a long line of slush following them like a lahar.

The view from the top was spectacular. the heart of the Olympics are still covered in snow. Mount Washington's summit block and a few southern rock's on Ellinor had melted out. To the left of Mount Washington, Mount Baker was poking over the East shoulder of what i believe to be Mount Jupiter. There were far to many distant peaks in view to count, I couldn't even decide if Mount Olympus was one of them. Auto and I sat on the rocks and soaked up the sun at the summit for at least an hour. Occasionally cool winds from the North crested the ridge right into our faces, making me forget momentarily about the 80 degree temperatures below.

I had high hopes of continuing on to Mount Rose and Copper, but the ridge that separated us looked a bit more treacherous than the map contours suggest. I considered losing some extra elevation to the south to traverse below the treeline and the steeper terrain, but gave up after post-holing into at least a dozen fallen tree voids before even beginning the traverse. We stopped at a ledge just below the main gully for lunch and solar bowls where Automahn made friends with more people with food (big surprise). The three big volcanoes had begun to emerge from the haze that covered everything to the South and West, and while surveying the landscape I noticed Seattle in the distance.

I could feel the growing heat as we neared the parking area, which had accumulated another 10 cars or so. I think we were lucky to have missed the enormous crowds that I have read about. On the way home I made a quick stop in Shelton for a skydive at Kapowsin Air Sports, which more than made up for missing my 2nd and 3rd planned summits for the day.

Pics and Route Map @ http://www.jebsjourneys.com/[…]/mount-ellinor-2013-5-4.html

Sunny and 77 down below.
What a wonderful day to sit on top of the world.
Mailbox Peak is, well Mailbox Peak. A long hard climb to the top. It was cool and pleasant when hiking in the trees. Gorgeous views once you reached to rocks. You had your choice of rocks or snow to climb at that point. Then it was the long uphill push to the top.
On a warm and sunny Saturday, the trail was full of people enjoying this hike.
The views at the top made it worth the effort.
May the 4th be with you.

A nice lowlands hike with plenty of mossy trees, views of Mt Garfield (the Hazardous Enigma, according to Fred Beckey!), and of course the river. Trail is in great shape; passed a couple with baby stroller. Access road is potholed and takes patience.

The Lime Kiln trail was fabulous for a day hike. We had a beautiful sunny day and the trail was pretty clear. Just a couple of muddy areas. Many photographic opportunities, birds, and a lovely rocky beach.

We tried to find the trailhead by following the WTA directions but were not successful. We parked behind the gate as directed, walked about a mile up the road, never found the logging road and ended turning right between two concrete barriers and hiking up a marked dry river bed. We never found the vista, and never found a wide converted logging road. We turned around after an hour and hiked back down to Grouse road. Just to see what we missed we continued up Grouse toward the fire academy for another mile, never seeing a logging road or other trail head. It would be nice for successful hikers to post an updated description of the trailhead.

Beautiful day to head up to Lake Serene. Trail is clear of snow until about 1/4 mile from the lake when it becomes solid snow. You have to cross several open slopes in the snow. The snow is soft and you need to be aware of post holing, especially later in the day.

The lake basin is full of snow with waterfalls pouring down the rock face. As snow dams are failing on the streams, there were multiple surges of water with rockfalls. Plenty of entertainment to see and hear.

On our way to Lake Wenatchee and wanted to stretch our legs. This hike doesnt waste anytime climbing from the get go. Still a great hike and the trail was in good shape. Think of it as an outdoor stair climber. Lots of trillium's along the trail and some yellow violets but not much other flowers. Great view as always of the Bridal Veil Falls across the way and the East into the valley towards Stevens Pass.

Trail is 1 mi up and took us less than 25min so about an hour total time. Well worth the hike to get out and stretch the legs if you are heading further East on Hwy 2.

It was a beautiful day for a hike along the Boulder River near Arlington. There are plenty of places to stop for a picnic next to the raging river and still active falls full of water from the Late Spring thaw. Bring boots you don't mind getting muddy as there is plenty of it on the trail at stream crossings. Mosquitoes weren't much of a problem, but soon will be once summer gets here.

