Trip Reports

It was 10:00 AM when we departed Port Orchard in route to our next Mount Rainier adventure. Our destination upon our arrival was Klapatche Park/St. Andrews Lake.
 
It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and it was supposed to be close to 80 degrees. We had a pleasant drive with beautiful views of Mount Rainier along the way. We arrived at the Nisqually entrance, surprised that there wasn’t a huge line of cars waiting to enter Mount Rainier National Park, but happy at the same time.

Once we passed through the Nisqually entrance, we turned left onto Westside road. We drove 3 miles up Westside road until we reached a gate where we would park our vehicle and hit the trail. Like the Carbon River Road, this road was washed out by flooding and now is closed to motorized vehicles. I was a bit nervous and apprehensive about this particular hike as round trip is approximately 21 miles. That is a lot to do in one day and it’s the most I’ve hiked in a day hike. Oh and let me say, this was not just a hike this was a bike/hike. This would be only my 3rd time on a bike in 25 years and given I struggled some on the 17.5 mile Carbon River Glacier bike/hike two weeks before, I was a little worried about how I would do on the bike.

We ate lunch before we headed out. It was 1230 PM when we started and the sun was at it’s peak. Initially it was alright, pretty straight forward ride down the road. At about ¼ mile you have to get off your bike and carry it across a small log bridge to the other side. Then the fun begins.

There was little to no shade and the sun was just beating down on us. We got really hot really fast. Although not terribly steep in appearance, you immediately start climbing in a slow subtle uphill direction. My boyfriend, rode his bike with endurance and stamina (those hours in the gym and spin class have paid off). I on the other hand struggled with the slightest incline and found myself hot, frustrated and not such a happy camper. I came up over this hill to find my bo waiting for me at the top. It was a nice resting spot alongside the Tahoma Creek. It’s here that we both took off our t-shirts we had on leaving us in just tank tops. The water was cold and refreshing to the touch. I almost could’ve taken a nice little dip in it…..LOL

Onward we go. We continued on gradually making our way up what seemed like forever (maybe that’s because I was walking my bike not riding it). It’s interesting the things you see and find when you step off the beaten path. We came upon a Marine Memorial at about 4 or so miles in that was dedicated to Marines who lost their lives on December 10, 1946, when their C-46 transport plane en route to Seattle, crashed high on the South Tahoma Glacier on Mount Rainier's South Side, killing all 32 Marines onboard. Someone had recently been up there and placed American Flags at the head of the memorial and along it’s sidewalk.

Once we departed the Marine Memorial, it was all downhill. This was one of the best parts for me…LOL Although, the thought of having to climb this on the way back was in the back of my mind. There were several downed trees along the way (approximately 10, maybe less). Several are blocking the road and we had to lift our bikes over or walk them around the trees. It wasn’t a show stopper, but something to keep in mind especially if your flying down hill on your bike and you have to stop suddenly to avoid a downed tree. Also in one particular area, there were quite a few rocks on the road to navigate around. They were not huge, but could cause you to crash or damage your bike if you hit one.
We finally made it to the trailhead. We weren't sure what time we got there because neither of us had a watch and I forgot my cell phone in the car. We estimated it was probably about 4/4:30. We went 300 feet from the trailhead to check out the Patrol Cabin. There are a couple patches of snow but nothing much. The cabin was in great condition. There was an outhouse back behind the cabin and there was a nice creek nearby. We were trying to decide whether we had enough time to do the hike to Klapatche Park/St. Andrews Lake, which was 5.2 miles round trip.

We decided we made it this far and we had enough daylight left that we could do it. So we proceeded. Let me just say, I was exhausted before we even started the hike, but we were in the shade of the forest. It was lush and green with lots of new growth. This trail was uphill all the way. Lots of switch backs that were pretty steep. I have to say for me, I was saying to myself “I DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANOTHER HILL TODAY.” I was not a happy camper at this point. My boyfriend was waiting for me at the top of one of the switchbacks as we got ready to round the corner to another and I said “Next time, I will be picking the hike” It was all in fun. At about the 2 mile mark we hit snow. From this point on there was still about 1-2 feet of snow on the ground. There were no tracks in the snow indicating anyone had been up this far yet but us. We could not determine where the trail was, so we walked a little ways through the snow to a viewpoint, took a few pictures and decided to turn around and head back down. Without knowing where the trail was, we decided it was best to play it safe and not continue farther.

The return trip down the trail was great. I was able to enjoy it and take in the beauty of the forest. Once we made it to the trailhead, we went across to Denman’s Falls Loop Trail and viewpoint. There is a large downed tree blocking the trail to the viewpoint that we had to climb over, but let me tell you the view was worth it. The waterfall was amazing, one of the best we’ve seen in the park. We tried to do the short loop, but it was impassable due to downed trees and debris.
We began our trek back to the trailhead where our vehicle was parked. We knew it was going to be a long uphill climb back to the Marine Memorial, but once we made it there, it would all be downhill. Neither of us attempted to ride our bikes uphill. We both walked them. Although, he may have just been being nice and walking his because he knew there was no way I’d be able to make it up the hill on my bike. I just don’t have the endurance for that yet. We were both exhausted and our legs were tired and sore.

One thing I know for sure, this road appears to be a favorite place for wildlife, especially bear and elk. Although we didn’t see any on the road, there was tons of fresh bear scat all up and down the road and elk scat as well. I’m glad we didn’t have to walk this in the dark. Kept a watchful eye out but didn’t see or hear anything except an owl that was hoot hoot hooting in the trees.

We had an amazing downhill ride from the Marine Memorial back to the truck. We stopped before the end and admired the beautiful waterfalls cascading off the rock face, not just one but probably between 3-5 waterfalls. We didn’t even notice this at the start of our journey. On top of it, we saw a whole herd of mountain goats up on the rock face near the falls. We made it back to the truck at 8:30 PM

Even though this was strenuous and mentally challenging trip for me, it was worth it in the end. Even if I get frustrated and maybe even a bit grumpy at times, I’m always up for a challenge and I will not quit. In my Army days, we had this saying “No Finish Line” meaning we always pushed forward as if there was no finish line. Never quitting and never giving up even when things get tough. There are so many beautiful places to explore and so many things left to see and do, this is just one more place we can check off our list. Now to plan for our next big trip.

Happy Hiking!

