Trip Reports

There is a lot of water on the trail, and there are several tricky creek crossings. One creek crossing, in particular, could be disastrous if you slip and fall - a few feet from the crossing, the creek cascades over a cliff. Or, being sensible, you could remove boots and socks for a frigid wade across.

Above 2000' the snow begins and, by the time you get to the lake, it is knee deep. Snowshoes and gaiters recommended (of course, mine were back in the car). So, if heading this way, bring the proper equipment (do as I say, not as I do!). And I wouldn't plan on using the outdoor toilet at the lake (you could literally "freeze your a** off").

The view of Mt. Index at the lake is awesome. I spent a few minutes just watching and listening to the continuous snow and rock falling from the upper reaches. Prudence would dictate staying away from that side of the lake.

Just a little hike today with a great friend and her two dogs..There was some snow at 2,000 feet. Great views today, not to many people on the trail. I was just happy to have no rain and blue skies for majority of the hike. We did encounter a few tree bombs but I'll take that instead of rain anyday.
Hike #95 for 2009. Only 5 more till my goal!

Unknown to me, road 9030 has been fixed. We were headed up to Mason Lake and I noticed that road 9030 was being traveled. The road was slick but negotiable. Hiking this Sunday was wet from start to finish. The trail is muddy where it isn't either in snow or standing water. After the first few miles it is solid snow.

Talapus lake was easily reached. It is all but frozen over and with the heavy grey hanging over Western Washington there weren't many views. A short while later one reaches the turn off to Granite Mountain's parking lot (to the right). The latter option is actually a little bit shorter and the lot is plowed year-round. As one continues up 1039 pass the next large hairpin turn to the right then start heading up hill (off trail) bearing slightly to the right. After a gain of ~500' one reaches the ridge line. Turn left on the ridge and stay on it for a mile or so to the obvious summit. There isn't a trail per say, rather staying on the ridge is trail enough. The snow was deep and steep at times. We are forever indebted to the party of four who broke trail ahead of us. On a nice day the views are spectacular. Today we were contented with snow covered trees and rocks and the serpentine path through the snow.

There is a spot or two that some might consider exposed on this hike. There are also some very steep sections but they don't last more than 50-60'. As with any winter hike avalanche precautions should be observed. That much being said, this hike has very little avalanche danger even on high danger days such as today was.

The Mountain Loop Highway out of Verlot was clear. About four inches of snow covered the closed parking area. I put on my snowshoes out past the trailhead tho closer to the Stilaguamish River the trail was bare. Past the river snow to the ice caves.

Lovely for a first outing of the year!!

Followed directions, trailhead wasnt marked with road sign, just a fence. we went 2 miles and never intersected the CCC road, but came to a logging type weighing station, where it says not to trespass. so we turned around to head back. It was raining pretty hard, but no snow was on the ground. It wasnt a very scenic hike... i wouldnt recomend it

Beautiful trail.
Snowy.
Snow level was about 2000' and sloppy.
Shelter at 2.7 miles made a nice dry lunch destination.
I'd guesstimate about 18''--22'' of snow near the shelter.

Not another soul around. Very quiet~ except for the loud wind roaring through the old growth crowns.
Peaceful.

I had a great time wandering around the Darrington/Oso area today.

First order of business: The Oso General Store is open for business! Please visit this fine store when you can - help keep this business thrive! They have lots of convenience store items, as well as an espresso window (open at 5 AM!), and a very NICE wine selection.

The Whitehorse Rail trail is accessible in many places. After wandering various little access places along the Stilly (saw some eagles), I chose to visit the beaver ponds on the Whitehorse Trail a little beyond Trafton (which is 3 miles outside of Arlington). From Arlington, pass the Chevron in Trafton (Chevron is on the left), and continue a few miles to a little beyond the truss bridge at Monty Road. Look to your right, and turn down a road and park at one of the many little access points to the Whitehorse Trail. If you see a sea of dead snags along the right side of Hwy 530, you've gone too far. Turn around and take the first road you come to - the access is close to the sea of snags.