A friend of mine and I hiked this trail yesterday. It was a beautiful hike and their were lots of opportunities for pictures. Some water over the trail, not much of an issue, one tree that was easy enough to get around, and a lot of snow at the top of the trail. Definitely make sure you have waterproof boots and good traction.

Perfect weather with great trail conditions. Water is powerful and worth the quick hike if your limited on time. Parking is limited at trailhead and trail was busy for a Friday.

It had been awhile since I had taken the main trail up to the top of West Tiger #3. This trail gets tons of traffic so I've been avoiding it instead taking various other options up to Railroad Grade and then cutting over to the top.

It being a weekday and conditions almost perfect, I thought I would give the "freeway" a try. The past few sunny days have produced very good conditions including clear, dry trails, zero bugs and a smattering of forrest wildflowers to enjoy along the way. This trail is so well traveled that it is rare to encounter hazards of any kind and today was no exception. Clear sailing up to the top!

Thursday must be "take your dog to Tiger day" and I was no exception. Trail Dog Lucy had a great time! Moderate traffic overall but about every other hiker had a dog. Fortunately everyone, people included, were friendly and courteous.

Get out and enjoy the gorgeous weather and great conditions!

Only a little bit of patchy snow the last 1.5 miles or so. Muddy and wet in places but not bad. Unobstructed views of mount ranier, olympic mountains, seattle, and bellevue. I have boycotted Mount Si for a few years but...go early you do not get the crowds and the views are nice, close to home, and a nice training hike.

The road to Big Four Picnic Area is closed. Thus, we could not do Dickerman. We decided to hike to Lake 22. It was a great sunny day. Only met two other people on the trail.

Trail is in great condition. Snow is on the trail but melting fast. The lake is mostly frozen and you will hear/see avalanches high up in the surrounding mountains.

My black lab could not resist swimming in the water.

A glorious day for a hike. Forest Road 42 is easy to find, but very potholed with some rather large holes. We left the trailhead at 9:30am and there was already another car there. The trail is relatively clear- maybe 2 trees one has to skirt around or under. Lots of water on the trail and beside it- doesn't impede your route at all. At about 2200 feet the snow starts. One of our party used microspikes, but one can so it without. The Lake is all but frozen over. Some hikers ( actually a liftie from Stevens pass) were skiing on the south side of Pilchuk. It was very warm in the sun, on the snow, and the sky was oh so blue! Sunglasses are a must!
The way down gets slippery with all the water- one of our party had a bad fall on some loose rocks. Passed more hikers taking ski's up.
Worth the hike-the parking lot had about 8 cars when we got back to the car.

 Started out on the trail at about 10:15am. There were a few spots of patchy snow, but it looked recent and was melting quick. Spring is in full swing here with wildflowers and greenery popping out everywhere. There were quite a few blowdowns and a lot of windfall. The dog and myself only went about 2 miles and the trail was getting pretty grown over. It would not take much for a trail crew to clear this trail, I know there was a lot of damage from the 2003 floods, so I do not know how hard it would be to clear it to the White Chuck road. There were peeks of mountains and you could hear and sometimes glimpse the White Chuck, but the part of the trail I was on did not go near the river. Was back at the car at a little after 12:00pm and headed out to the Old Sauk River Trail. The weather was warm and clear, a great day to be out exploring.

Wallace Lake via longer DNR road route and back Gregs balls trail. Great day for Fellowship of the Trails. Got some good pictures. No trail issues. Just did Upper Fals a few weeks back, trail has dried out.

Decided to hike this trail after exploring the White Chuck Bench Trail. This was a recommended trail for dogs and have started to take the pup hiking. Trail was in good shape and enjoyed watching the dog chase butterflies. Great day to be out and start getting ready for the summer hiking season. With all the warm weather I have the exploring bug.

Lots of mud on the trail. Wear good mud and water proof shoes. We took our dog and 3 year old son. Perfect hike for families!