First off there is no one’s fault for this fiasco but me. Not the nice people on the trail alerting me to the snow ahead, not the trailblazer who led me most of the way up Defiance, not the wonderful rangers and rescue personnel who are always willing to save a fool, not the WTA which keeps outstanding and recent trip reports available to all. Nope, the only one responsible for the below is your truly. (Note: if you don’t like drama skip the rest of this tale.)
Was a beautiful day for a 4 hour hike up the Ira Spring trail to the Bandera/Mason Lake junction. Hit the trail just before noon. Decided to take the lake route and shoot for Defiance since I was ahead of schedule and feeling great. When the snow began beyond Mason Lake followed footprints till trail re-emerged. Met a nice, wise, man who warned of the snow ahead and, while considering my options, another seasoned hiker passed by on the way up. Decided to follow this guy till my turn-around point at 2:00. Took a snack break and headed down…
Mistake #1: did not pay close attention to the return route in the snow since I followed the other guy up and relied on his navigation skills. Mistake #2: kept heading down and to the left (SE) without regard to terrain and overall direction. Soon came to very precipitous drops and rock ledges which overlooked a lake which I mistook for Mason Lake. It was actually Lake Kulla Kulla. Realized I was way off track and Mistake #3 decided to get to the lake below which should have a trail or campsite where I could return to civilization.
The next 90 minutes became an emergency situation where I fell numerous times, one time very badly, on my back, on a sharp rock (I have a photo of the bruise for posterity), and many times on knees, shins and rump. This trek down the 1000’ south face of Mt. Defiance broke down into 10-20 ft segments where I had to calculate the near and medium range risk/reward of making it to the next place where I rested and recalculated a route. Used an 18’ log pole twice to get down very tricky drops. Also learned which trees and shrubs have the strongest root structures growing out of the rocks. Wormed my way down for 90 minutes only losing my sunglasses (they’re yours if you find them), pride, and composure (no more than three times).
Reached the NW slope of Lake Kulla Kulla which was a rockpile covered in snow by approx 3:30. To the NW around the lake it was very rocky and not much options for a trail. To the NE it was snow covered rocks with a clearing so that is where I headed. Only fell in snow holes up to my chest twice on this ¼ mile hike. Once I got to the east side of Lake Kulla Kulla saw Little Kulla Lake and thought I saw footprints in the snow on its south shore. So headed over there where the prints were animal, not human. No trail around this lake. No trail around the bigger lake. Now what?
Saw a red ribbon on a tree branch ahead. Someone has been here before! Still no obvious trail but this made sense. It was next to a creek and another red ribbon could be seen uphill alongside the creek. Since these “signs” were in the general NE direction out of the Little Kulla Lake bowl I figured they led to Mason Lake and home. This process and hunt took another hour so it was now 5:30.
Began the slog up the creek which did not take me to Mason Lake. Nope, it led to another wall of rock about ¼ mile up. Loaded the empty water bottles I had with me (and iodine tablets for safety) with clear, clean spring water and kept slogging up the bowl to the N and NW pulling on the same shrub and tree limbs I used to much success on the way down Defiance. Process went from one of survival to one of persistence and desire to get home before dark. Traverse the ridge for the next 2 ½ hours finally ending up on the saddle between Defiance and Bandera at 7:00. Mason Lake has to be here somewhere! Found another trail of boots and decided to take the trail right which was heading down to where I determined Mason Lake should be. This was the correct trail and it took only 2 more hours to get to the TH where a Sheriff was waiting for Eastside Search and Rescue to come looking for my sorry fanny. I was able to get home to a ticked-off family by 10:00 after a very long 9-hour hike.
I am an old Eagle Scout, former Philmont Ranger, graduate of S.E.R.E. and various Navy survival training courses and all of it came back to me during this situation. I do not recommend anyone do this hike without a clear knowledge of the trail/mountain/area both up the hill and DOWN. I hope this report helps.

The potholes on the road to the trailhead take some patience to maneuver. Don't be dissuaded by the 'Road Closed until Fall 2013' signs; the road stops right before the bridge at the Stafford Creek trailhead. You only have to hop over a gate. It took me 2 hours to get from Kirkland to the trailhead, arriving at 8:30 or so.

The lower part of the trail is in good shape; creeks are receding as the snow continues to melt away.

I decided to take a shortcut turn to the right toward Navaho Peak at the 3.6mi/4,800ft mark instead of taking the usual switchbacked route up to the pass. I can't recommend that at all this time of year. Maybe on the snow it'd be a little easier, but it's a very steep grind and there is no path or trail. It's twice as long to take the original trail's switchbacks, but they're much easier to follow and easier on the quads. I did see some other footprints and trekking pole holes on this ad hoc route, but again, I do not recommend it.

After a mile of steepness, I intersected the ridge trail and headed NE to the summit, another good workout. I arrived at the summit 3 hours from the trailhead, traveling just over 5 miles with my shortcut. Gained 4,200 feet.

The last 400 feet include several sections of snowy trail; just keep your eyes out for footprints and you should be good to the summit. The last 100' or so are snow-free.

At the summit, my Boston Terrier and I enjoyed a nice group of folks who had camped in the meadow beneath the pass the night before and hiked up to the peak. The views of The Stuart Range, including the southern edge of The Enchantments are spectacular.

Took a rest, snapped pictures, chatted, and fueled up; after 45 minutes we made our way down, this time following the often steep but easy-to-follow trail to the pass, then down through the moonscape and meadow, before getting back into the forest. Lots of flowers all along the trail. It was a 6.8 mile trip back to the trailhead.

A few more pictures: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjG77jLa

We intended to hike Tolmie Peak, but I missed the memo about the road being closed 5 miles before the trail head so we had to abort. We found ourselves stopped in the parking lot for Paul Peak and thought we would give it a try. The hike was clear of any snow and no debris. We had limited views of the mountain, but when she did come out....it was spectacular! We reached the end of that trail and ran into The Wonderland trail. Feeling the need for more miles and some incline, we took a left and headed up to Mowich Lake. We made it about 3 miles in before we hit snow and started to lose the trail. We stopped and had lunch along the river before turning back.

This was my first experience on The Wonderland (I'm embarrassed to say!)and I'm hooked. The views on Saturday were out of this world, the trail is clear, well maintained and offers great privacy. We had an early start, so we didn't starting seeing fellow hikers until we headed out.

I think I found my passion for this summer...The Wonderland has me hooked! All by a happy accident.

Happy Hiking!

Wonderfully clear on Saturday, with the tremendous 360 degree panorama of Puget Sound, the eastern Strait, The Cascades from Baker to Adams (yes, Adams), as well as Constance, Buckhorn and Iron, the Needles, etc. closer up. Flowers starting, but will get better over the next week or two. Quite a bit of Phlox, some Chocolate Lillies, a bit of Paintbrush, Pasqueflower, Glacier Lillies, etc. Rhodies in full bloom on the road in, but just starting to bloom along the trail.

Minimal snow on the trail. The usual last-to-melt heap right at the junction for Windy Camp and a smaller heap just below (both easily crossable, in fairly flat territory), one patch shortly after you attain the summit ridge (bypassable or crossable). A couple of other tiny patches, likely gone by the time you read this. Just three or four blowdowns, all step-overs.

Access road to the (upper) trailhead is in as good a shape as I can remember.

4 minutes of video clips from the hike: http://youtu.be/f95NRyU4edg
Beautiful hike to Camp Handy! Along with blooming rhododendrons, there are some late trillium, yellow violets, columbines, bunchberries in full bloom.