The beaver ponds are a mere few minutes walk, and very pretty with reflections. I wandered about a mile or so beyond the ponds before returning to the truck.

You can go much farther than a mile; but I was wearing sandals, and stopped to visit the beaver ponds on a whim.

This is a nice, quiet, and pretty little rail trail.

Trail is in good condition, no real problems at all. Saw the WTA crew clearing the trail and drainage, thanks guys!

Beautiful falls, worth the little added effort to get to the upper falls.

I led my first Winter Walk of the season for the Cascadians on this sunny, cool day. We took the Potholes Wildlife Area - Dunes Ramble as described in the Best Desert Hikes book (#74). We walked about 2 miles out before having lunch & then walking back. The weather was beautiful, but the hike was a little disappointing in other ways. We didn't see much wildlife (3 deer, 2 blue herons, & a few songbirds) though there were lots of tracks in the sand, large & small. There also was not much attractive vegitation - no cattails, reeds, or grasses to speak of. I think that this is probably a much nicer spring hike. Nonetheless, we all had a good time.

I didn't have time for a long drive so I settled on an old favorite. I had not been up to the East Peak and back down in a decade. I have done a number of one way trips from end to end on the Rattlesnake Mountain Trail but not up and down from Rattlesnake Lake. I was surprised to find a number of empty spaces in the paved hikers lot at 9:15 am. There was a little snow at the trailhead so I took my snowshoes. The lake itself is snow free and almost water free too. I have seen it low but not this low. The trail is very gentle as it gains 1150" over two miles to the lower ledge.

I passed several groups already coming down and a few heading up. The lower trail was snow free though there was a little at the ledge. I took a short break at the lower ledge. Low clouds all around but the sky was mostly blue. I was soon on my way higher. I took another break at the upper ledge. My camera batteries did not like the cold and refused to extend the lens. I warmed them in my hand and they worked for the rest of the day. Lots of color photos that look like black and white. It will be that way for many months.

Above the upper ledge the newest trail reroute began. Instead of the old route straight up the ridge it now goes far to the left and switchbacks to the right. This is longer but much gentler. I caught up with two hikers with whom I played leap frog the rest of the way to the summit. One of them was always ahead and I was second or third in line. Snow began soon after the upper ledge and slowly deepened. There were a few footprints before ours. It snowed the day before covering any older prints.

I recognized the old quarry and a few minutes later we reached the road. Snow was about 8 inches deep on the road. It was a little thinner back on trail though the trail was built very wide through here and there are not many trees overhead to catch snow. Coming out of the trees just below the summit ridge the snow was now a foot deep. If I had any distance to go I would have put on the snowshoes. As it was I carried them up and down. The rest of the group of the two hikers I was near coming up were having lunch where the road reaches the ridge. I continued over to the tower.

A few postholes here were more than knee deep. The snow was unconsolidated so ever step was a posthole. I had lunch and headed down. The other group was still enjoying their break. They were not enjoying any views because there were none. Clouds were all around us on the summit. The trip down was much faster. About 2 1/2 hours up and 1 3/4 down. With all the changes to the trail in the decade since my last time on this route it's hard to figure the distance. The first mile is now two and the switchbacks above the upper ledge must add about 1/4 to 1/2 mile. I'm guessing it is a little more than 9 miles round trip now.

Coming down from the lower ledge I decided to count the hikers I passed. The two miles took about 40 minutes in which time I went by 84 people. This is November and it was below freezing most of the day so I'm sure that was well below average for this trail. Solitude is not a reason to be on this trail. It turned out to be a fun hike. Heavily flocked trees up high and steps to follow in the snow. Not much of a crowd above the lower ledge. A little sunshine to brighten up the day. Not bad for a close in trip.

Photos have been posted at: http://www.hikingnorthwest.com. Go to "Trips-2009" on the left margin.