Good conditions on trail. Only a few tiny muddy areas, but other than that the trail was perfectly clear. I went on a Tuesday and didn't see any other hikers. I didn't see anyone at all until the trip down from the peak when I encountered a couple of ATVers. Nice peaceful walk through the woods. Not really any views along the way, but a nice 360 degree shot from the top. Clouds rolled in during my hike, but could still see about 1/2 of Mt. Rainier and all the surrounding rolling hills. I took about 3 1/2 hours to complete the hike.

Pros: Easily done in an afternoon. Have the trail to yourself. Lots of spring edibles. Rewarding view at the turn around point.

Cons: Logging sites, some trash along the road, heard some gun shots and saw shotgun shells, also along the road. Peak area is a logged site with antenna towers that took away from the wilderness feeling.

This is a great day hike, close to I-5, and intersecting trails to make it longer or shorter. It was a cloudy day, and I suspect the lake and area is crowded on sunny days. Nice parking area with a sani-can, and good signage. Connects with Pacific NW Trail, but not sure how. Good climb and trail along a ridge with a sheer rock drop off, not sure if you can see this from the picture.
 

Took a group of hikers to visit this special island in Palouse country. I think we were in between early and late flowers, not as many as I have seen there before. We hiked up from the day use area to the very top of the ridge and came back on a trail that goes below the campground (Sunset Trail) to add a little more mileage. Great views out in all directions.

This Conservation Futures property is adjacent to Newman Lake. The trail head is above the lake and the hike takes you to the lake through forest.
Starting at the parking lot we took the trail to our right. It goes through the forest with some ups and downs to a high point and then follows a ridge downhill toward the lake. There were Grass Widows, Shooting Stars and Spring Beauties on the way down and good views of the lake. At the bottom we took the right turn and hiked a bit out a road to a junction. We took the right trail (again) and very soon came to another junction. We went right and ended up back on the road in a different location. Traveled back down and took the other junction which was a flagged trail that needed work. It was a short loop that returned us to the main trail. Following that back took us to Turtle Rock and a Native Plant Display Garden and good views. We followed the road as it gently took us back to the parking lot. Without the unnecessary hike up the hill to the road the total look would be about 3.28 miles and about 360 ft. of elevation gain. I have posted the trip on Everytrail where it is shown on a map.
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2110083

West Tiger 3 appears to be turning into a spring (i.e. late mountain winter) tradition for me. I have visited in April or May now for three years in a row.

We arrived at about 10:30 am. The parking lot was mostly full with Discover Pass holders, and the frontage road was packed with the passless. It was cloudy and drizzly when we started, but that didn't appear to dissuade lots of folks from ascending the trail. The trail is in good shape and easy to follow. Because of the rain, there was some water, but it was not too troublesome. No snow at this point. Wildflowers (salmonberry and ground cover plants) are starting to bloom. Cascade oregon grap is sprouting berries. Lots of dogs were on the trail, including our canine companion, Beauty. Pacific banana slugs and European brown/black slugs were out, too--one of the spring attractions of the Issaquah Alps.

The view at the top was occasionally cloudy, but we could see West Tiger #1 and Lake Sammamish. There were some glimpses of sunlight and blue sky during the hike. Distant mountains were blotted out by the cloud ceiling. We headed back the same way we came. Our total time was about 4.5 hours. One of my highlights was meeting an AML survivor 5 years post-stem cell transplant.

I started this hike from the Samish Lookout parking area.

I find when hiking, one MUST have a sense of humor about oneself. That being said, before I left on this lightly overcast morning, I read a little excerpt about Max's shortcut. The writer and his wife mentioned findng the shortcut and that they were glad they were coming down it instead of UP. I made a mental note and YET... went up it anyway. That's where my sense of humor became necessary. Laughing at my willingness to disregard my own decision was what kept me going.