Road has some serious potholes last couple miles.

Trail is in great shape. The mudhole at the trailhead's first switchback is fixed - thanks!

Saw about a dozen others on the trail and 3 tents set up at Camp Handy.

Our family has a long history of hiking in the Icicle River valley and many of those trips were at the 4th of July trail. My grand parents, Welcome and Celia Sauer, were taking hunting and fishing trips in the Icicle Valley during the 1920’s. They would ride on horseback from Leavenworth and then ascend the 4th of July trail, which had recently been created by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Most of those trips were for deer hunting. My father, Gary Sauer, spent the summers of 1960 and 1961 as an observer on the Icicle Ridge Lookout.

Our trip to the lookout on the weekend of Father’s day was done to honor him and to create photographs that will illustrate a story book he has written. Our pace was slower than most hikers.

We left the trail head at 6:25 AM. Years ago, one would need to risk getting wet feet crossing a stream about a quarter of the mile up the trail. A few years ago an erosion event washed out the stream so that the crossing is through bare rocks and sand. Eventually this will return to the overgrown brush that had once covered the area.

The trail can be considered as consisting of various sections. Completing each section breaks up the long, steep climb into shorter, achievable segments. The lower section of the trail leads out of the valley bottom in switchbacks of a typical trail incline through pine trees. The trail rounds a bend into a steep gully that is covered with brush and clear of trees. We refer to this section as the “switchbacks” because there are ten steep switchbacks from the bottom to the top of this section. We reached the bottom of this section around 9 AM, just as the sun broke over the ridge line above. We reached switchback #5 at 9:20, and the top switchback at 10 AM.

The section above the switchbacks is distinguished by ghostly white trees left standing after the fire of 2001. Last winter some of these trees fell cross the trail, and they have not been cut yet. It appears that they had been cut the year before. Trees across the trail were all relatively small, and they didn’t present much of an obstacle for a person walking.

As we were leaving the middle section of switchbacks, we saw the first other people entering at the first switchback. Within a few minutes they had caught up with us. Since we had been going at a snail’s pace, I asked what time they left the trail head. He looked at his watch and said, “An hour and fifteen minutes”. I asked, confused, “No - what time did you leave?” He replied without even slowing down much, “We’ve been on the trail for an hour and fifteen minutes”. We had been at it for more then four hours at that point.

The trail ascends at a more moderate pace across a series of switchbacks to meet the Icicle Ridge Trail at the summit. Just before the summit there is one last spring. When my father was living at the lookout in 1960-61, he would climb down from the lookout every couple of days to collect water from this spring in a five gallon container to supply the lookout. There is a steel pipe buried in the spring and when we passed at noon, the cold, clear spring water was gushing from the pipe.

We reached the lookout at 12:30 PM. We were met by two other parties who arrived at the same time. There were a total of thirteen people there, more than the number of people who would visit my Dad in an entire summer in the lookout building. About ten of us climbed onto the platform where the lookout once was mounted. Hundreds of lady bugs were crawling everywhere.

The lookout stood at this location until is was burned down by the Forest Service in 1969. There is little evidence of the former lookout. Nails were scattered around the top of the rock. A few steel anchors were still left embedded in the rock, and some remnants of lumber had fallen into one opening between the boulders where the stairs had once been on the north side. There are rusty tin cans below below, and some wires.

The view in every direction is rewarding.

I’m sure that we broke some sort of etiquette doing this, but we took a cell call at the lookout from my Dad. He called from the assisted living facility where he lives with Parkinson’s and dementia. This call was an important measure of joy in his otherwise difficult situation.

Our trip down was faster, but still painfully slow. We left the summit at 2:45 PM, reached switchback 1 (in the middle section) at 4:30 PM, and the trail head at 6 PM. My father says that one summer while he was a 19 year old living at the lookout, he took a dare from a friend and ran down from the top in only 38 minutes. The bottom section would have been a breeze for most people, but my legs were so wasted by then that I was taking baby steps and moving slowly.

The 4th of July trail can be brutal because it is long and steep. The best way to climb it is to leave very early so that you reach the higher elevations before the sun is beating against the south facing slope. This trip on June 15 was early enough in the spring so that flowers were still blooming along all elevations, and there were still snow patches at the summit. Bring plenty of water and sun screen. Enjoy the view and make a lasting memory of this torturous climb.

This was a quick overnight to Mt. Ellinor. We started at the upper trailhead Saturday afternoon, camped below the summit, and descended late morning on Sunday.

The volunteer in the ranger station at Hoodsport was friendly, but not terribly helpful. She did, at least, get us pointed in the right direction. The road up is in remarkably good shape, with only minor washboard and potholes. There were a few bits where you'd have to drive carefully if not in a 4-wheel drive vehicle, but it's completely passable. The forest service road is well signed, except for the last left turn that gets you to the upper trailhead. Fortunately, if you miss this turn you're only able to drive another 100 yds or so before the road ends.

The trail to the chute is in remarkably good shape (many thanks to the Mt. Rose Trail Crew!). Snow starts making an appearance shortly before a sign marking the start of the summer route.

The winter route up the chute is still climbable, but it may not remain that way for long. The glissade path/bobsled run is impassable at the bottom narrows (it's now a waterfall)and again at the very top (all rocks), with a few minor rocks and trees in other places. Watch carefully as you climb up, so that you know what needs to be avoided when glissading down.

The climb up the chute itself is a bit sketchy at the bottom narrows and again at the top, simply because there isn't much snow left, and what's there is soft, mushy and well-trodden. If you want to make the climb, we'd recommend doing it soon, and doing it early in the morning while the snow is still solid. We saw kids making the climb in sneakers, but (at least in our humble opinion) an ice axe and crampons are still required to do this safely.

There's still plenty of snow in the cirque above the chute. One hint - when you're climbing out of the cirque towards the summit, bear to the right of the glissade path, rather than taking the obvious and extremely steep boot path to the left. You're able to circle around a rocky outcrop at the top, and it's a much easier and safer route.

We saw plenty of mountain goats, and they're definitely habituated to humans. None acted aggressively or followed us around (as some folks are reporting), but they were certainly curious and we did have to drive them away a time or two by yelling and waving our ice axes. We heard reports of a dog being gored by a mountain goat sometime early Sunday morning, so please do take care.

A short, but relatively steep hike. After the first 0.3 miles, the gain increases and doesn't let up much for the next two miles, but the views at the top are quite good. Both the North and South view are worth the visit, so add the additional mile round trip to visit the other location.

Not speatacular, but a good hike. Lots of shade until the top and the rhodies are still in bloom.