While not as steep as the hades-like-branch-and-rock ladder incline near the top of the Oyster Dome, it was very steep for along ways. Once at the top however, I was glad to have cut the time off my hike. For those of you new to the area (or just new to this trail like me) if you are trying to get to the Dome, hang a sharp left when Max's Shortcut comes out at the lake. I didn't. I went merrily down the trail until I came upon some mountain bikers at the Lily/Lizard/Army trail intersection. They sent me back the right direction. From there it was only about 15 - 20 minutes to the Oyster Dome.

I rarely plan on going to the Dome, but somehow usually end up there. Even though it was over cast and bitterly windy, the view was awesome.

On the trail there were a few pretty decent mud-slop areas. One in particular about half way from Max's trail's end and the Hwy 11 connection that I had to do some creative side stepping to get over without sinking. (The dogs, of course, loved sinking up to their knees in it). Only one blow down, but it had been mostly cleared and was easy to navigate.

The trip up took me 2 hours almost exactly, that includes my little adventure down the trail in the wrong direction. The way down took just a little over an hour. Max's Shortcut is well maintained and fun for jogging down. All of the bridges were in good shape with the exception of one that has some pretty worn boards.

All around, an A+ hike.

Tried this hike last week, and took a wrong turn. Due to the snow, Mt. Gardner is currently a 11.3 mile hike. We parked near the intersection of Mcllellan Butte and the 9020 service road. There is periodic snow on route to the trail head, and still about 4-5 feet of wet-heavy snow once you begin the trail. The land bridge over Harris Creek is out, it's the second creek you pass on route to the trail head. The views were awesome.

Wanted to start the hike earlier but got to the TH at about 9am and was down by noon. Parking lot was a quarter full and ran into some people on the way up, ran into more people on the way down. Unlike most hikes I go on, this one was clearly marked with signs, which was kinda nice. Lots of bridges, running water, and most importantly benches to sit on to rest! Lots of photo ops and this trail has been well maintained, KUDOS to WTA crew and Parks Dept. Trees are beautiful, reminds of the ones at Hoh Rainforest in Forks, WA. We hiked up to the Upper Falls, stayed for a few min. and headed back down and had lunch at the Picnic shed.

Great hike, I would definitely recommend going. You do need a Discover Pass but today was Parks Week, (I renew mine every year because of the many hikes I try to do), gotta love WA!

Great day hike. Not too steep. Some snow for about a mile at top if you are heading to the radio tower, but that is optional as the ledge is in a different direction. Beautiful views of mountains and a lake from the ledge.

We got to the trailhead around 9:00am and we were welcomed by a few early season bugs at the trailhead only. The trail overall was in a lot better shape than I expected. We did the full hike with a few muddy areas and a couple of small stream crossings. There is also a couple of blowdowns that you will have to cross and were just a little bit slippery so just use caution. The falls were beautiful and running full. The direction to the trailhead are spot on but use caution looking for the turn off to forest road 2010 from highway 530 it's small and comes up quick. Waterproof boots is the only recommendation I have for this trip. Probably not a bad idea to start packing some bug spray soon!

  Headed out to Wallace Falls State Park today and this time I left early enough to get a parking spot. Even on and overcast day like today the parking lot was full at noon when I got back to the vehicle. I arrived at 8:00am as the park opens. There were twelve cars already. The weather was over cast but no rain on the way up but as I reach the top of the trail at railroad grade above the Upper Falls where I would turn left to head out to Wallace Lake the wind kicked up something fierce.
 I expected a rain storm so instead of hiking 2.3 miles out to the Wallace Lake and 5 miles back to the parking lot I turned around and headed backdown the Woody Trail along the falls which was the fastest way back. It did start raining but not very hard. I made it back to the vehicle without getting that wet. This distance was a little over 5 miles roundtrip
 There were lots of people on the trail which is always the case there but it still was a great day to get out and see these magnificent waterfalls. I try to hike this once a year in early spring before the snow melts from the upper mountains which is where we all would like to be for the spectacular views. Checkout my videos of this hike or over 260 other trails I have hiked on my youtube channel at "lmm3181" or click on these direct links below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vxzsIf-hIo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfSQn4wjRv8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBQSiFnukrw

As always get out and see this magnificent state and enjoy your hiking!!