Good views of downtown Seattle in the distance on a clear day and of Baker and Rainier. Rainier isn't quite as close as my image suggests. :)

2 minutes' worth of video clips of Rhododendron Alley

On the way to another hike, I stopped to enjoy the first couple miles of the Tubal Cain Trail's "Rhododendron Alley" since it was in full bloom. ..and Wow!

stayed at lone fir lodge overnight, and started the hike through the winter route (worm flow) up to the summit (climbers bivuoac is closed this time of year). Registered our hike at lone fir, and we started the hike around 5am with a group of about a dozen people.

you pass through the forest with very little elevation gain and pass by campers for around 2 miles before you reach the base of the mountain, where you'll have to either hike up snow or climb through a ridge of boulders and ash. i personally went with the rocks, but had trouble stabilizing my footing on the sand-like ash. some people in our party followed the snow trail just below the rock ridge and said it alot easier. after 2 miles of either scrambling or snow hiking, youll have no choice but to hike up snow for the last mile up to the summit. we just followed the kicked in steps that previous hikers made to go up.

once we got up to the top, we avoided the cornice - youll see that its just an overhang of snow, so avoid the temptation of standing on the ledge once you get up. instead, hike to the east for a little bit to get a better view of the lava dome.

we glissaded down the snow slopes most of our way down until we reached the rocky parts of the trail. wear waterproof pants and you can glissade down the slopes relatively easily. lift your legs up to increase your speed and dig your boots down to slow down. once you get to a certain point, watch out for rocks embedded in the snow.

we had minimal gear, saw many people with ice picks, but don't believe them to be necessary. this was a non technical climb, and the only things that you would need apart from the obvious would be trekking poles, waterproof hiking boots, and gaiters. mountaineering boots aren't needed unless you plan on hiking up snow the entire way.

My wife and I decided to keep it cool on this well-forested hike for the warm, sunny Saturday. The first 0.5 miles or so to the first bridge over Deception Creek is some of the most gorgeous hiking I've been on. The snowmelt was providing some impressive cascades. Trail is in great shape with only minor blowdowns all the way to Sawyer Creek. As mentioned on previous trip reports, the Sawyer Creek bridge is damaged and slanted, but it is passable. Some snow still lingering on the trail beginning about 0.2 miles before the Sawyer Creek bridge, but trail is easy to find. No snow after bridge. There are still about a dozen blowdowns after Sawyer Creek, with one major one that takes the trail with it near the upper waterfalls (about 3.5 miles in). This part of the trail is right next to an impressive and powerful waterfall, and instead of risking slipping down into the falls, we had to crawl up the hill a bit and over several downed logs to pass it. Doable, but slowed us down a bit. We went only about 3/4 mile further and didn't make to our intended stopping point at the confluence of Fisher Creek due to time constraints. Turning around at the major blowdown would have been an ideal stopping point. The falls here were incredibly stunning. Not sure how we missed it, but we never found the camp area that is supposed to be 3 miles in.

I'd estimate we went about 4.2 mile in. Total time about 5.5 hours, including about 40 minute snack break. This hike is fairly solitude, especially for a sunny Saturday afternoon; we encountered only about 3 other parties on the trail.

More just a bump than a trail report, this is a very unique hike, taking you up many switchbacks cut right into or hanging off Beacon Rock, all the way to the "summit" of the rock itself. Along the way the Columbia Gorge will accompany you with wonderful views and along the trail you will find signs and plaques describing the history of the rock and the region. The hike itself is not long and is well worth the stop if you just happen to be passing through, or makes a great destination during a Columbia Gorge getaway!

The May Valley trailhead and parking lot are CLOSED at this time due to laminated root rot in a 12 acre area along the May Valley Trail. There is room for about six cars by the closed gate along May Valley Road. You can still hike the May Valley Trail but you need to walk through the parking lot to get to the trailhead and are warned at the trailhead that there is a risk of trees and branches falling without warning in the affected area. Based on the very rough map at the trailhead, it appears that the affected area extends from the May Valley Trailhead to the intersection with the Bullitt Gorge Trail.

Given that it was a calm day, we proceeded with caution up the May Valley Trail to the Bullitt Gorge and Fireplace Trails, then to Central Peak. We enjoyed a picnic lunch next to the communications towers on Central Peak and returned to the trailhead via the same route. The May Valley Trail is a steady climb and there are steeper sections on the Bullitt Gorge Trail. All of the trails are in great shape at this time with a little bit of mud to navigate. It appeared that there were recent blowdowns along the Bullitt Gorge and Fireplace Trails, but nothing blocking the trail. There were also sections of the Bullitt Gorge Trail that were a bit overgrown but they were still passable. As always, I highly recommend bringing a map if you are not familiar with the area.

The was my first hike of the season. Yes a bad choice for a man who ate a full bag of jelly beans the night before. The hike was fantastic and i did make it to the tome and back down although I will pay for it tomorrow.

 Very little snow up towards the summit. Trail in great condition some downed trees nothing that will stop you. Trust me if I made it you can. It was a fantastic and clear view. Trail was dry.

What a gorgeous hike today! The weather was perfect. 9 folks and 1 dog hiked the entire 5 mile loop from the Wahkeena trail head to Multnomah Falls and back. A little hard on the knees...it is quite hilly. Much harder going down than up, and way more crowded on the Multnomah side. But it is well worth the effort. Tons of beautiful waterfalls & lovely trees. Would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good, but challenging hike.

Beautiful, steep hike. The trail is a little overgrown but it was easy to navigate/push through the bushes and stay on the trail. There are some muddy spots but not too bad. Our dog got pretty muddy (because she likes to) but we were able to stay mud-free. Its a pretty open hike so do be prepared with sunscreen, bug-spray and lots of water. We saw marmots, prairie dogs, chipmunks, lizards, deer droppings (no deer) and lots of birds. There were patches of snow at the top but nothing on the trail.

Nice sunny day for a hike, so we took our kids for this 4 miles route. Even our toddler was happy to hike on the easy and mostly flat ground. There were a couple mountain bikers and horse riders, other than that almost nobody and no dogs. Beautiful trails, nicely maintained, the only issue was that at an intersection there was no sign as to which way what was.

The road to the trailhead is GATED OFF about 2.1 miles before the normal parking lot- there is a small lot at the gate... but not as nice as the normal TH.

This loop is about 23 miles with the added mileage. Yay for added mileage- but the road walk is quite boring and long!

Devils Gulch:
The trail lives up to its name- especially since the fires in 2012! The awesome rock formations, combined with the burned trees adds to the effect- it is hot, dusty, and very fitting for the devil!

The closer the trail is to the water- the more mosquitoes you will find trying to get some of your precious blood, so walk quickly through the beginning and you should do fine. The rest of the trail remained fairly bug free, and the only two things to keep track of are water consumption and also looking out for the bikers out there. All of the river/creek/stream crossings have decent bridges across- so unless you slip... you should not have to get your feet wet. Bringing a trash bag along would be a good idea- as it looks like someone had a fast food and red bull party out there... all over the trails. It seems that the Red Bull gave the people wings- and they just flew away... and forgot to pick up after themselves.

If you continue up to do the mission creek loop- fill up water before doing so! There is absolutely no water after devils gulch... and Mission Ridge is hot and dusty.