Mike

Automahn and I arrived at the Trailhead at 6:45am as a pair of turkey hunters were gearing up for the day. We shared our plans in the interest of safety and went our separate ways. The gate at Stafford Creek was closed with a sign that read "Road closed until further notice", but the chain securing it seemed to be missing a lock.

We headed up Trail 1359 under patchy skies and within a mile I could feel the occasional blast of warm wind at what seemed to be far too early in the morning. The forecast predicted a 30% chance of rain in Cle Elum (the lowest percentage I could find in the Cascades West of Wenatchee) but I began to expect a warm sunny day as the sun peeked over into the valley. Snow patches appeared on the trail within 2 miles of the Trailhead.

I shed a layer before leaving the trail just north of a substantial creek to begin ascending toward Freedom Peak, but replaced it about one hundred feet below the summit when the forecasted 30+mph winds showed up. The Enchantments were in clear view as were most the Cascades East of the Pass, despite the ominous storm front that seemed to be developing on the Western horizon. On the snow-free, rocky summit I quickly performed my usual ritual of pictures and scattering ashes then dropped back down to a cozy little crack I had passed on the way up to have a snack out of the crazy wind.

As I shouldered my pack snow began to join the wind, which continued to pick up speed. I eyeballed Navaho on the way down to the saddle, and briefly considered heading back early. By the time I had reached the saddle, the wind speed seemed to have doubled and snow turned to hail. The weather was getting pretty brutal, but I wasn't concerned about navigation and we had come so far to turn back about a mile and 1200' shy of the goal. As my thought's turned to Automahn, I noticed that his tail was still wagging, and that was all the motivation I needed to continue.

We were able to stay mostly on snow from the saddle to the Summit besides a few sections of loose rock. The wind and hail continued relentlessly but as I neared the top I noticed the sun shining through. I wasted no time at the Summit before starting down to the SW, plunge stepping deep into softening snow. It was nice to get into the trees where the wind was calmer, and less than 1000' below the ridge I began to see patches of blue sky. I rejoined the trail around 4400' as the snow faded to an intermittent sprinkle. Back at the car I was stoked to be sitting in the sunshine as I removed boots and toweled off the dog, and 45 minutes later we were climbing back over Snoqualmie Pass into the rain. I carried snowshoes but never used them, although they would have been helpful in several places.

~13 miles round trip
4400' elevation gain

More pics and route map @ www.jebsjourneys.com

If you haven't heard, Middle Fork Rd has been graded, so no more punishing drive to get to this trailhead (at least for now).

Had a great hike starting around 9am, overcast, but bright and mild. Trail is in great shape, just a couple areas of fallen trees from the winter, but nothing to slow you down. There is a bridge out about 2 miles in, but creek is small, and someone has laid some lumber and a log here that are easy to cross on.

Trillium blooming by the dozen, and great mountain views (Preacher Mtn, Garfield Mtn). Trail has high water about 2 1/2 miles, about 1/2 mile before the river access point. No problem keeping your shoes dry as long as you carefully pick your path.

This is more of a good walk than a real hike. Still, it's beautiful and near the waters of Saratoga Passage so you get some salt air and great views.

It was a cool, windy Saturday afternoon and the park was almost empty of people. Two of us and a dog saw only one other person hiking.

Notes:
- The trails were dry and well maintained.
- Make sure to read the trail map so you don't miss the South part of the loop (it's easy to miss if you don't look for it) which takes you to the power line trail. The South loop has great views.
- It's easy to hike and doesn't take much time, making it a good quick hike should you be in the area.
- The beach is beautiful and has a great picnic area.

I had heard about this hike some time ago, but never had the opportunity to go here until now. This was my first hike of the Spring, and it was beautiful. The guide book I read prior to this hike said it is 10-miles, but it felt much shorter than that.

We left the trailhead at 10am, with a light drizzle falling. By the time we reached the Big Creek Falls bridge, it was raining hard. Big Creek Falls is pretty, but Otter Falls definitely takes the cake!