Mission Ridge:
Bring lots of water! Hike early in the day! It is quite a hot area to be in- especially since a ton of the trees that once were there for shade... are now totally burned away. Summary: The trail is dusty, hot, and lacks any water source. It does however offer some epic views and is a good training hike as well! The wildflowers are also in full bloom currently and look wonderful!

I was really excited about doing this hike, it was a beautiful warm day... We were about 2.5 miles in and we'd planned on going all the way...Until we almost stepped on a big ass rattlesnake... I can do bears, but not snakes. I know it's part of hiking and being in the wilderness but it scared the crap out of me so I wimped out and turned around, I'm so mad at myself but I will try it again and hopefully next time....NO SNAKES!!!

Three of us tackled this lake, along with 4 others in a single day over Fathers Day weekend. Great hiking and very agreeable weather.

Hiked into Pratt Lake basin from Olallie Lake, dropped gear and set up camp and continued on to Lower Tuscohatchie in under 45 minutes, which was a breeze with no packs or gear. Wildflowers have started to bloom! Played and maneuvered our way around the log jam at the Lower Tuscohatchie Falls. We were warned by a ranger that lake level was high and it definitely made the crossing more difficult and tedious.

Saw absolutely no one the rest of the way to Melakwa Lake. Once you begin the ascent the trail is lost in a heavy and lengthy snow pack. Stay close to the main creek and you'll find your way. Easy to get disoriented. Made it to the lake in about two and half hours from Pratt.

Lake is still covered in ice, with snow melt gathering along the shoreline. Crampons and poles would have made the hike to Upper Melakwa less harrowing, but we navigated the ice trail easily in boots and shorts. Definitely worth the extra effort to take in stunning views of Chair Peak and Kaleetan Peak.

Hike down was quick and full of falls and impromptu glissading. Again, easy to lose the trail in the 3-4 foot snow pack. Came across a group that started out from Denny Creek Trailhead--they completely missed the trail in Hemlock Pass--tells you how easy it is to lose trail in the snow!

Able to make it back to the Pratt Lake in a few hours in time for a great trail dinner and deep sleep.

Pratt Lake on the weekend is a superhighway of day hikers, trail runners, and other campers. If you intend to camp, get there before noon on your intended day to stake out a decent spot. Some sites are covered in snow or semi flooded still.

I guess we got lucky - our weekend at Lake Dorothy felt like much more of a secluded getaway than we expected from the descriptions in the guidebooks, and from the relative ease and brevity of the hike. This was a really high return on investment for less than an hour of packs-on hiking. It would be a great introduction to backcountry camping for younger kids or novice backpackers.

The road to the trailhead is in good condition, and lined with columbine in full bloom. There is a small stream to ford on the unpaved section, but it was no big deal, even for our low-slung vehicle.

The short but consistently uphill climb to Lake Dorothy took us just over 45 minutes with overnight backpacks. There are several well-established camps spread along the eastern shore, most with a 5-minute walk of a privy. The site we settled on was great - flat, nestled in tall trees, and with our own little private rock ramp into the water. After setting up camp, we spent some time swimming, paddling and relaxing in the sun. The lake is so big that we felt like we were the only people there.

When it had cooled off a little, we set off for Bear Lake. Lots of white and purple trillium and other pretty forest flowers lined the trail. The main obstacle on the way was the ~100ft wide creek crossing at the south end of Lake Dorothy. It's rocky, fast-flowing, and really, *really* cold. We met some day hikers who told us they saw a boy scout fall in trying the rock-hopping strategy, so we grit our teeth and waded through. It was knee-deep for most of us, and there are a couple of large flat rocks you can rest on in between. I'd recommend carrying water shoes to get through the painfully frigid water faster.

Once past the crossing, we climbed steady switchbacks to the next lake basin, taking in peek-a-boo aerial views of Lake Dorothy along the way. From up here you can really see how big the lake is. About half the trail to Bear Lake is snow-covered, but footing and navigation were fairly straightforward - we just followed the tracks and pink ribbons that previous hikers had left. Trekking poles could be helpful for folks not sure-footed on snow.

Bear Lake is about three-quarters iced over, a lovely peaceful sight to behold with a ring of snow-capped peaks in the background. We stopped to admire it and eat a quick snack before heading back to Lake Dorothy for the evening. We cooked dinner by the lake as dusk fell, and to our surprise it remained relatively un-buggy. The lake isn't elevated enough to get very cold at night - I spent most of the night on top of my sleeping bag.

We had a leisurely Sunday breakfast by the water, with occasional company from hummingbirds and a curious chipmunk. It was warm enough to do a little more swimming and paddling before we left. I paddled out to one of the islands where I found a neat campsite that would fit two small tents! On our way back to the trailhead we dropped our packs to explore the day use area, which has some fun log-hopping and a nice view of the full length of the lake and the peaks beyond.

En route back to the real world (boo), we saw a black bear cub bounding into the scrub as we came around a corner. I didn't know there were bears in these parts! That was the cherry on top of a beautiful and relaxing trip.

The road in was in good shape, a few largish pot holes that we had to slowly navigate around in our low clearance sedan; 20 minutes to travel the 6+ miles to the trail head. We were pretty much the last ones up (arrived at 10:20 AM) and the last ones out.

On the trail, we met a solo hiker coming down at almost the exact point that the trail looked to be lost in the snow, which was about 1/4-1/2 mile from the saddle, at a large dip after entering the old growth. The boot prints and paw prints took a right turn and our savior let us know that those tracks (including his own from earlier in the day) went in the wrong direction. A very short distance to the LEFT led to the snow-free switchback trail that brings you to the ridge, only 50 yards or so away from the wrong turns!

  Once on the ridge it was not possible to follow any trail, unless you were fortunate enough to circle around to the south side of the summit quite close to the top where there were a few snow-free pieces, and a few of the stone steps partly uncovered. We left a few markers on the way up (sticks in the snow) and were happy to follow them on the way down.

We saw only a few hikers without traction and poles. They were not happy when trying to navigate the steep sections leading down from the summit.

It was a little more of an adventure than we planned, but a learning experience nevertheless, and reaching the summit was very satisfying. Last car out of the lot at about 5:30 PM. Hiking time: 1 hour for the first 2 miles to the saddle; 2 hours for the next circuitous 1.7 to the summit; 2.5 hours down.

We drove beyond the elk gate to just before the end of the road and parked in a large grassy area to the right of the road. There was one car in the parking area, but we never saw the occupants. In 1 1/4 miles we reached the old cabin. There is a box facility in the meadow of the cabin. While at the cabin 3 people came up the trail. One of them told us they were tagging Coronis Fritillary butterflies. They were the only ones we saw the whole day. About 1/2 mile from the cabin where the road splits we went right to the top of the ridge where I meandered among the flowers while Bob continued up to the high point at 3900 feet where the top of Mt Adams was added to the lower view of Mt Rainier and the Stuart Range. Many bitterroot buds were present in the meadows along the ridge so we had to be very careful where we put our feet! Various colors of buckwheat, Western blue flax, 3 varieties of penstemon, brodiaea, large-flowered collomia, yarrow, a few paintbrush, larkspur and bitterroot were some of the flowers seen. Lazuli buntings, towhees, phoebes, a kestrel and a pair of nesting wrens were seen. There were many species of butterflies. Another very enjoyable day on the trail!