The trail conditions were what one would expect this time of year. I would recommend wearing waterproof boots, or having a pair of dry shoes to put on in the car. Several creeks cross the path, only two of which have bridges.

Trekking poles are essential when crossing the large washout between Martin Creek and Otter Falls.

There is 2-3 feet of snow covering the trail just before Otter Falls and ending just before Big Creek Falls. We did a lot of post-holing here!

A wet but wonderful day! Besides a few minor blowdowns and soggy spots the trail is in great shape. We stopped and meandered around the Anderson Point campsites before pressing on towards Maple Grove, both are great spots to reach the lakeside. Looking forward to returning with a tent in tow when the weather warms up a bit.

We love island adventures. Ferry rides only lead to good things across the water. Today we headed over to Vashon Island to explore the Island Center Forest. This is a King County Park and has four different trail heads. We started at the 188th St Trail head today.
Pick up a map provided at the kiosk if you did not bring one or print one at home. You will need it. Most of the trails are well marked and easy to follow with the provided map.
This is a lovely walk through the woods. The trails are in good condition and have a good tread. We only ran into one extremely muddy area ( and after such a rainy april that is a good thing). There is not much elevation gain, but a few small ups and downs. There are side loop trails with interpretive signs to read if you don't have dogs needing to get to the next smell.
Horses use these trails as well, and although we didn't meet any today, there was plenty of evidence of their presence.
There are about ten miles of trails within this park. We covered about 4 today before heading into Vashon for lunch at The Hardware Store.
After lunch, seeing as we were on an island, we needed some beach time. So off we headed to Point Robinson Lighthouse. Wonderful little scenic beach area.
And did you know it never rains on island time, only a moist sea breeze to keep you cool.

This is a great trail! My young large-breed dog isn't supposed to do too much hiking yet, so we are hitting all the short ones this spring.
On a beautiful Friday afternoon, I expected this to be pretty busy. Nope, we saw three people the whole time! From the Iron Horse, the trail is shortly after the bridge; there is a small wood sign nailed to a tree. In a bit, it Y's, and there's a tiny little arrow (pictured on another report) telling you to take a right, and then you hit another well-signed junction shortly below the summit.
The trail is very well-broken-in, but you could tell by the unscuffed dirt and pine needles it barely gets any traffic. It winds through some really pretty forest, and feels like you're much deeper in the mountains than you really are. There are a few really steep patches, but they're very short, and the rest of the trail is borderline level. There are also some technical, rooty sections, which are fun - especially for the dog. The viewpoint isn't super exciting, but it's such a great trail, that's OK.
I wish I knew about this when I used to work in Eastgate because I would have made it a once-a-week habit! Looking forward to running it when the puppy's grown too.

Great evening for a hike! We started at 6:45 and ended at 8:00. I wish we would have known, but there was a ton of people showing up on our way down for full moon viewing. Which I'm sure was spectacular. The skies were clear and the temperature would have been warm enough.

The trail is a bit steep at times, but all in all moderate. Well maintained, trace amounts of mud (not even covering trail width). My GPS tells me Distance: 4.25 Miles, Ascent: 1129 ft, Descent: 1171 ft. Temperature started at 80, and steadily dropped to 65 by 8PM.

FR 27 is in very good shape. FR 2741 where you cut off to Tunnel Creek is easily passable, but rough with rocks (loose and embedded) and some potholes. I wouldn’t take a Ferrari (or even our Prius), but we did fine in a Sentra. Someone (likely USFS) had cut out the downed branches and moved larger rocks off the road (thank you!).
As for the trail: HELP, WTA (sawyers needed)!!! Pics at: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/

The trail starts off with a downed tree right at the sign. There are about 4-5 downed trees (some quite the tangles), mostly in the first ½ mile. There are a few more trees down and some branches after that. All are negotiable, but a few are challenging. I took our dog off leash so we could each pick our ways more safely, then he’d wait for me on the other side to re-leash him (what a super-good pup, right???). There is little snow on the trail until about a mile before the shelter, then it’s steady snow. It’s fine with just boots, though we put on traction for the way out and appreciated having it. I headed towards the bridge beyond the shelter but was postholing so much the pup was anxious so I turned back. As always, and despite the challenges, this is a lovely stroll through the woods with lots of solitude, birdsong, beautiful creek, and dappled sun along mossy trees and boulders. We saw only 2 other hikers the whole way (a sunny Friday) – they went maybe 2 miles in before turning back. Our total for the day to the shelter and back with one little A.D.D. routefinding in the snow detour was 5.8 mi., 1,624' gain.