Hike was easy to find, and trail was well maintained. You cross a couple of streams in the beginning of the hike, and then make your way up a clear trail with few switchbacks! At one point there was snow on the trail, and it is very easy to loose the trail. I would suggest leaving cairns or markers for yourself on the way down.

We got very lost on the way down, and it took us a little while to find where the trail was. Luckily we had a couple of maps and some folks who were very good at navigation!

Dirtyface is open and ready, the FS crew has cleared virtually all the blowdowns Thanks!, less the 5 on the upper section all easy to step over, only one needed a small detour. The wildflowers are fabulous, the bugs were not too bad. Only a very small amount of snow in a few small patches on trail. We shared the trail with almost 20 people which is a big day for Dirtyface. A mountaineers group of 11, and two or three other parties made for more company this is usually found on this trail. Go now while the snow is still making many destinations un-reachable. Springs are running on the old logging road cross over section of the trail (40% of the way up), the top is dry so filter up.

Just Barry and I on this trip. Everyone else was out of town or had other plans. OK...so where to go? I suggested Goat Island Mtn (MRNP) and Barry obliged. I've had this trip on my list for several years. The weather looked ideal...

We met at the SE8th P&R and then drove down to the White River entrance to MRNP. I was wondering if the parking area at Fryingpan Creek would be full. About a half dozen cars. Not bad. We were moving by about 9am.

The forest hike was cool and flat but in no time we were warmed up from moving. An occasional itsy bitsy small patch of snow here and there below the switchback. One big patch but easy to find your way...

The switchbacks were snow free...up we continued. Last weekend put reports of snow at the top of the switchbacks. Not today... Snow was there but a bit after the last turn. From there...the snow patches got a bit bigger. We reached the log crossing in good time.

The snow on the other side of the log looked pretty rotten. Crossing here also meant a creek crossing higher up. Hmm...some trip reports had people staying to the north of Fryingpan Creek. We figured we'd give this alternate route a try.

We hiked along the creek edge a short ways until the water forced us up higher. We ended up going too high and getting into some serious schwacking. Yuck. Discouraged...we dropped back down to the creeks edge and found travel much easier. Up the creek we went. This could be interesting I told myself...later in the day...let's hope the snow doesn't get too soft...The creek edge was a mix of open rocks, small streams, and snow covered something.

When we reached the head of Fryingpan Creek we could see glissades tracks coming down off the ridge. Views of Little Tahoma from here are incredible. We headed up. I started to struggle. Legs just weren't feeling up to this trip. I struggled most of the rest of the trip trying to find my stride. Heading to the gap we did a rising traverse up a moderate snow slope. We finally gained the ridge and views of Rainier began to emerge. The route pretty much follows the ridge crest. Mostly up but as all ridges go it's a bit like a roller coaster ridge.

Heading to Pt 7218 the ridge is mostly snow covered (several feet) but there are some stretches of bare rock/dirt. I took a small break here hoping a rest and some food would help. Then, we continued on to the high point (7268'). Some anemones starting to bloom along the ridge but just barely. Barry pulled out his binoculars and could see several climbing parties/tents at Camp Sherman. The views down to the Emmons Glacier from this ridge...spectacular.

I was feeling a bit better but still off my mark. I got to the low point just beyond Pt 7186 and called it a day....happy to just be out again. Barry continued on and in short order met me back at my late lunch spot.

The ridge walk east, back toward the mountain saw clouds moving in. Some looked like they might bring rain.

We followed our route down back to the head of Fryingpan Creek. Now what? Cross up high and then over the rail-less foot log? Or...try staying low along the entire north side of the creek. We decided on the later. The route goes well. A couple of minor post holes. Both of us a little nervous about snow covered rocks next to a creek. We hugged the bank as much as possible. At one point the creek forced us up the bank but for just a short while. We met back up with the Wonderland Trail near the foot log crossing. Then the long...long...loooong hike out.

Great day.

Careful of snow in and along the creek. This part of the route is nothing to trifle with.

More photos here: http://www.putz-in-boots.com/[…]/goat_island_mtn_tr.html

Stats: 13mi, 3607' gain (round trip)

Patches of snow to end of valley. Climb to waterfall is snow free. Snow cover from waterfall to lake. We turned around maybe .3 miles from the lake; other hikers reported going further but not finding the lake.

Streams are running high; some crossings require excellent balance or ankle high waterproof boots.

We started around 1030am and had planned on doing an overnight, but about one mile from Blanca (about 1/2 mile from virgin lake) we hit snow and lost the trail. There was a few other people who past us and made it to virgin lake but said it was very hard and they couldnt figure how to get down to Blanca. Very difficult hike with 35lb bags. We (me and my 13 yr old) were able to do it but just took lots of breaks. round trip with breaks and lunch 5 hrs.

Only a few patches of snow remain on the way to the saddle--not a problem even for people in sneakers like us. The path to Iron Peak is still covered in snow, but presents no special challenge if you have waterproof boots and gaiters. On the saddle there was a mountain goat resting on a ledge 30 feet above the trail--cool. Wildflowers are in full bloom. No bugs. Overall great early-season hike. Go now!

This was a multi-day outing with family from the Port Angeles area.

On June 14th we did a 10 mile (RT) bike ride on the discover trail from Mike's Bikes where we rented one bike to the Railroad Trestle over the Dungeness River. This was my first time on this trail which wanders thru Sequim and farmers fields out to the railroad trestle and by a bald eagle perch where a bald eagle was perching for us.

It is a nice ride and the trail extends all the way to Port Angeles - not our goal on this day since it had been well over a year since our last bike ride.

On June 15 we did a short walk to the Elwha Dam overlook. Foxglove and other flowers were out and deer with fawn came to see what were were looking at. Nice to see the Elwha running free after so many years of two dams on the river.

We started about 11:15am and reached Camp Muir at 2:13pm. Along the route, we stopped two times in total of ~30mins.

Walking on this trail/snow path for most (90%+) part felt like climbing stairs. The last half mile or so, I felt light headed so we slow down a bit. On the way up we were going around people. It was ok to do that as the snow around the most prominent path was easily walkable.

On the way back, my partner slid on an air tube, and I ran. The snow was soft, so running down the mountain was lots of fun, and easy. He had fun sliding on the air tube. People that attempted sliding on trash bags didn't get far. The snow was too soft for that.

To consider:
There were couple of steep sections towards beginning (steep stairs). On the way back they looked like pretty steep snowy downhills. Nobody there had problems with those. I noticed them. :) The snow was perfect for sliding down on heels, and I made it, too.

Musts: Lots of water, sun glasses, and sun screen.
Almost a must: Waterproof shoes, high gaiters, a hat, extra pair of socks to change at the Camp if your feet are wet and cold, windbreaker in case it is windy at the camp.

What would I differently: Took Salomon waterproof running shoes with yaktrax, and gaiters (and maybe hiking poles - this would depend on time of the day/amount of hard snow on the trail, and whether I would run down or walk). Also, I would started the hike a bit earlier.

To disclose: we made it up in 2:30h travel time. We are fit hikers and endurance runners. For example, it takes us about 1:15-1:20h to hike up Mt Si, and this hike felt easier than that. For us hiking to Camp Muir felt like going up Mt. Granite by hardness.




 

The distance on this hike is not exactly as advertised. It's about 3.9 miles one way and 1600 ft elevation gain per the board at the trail head.

It is very easy to get to this trail head from Seattle or the east side. We got there around 12 pm to an overfull parking lot but were lucky to get a spot as the first wave of hikers were leaving. It seems like a lot more than the 1400 elevation listed but it was a good grind! About .5 miles from the top there is snow, water and mud on the trail but it is easy to get through with hiking boots. At the lake, there are some bugs, so taking some insect repellent is not a bad idea.

Coming back seems much quicker since it's all downhill. Camping at the lake or jumping in the lake is also a possibility so pack appropriately if you want to do that ! Have a good hike !!

The Mt Si parking lot was full at 11am, apart from some questionable parking spots.

Walked the road back to the Little Si trailhead, and followed the Old Mt Si trail up. The trail was in good condition, and there were few people. Meanwhile, the Mt Si trail appeared to have bumper-to-bumper traffic.

From the bottom of the Haystack, I took the Upper Connector trail towards Mt Teneriffe. Much of the trail followed logging roads, and was in good condition (apart from a few patches of snow), though the trail did get quite faint below Mt Teneriffe. Didn't encounter a single person between Mt Si and the summit of Mt Teneriffe.

Descended via the Kamikaze Trail. Steep, lose dirt and rocks, slippery roots... Busy only below the falls.

Finally, I used the Lower Connector trail to get back to the parking lot. Lots of almost ripe berries along this trail, and once again not a single person.

Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/[…]/MtSiMtTeneriffeLoopJune2013
Tracklog: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/328399451

Please read the hazards for this hike on the trailhead bulletin board. Looks like people have lost their way descending. I started hiking this trail around 1pm. Its my first time here. And it was damn steep. 4000ft in 2.5 miles. WOW. Saw lots of people with heavy backpacks breeze through the trail though. Also saw a kid, may be 5 years old, singing and climbing with his dad effortlessly. So its very much doable. There are few mudholes and lots of annoying bugs. Get those insect repellents. With few breaks I was able to make it to the top in 3 hrs. Incredible views of cascade range, Snoqualmie valley and Mt Rainier. Spent an hr at the summit. Decent was challenging as well. Took 2 hrs for me after couple of slips and falls.

Maybe the trail is getting more popular - we met at least a dozen other parties on the trail, but still this is much less crowded than nearby Rattlesnake Lake, and a fun trail.

We found an interesting alternate route back. I looked through the trip reports and somebody mentioned it back in 2009, but not since, so I'll describe it. After crossing Boxley Creek, there is a trail taking off to the right. You can see the back of a sign, and the front says something like "no motorized vehicles". Follow that trail, it soon forks, and take the left fork going down the hill. There aren't any signs. After about half a mile there is another fork, take the right one going up a hill. This curves around and eventually you end up at Christmas Lake (see photo). From here it's easy, there is an old abandoned road that leads to a other older road (turn left) that leads to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, that takes you to Rattlesnake Lake. From there, we walked along the lake to the Education Center, then took the Iron Horse Trail back to the parking lot. I drew an approximate route on the map (see other photo).

Beautiful morning, temp in the 70s. Lots of company on Little Si but only a few folks on Boulder Garden Loop. Lovely view at the top of Little Si.

From the TH to the Waptus River ford the trail has been cleared and is in good shape. The route is snow free to the Waptus ford and at the lake. There are still 3 or 4 potential fords before Waptus River, but all have rocks and logs available to cross on, if comfortable. There’s a fair amount of water on the trail.

The Waptus River ford was at a max depth of 2’ 2” (yes, I measured) and that was at either end of the ford…it was a bit shallower in the middle. The river depth can change due to many factors at any given time, so don’t assume this depth will be the same if you head out there. However, I will say that this is the lowest depth I’ve seen this early in quite some time.

From the Waptus River ford to Deep Lake there are 10-15 downed trees. Overall the trail is in pretty good shape. The trail is snow free to a little over a mile before Deep Lake, where it quickly becomes solid snow. There is the potential for 2 fords to the lake, but logs are present up/down stream if one wants to stay dry (you’ll have to hunt a bit to find them). There is still a fair amount of snow in the lake basin, but there are 2 camps melted out on the east shore.

From Deep Lake up to Cathedral Pass, the switchbacks are about 60% snow covered, with mostly solid snow from 5000’ to the pass. The first two thirds of the Peggy’s Pond spur trail is snow free, with the last third being solid snow and is a fairly steep traverse.

Watch out for the very curious Pine Marten near the Waptus River ford!

Cheers!

We went through the lower cave with my 6 year old granddaughter. There was some standing water in areas of the trail. You can do this trail with hand held flashlights but your best bet is to use LED headlamps. There was also evidence of recent rockfalls in the cave so be aware of this and encourage young kids to keep their voices down. Take jackets, at first the cool damp air feels wonderful on a hot summer day but it does get very chilly before you are through. Be on the look-out for a small mini cave in the left side of the tunnel that has visible pyrite deposits in it, beautiful to see.

Road – no issues for any car. Trail – no issues for any hiker to Lower Lena! We continued up The Brothers trail scouting for a WTA trail maintenance crew next weekend and found work a-plenty to keep us happy that way – downed trees, a small (25’) but major washout requiring a re-route, and other fun surprises! But no snow – all melted out to well past where we turned around just past 1.5 miles into the Wilderness. Pics are at: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/.

Excellent hike! A friend recommended this hike after I mentioned going to Wallace Falls, and I'm glad I took his advice. Fewer hikers and an amazing perspective on the waterfall.

Totally easy for the first part, then quite a few stairs (the BEST stairs I've EVER hiked on - evenly spaced and not to big). It was worth it though, to work up a good sweat and then be cooled by the mist of the falls:)

Lot's of people coming up as we were heading down around noon.

Beautiful day for a hike. Less people than I expected on a Saturday.
River crossing a little tricky. Either had to walk across an bridge of branches or wade through a foot of water. With my poles the bridge was not a problem.