It was a sunny day so we decided to try out Lake Serene and the falls. The falls were easy to get to without much of an elevation gain at all but after the falls, expect a rather steep incline with lots of switchbacks if you plan on heading to Lake Serene. Second hike of the year for me and I had to rest a few times, no big deal. Once you reach the snow line, it is melting so it is slushy instead of powdery and you will post hole sometimes without snow shoes but it's not bad, you don't need snow shoes but gaiters are recommended. The lake is still covered in snow except for a patch on the west side that is beginning to melt off. On the way down, the distance past the falls to the parking lot seemed to drag on a lot longer than I remembered going up...

I decided to take a day off from work and explore an easy hike. After reading the previous reports, I thought we would be bombarded with mountain bikes but today we encountered two bikers, two joggers and four other hikers. We started our hike from the High Point trailhead making a loop to Central Park and exiting on the Coal Mine trailhead. The trail was well maintained with very few muddy spots (thought there would be more).

Went up for a simple spring day hike with the girlfriend and the dog. We got to the Big Creek Camp area around 10. Had to park at the main gate due to The camp being closed. It was a perfect sunny spring day with temp expected to be 70. The trail is in great condition no mud and no blow downs. Took a lunch break on one of the many benches located next to one of the many creeks for lunch about half way on the loop. Perfect day for the perfect hike on the perfect trail.

Silver Star via Grouse Vista Trail head.

Beautiful evening hike.
No flowers yet.
1st mile little to no snow
2nd mile 70% snow
3rd mile 98% snow
I did sink up to my waist only once. Other than that its a 3 to 6 inch depressions per step. Most of the snow holds you up fine.

Going up in with the hike being covered in snow kicked our butts I must say. I had to look back at the website to see the distance because it felt more like 4+ miles one way.

We started out at 5pm and returned to our truck hiking the last mile with flash lights as it was about 8:45 when we returned.

I did enjoy hiking down in the snow. If you have joints that don't fare very well decending, its kind of nice actually. I found myself choosing the snow over solid ground on the way down.

Great hike. I've done Hamlton Mt, Table Mountain (cloudy day), and Dog Mountain and I must say I think this had the best views from the top. I'll post a couple pics.

Bring your snowshoes!

We started the hike at the Central Park trail head and were hiking with two Standard Poodles. The day was beautiful - balmy and sunny. The hike was lovely with flowers blooming and all the new green leaves and ferns. There were places with mud and water on the trail, but most places were still passable. Only one or two places were really sloppy. Our biggest issue was with all the mountain bikers. We hiked 11.5 miles of this 14 mile trail and did not see one other person on foot. The bikers sometimes surprise you coming around turns and it make for a nerve-wracking hike with my dogs. We will likely hike this trail again, next time from Duthie Hills Park, but will not do with with our dogs.

If you prefer pics to words, they’re at: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/.

Thanks, Bob & Barb for you report warning us to keep our eyes peeled for the trailhead! (we plan to take your recommendation to check out Shady Lane another day) The directions in Romano’s book (and WTA trail description) are accurate, but we paid careful attention due to prior trip reports about missing the trail head. After the pavement ends on FS 24, the gravel road is 25 mph. That was about our top speed due to potholes lying in wait in the shadows across the road. That said, we made it fine in our Prius, so I’d say pretty much any car is ok.

The causeway/bridge across the north end of Lake Cushman is still barred by the locked, yellow gate. You can park at the gate (please keep to the side as residents must get through the gate) and walk to the trailhead, just on the other side of the lake and to the left. There’s a red gate there and a trail sign after that. The first part of the trail is on a road with private cabins skirting the northwest side of the lake. After that, it climbs up the hill through forest, away from the lake but always within sound of the creek. This is a very well-built trail, but it needs some TLC for limbs, small trees (many!), drainage issues (2-3 more serious ones), and general treadwork. I’d love to help maintain this trail if WTA hosts some weekend crews here!

Best reasons to do this trail right now? 1) TONS of trillium; I mean obscene amounts, 2) we were the only people on the entire trail (seen or heard), and 3) you can take your pooch (on leash – there are cougars). (Not so) Dry Creek is raging, and we chose not to ford it. It was 3.9 miles after the yellow gate where we parked on FS 24 and a great place for lunch. On the way back we went down to the campsite we saw a sign for just shy of 1 ½ miles from the trailhead sign-in. We had to cross a small section of blowdowns and follow a pretty messy (branches, small trees, water, tread damage) trail down to the lake. SOOOOOO worth it! The views of Mts. Rose, Ellinor, Washington are great, there’s a sandy beach, we saw ducks and Canada geese and a bald eagle! The lake is still a little chilly even in the shallows (I only went just past my knees as there was a stiff breeze and I’m not yet in “always remember dry clothes” mode). That could have been because it’s right where Dry Creek flows into it. Regardless, it’s a lovely beach on which to melt in the sun and laugh at a puppy’s antics for a few hours.

In addition to copious trillium, we saw bleeding heart, salmonberry, yellow violet, and even a couple of calypso orchid!! The fawn lily and false Solomon’s seal are not yet blooming, also maybe Hooker’s fairy bells? A great hike on an over-the-top gorgeous spring day!!

Headed up here hoping for a short and easy walk into my favorite Wild Sky. I noticed that a comment on the Hiking with my Brother site said it was clear by mid May last year; I thought with the lower snowpack this year, we'd be OK now. Unfortunately, the road was snowed in probably just less than half a mile from the trailhead, as was the rest of the trail.
We went ahead and walked up and continued down the trail. Probably less about a mile up the trail, there is quite a disaster of blowdowns and overgrowth. I went into "the jungle" about 100 feet and then could see it only got worse, so we turned around and headed down. A bit disappointing but still a nice little walk.
If you want to go up, I would recommend wearing YakTrax (or similar) and taking treking poles to help with the snow. Snowshoes are unnecessary. Also, there were several drainages where the trail is washed out; they took some minor scrambling to get through, so keep that in mind before taking the kids and/or grandpa.
Anyway, I suspect this trail'll need a few weeks of melting and then a full work party before it's back to the way it's described. I'm looking forward to trying it again. It's a beautiful spot!

Will, Dyla (My son's dog), and I adventured up to Mailbox Peak on Monday. We are park of a group, Climbers with a Purpose (CWAP), striving to summit Mount Rainer in July, raising funds for Planet Changers (clean water wells in Uganda).

The weather could not have been better - crystal clear and temps in the 40's. One encounters numerous rocks and spreading tree roots underfoot - hiking poles are needed, as well as good hiking shoes. It is a challenging uphill trail, and we encountered muddy sections, before reaching he snow level at 3800 ft, requiring us to stop and get the MicroSpikes on. Of course, Dyla has "all paw" drive and had no issues with the climb. The climb was challenging, but if you are experienced and in good shape, it is definitely achievable.

The views on the way up and at the top are breathtaking. Rainier stands out in her splendor, and the other mountain ranges are truly amazing from this height.

The trip down was a different story. Even with traction devices, one would slip on the slushy base under the top snow level, from snow melt and hikers on the trail. The mud below the snow level and the wet tree roots also made traction difficult. Then there was the pounding on your knees on the steep declines...

We enjoyed the hike to the top and the wonderful views, but the trip down was difficult, and our knees are still sore. Of course a few slips and strains on the knees did not help them. Even Dyla was tired when we got down - she could not wait to get home and take her nap!