Condition of trail was pretty good overall - just around the Military road trail, was little overgrown and the path was kind of narrow. Saw whole lot of cotton like stuff on the ground. Didn't see any water compared to when I hiked two months back.

I started out around Rainbow town trail - saw the Ford slope coal mining exhibit with ten minutes or so - was nice place to click some pics - then went around the wildside trail - marshal hill trail, before starting out the De Leo wall, there is a huge water tank if you take a small detour - views along the De Leo wall trail was very nice - you can get a great view of city, mountains from the elevation.

Just right for my newbie teenage girls. Lots of variety on this short hike. Steep-ish for the 4 switchbacks at the beginning, but then more or less flat. Mossy trees, river in a canyon, marshy bits, and the remnants of a very old rail line which in places is carved from the rock. We dared to go past the "trail closed" sign to get to the two tunnels (6 and 5) on this map. http://www.robecanyon.org/[…]/robe_canyon_map_line_drawing.jpg Lots of others were doing the same, but I wouldn't have taken little kids on that stretch. Pretty great scenery all along the hike. There was an obvious rockslide after the trail closed sign, but it looked pretty old and stable based on the foot traffic that's been through it since.

Snow covers the road at 4000 feet, two switchbacks below the trailhead, so parking was rather tight alongside the roadway. Didn't make it all the way to the trailhead since I was packing the baby on my back and decided the snow was a bit too slick for our safety. It looked like it was still 3 to 4 feet deep on the roadway in places. :( Hope to make it back soon. Saw a couple of other groups hiking without many issues.

Detailed trip report with photos and conditions info: http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8005524

This was a great hike to take with our dogs. The trail was a bit narrow in places due to some of the plants growing over the trail, but otherwise well maintained and enjoyable. Great views from the top!

This hike is very popular, so there were plenty of people on the trail. We had to move over and make passes where we could to keep moving steadily. If you're looking for solitude, skip this trail. It starts off mostly flat and climbs only slightly up until the Lake Twenty Two creek bridge.

The next mile or so is a steady climb on a well-kept trail. Though it is steep in places, there are spots where the trail levels off. The forest provided shade from the sun for most of the way, but there is a point where the trail opens up as it switches back along the mountain. The views on this stretch of the trail are spectacular!

During the last half mile to the lake, there was snow in spots. After wandering through a small valley, the forest opens up to views of Mount Pilchuck towering high above and Lake Twenty Two sparkling at its base.

Full trip report and photos: http://www.urban-trailseeke[…]report-lake-twenty-two.html

My boyfriend and I kicked off the season by taking our first trek up to Kelly Butte. The trail was in great condition, minus the "Kelly Butte" sign pointing to the start of the switchbacks being knocked off the post. We temporarily attached it but it will without a doubt fall off again. There was quite a bit of snow to walk through as you near the lookout, but nothing that requires any extra equipment, just make sure your boots are waterproof! The lookout was great, minus the foggy weather (we didn't really get a view today). It was obvious that this hike offers incredible views on our way down when the fog started to burn off. Looking forward to doing this hike again on a clear day!

On a side note, we seem to have lost a men's Columbia jacket on our way down. If you find it and you don't want to keep it, please email parvuj@spu.edu and a nice bit of karma will be coming your way :)

Beautiful and popular hike. There seemed to be a catepillar infestation in the middle of the hike. You could hear them falling to the ground from the trees- it sounded like rain! Just when you think you've reached the top you will start to descend for about a mile. Don't give up! You're going the right way and it's worth it. The para gliders at Poo Poo Point are a ton of fun to watch.

3 of us hiked the trail from the Denny Creek trailhead the 4.5 miles to Melakwa Lake. The bridge is still out at the 1 mile mark, but the beaver dam is usable for crossing. River is flowing at a good rate.
Before and after this river crossing the trail was in good condition. We passed the overlook to snowshoe falls after about 2 miles and there were good views. Still a bit of snow above the falls and the water is rushing strong.
Steep hiking up through the valley after this. Some snow on the trail, but nothing major.
At 3.5 (hemlock pass) there is significant snow. We could not find the trail and decided to blaze directly up the ridge. It was about 500 feet maybe and quite steep. I highly recommend an ice axe for the return trip. Crampons or at minimum microspikes are needed. We had 1 30-50 foot glissade that was quite dangerous but arrested with a trekking pole.
After the ridge there is more snow leading to the lake. A few feet still. The terrain here was much easier and we made our own route to the lake. Still no trail to be found - although we did find the sign for Melekwa.
The lake is still mostly frozen. Identical to the picture from the 6/9 trip report. Beautiful.
Some foot prints led around the lake and we saw some climbing the steep snowfield on the opposite (north?) side of the lake.

Required some trail finding and steep travel through snow (dangerous without proper gear) but was a very rewarding hike at 8.9 miles. It took us almost 9 hours including stops and a long lunch.

The trail was clear all the way up to the Snow Lakes. We hiked up in the afternoon and set up camp as the sun was setting over the mountains. In the morning, a mountain goat joined us for breakfast. As others note, Icicle Brewery is a worthwhile post-hike stopover.

Another great hike with my friend Jason. We actually attempted this a few years ago as a backup after we could not cross the river on the Vesper trail but ran out of time. We had plenty of time last weekend on a mostly sunny Saturday. We made good time up the trail. Similar elevation gain and distance to summit as Granite Mt (I90). 3,870 gain in 4.25 miles (8.5 miles RT). Snow for around the last mile, and the snow route pretty much goes straight up, so you will sweat (but you already should be by then). We made it up in 2.5 hrs. Great views from the top 5,720'. There is actually a lower West summit (great spot for lunch) and an East summit (exposed rock on snow field). The actual summit has a cornice on the North side and some trees to the South, so not the best place to hang out for lunch. Micro-spikes worked great for that last mile, we had our ice axes but didn't use them, our poles were much more useful. Several excellent glissades on the way down. We made it down in 2 hrs.

That has to be one of the nicest, biggest, and best maintained trail heads!

When I lived in Alaska a co-worker of mine told me about hiking this trail when he was a kid. Ever since he described this wonderful place, I've had it on my MUST DO list.

This weekend the fates were in my favor, since a dear friend of mine had to cancel her trip last minute up north. So I headed south for one last outdoor adventure before she moved out of state.

The trail is very popular, and I can see why. The trail has an easy grade, is well maintained and has great campsites. Oh and don't forget the waterfalls! We never made it to Tunnel Falls but did see Metlako, Loowit, High Bridge, Wy'east, and of course the infamous Punch Bowl Falls (Some say it is the most photographed waterfall in the entire Pacific Northwest).

If you plan spending a weekend checking out waterfalls on the Columbia Gorge, make sure this hike is on your list! ^_^

Hurricane Ridge has been having many good weather days off late. Even though there was quite a crowd at the visitor center, Hurricane Hill trail is not-so-crowded and Wolf Creek trail was quite deserted.
There is some snow still on the Wolf Creek Trail - if you are wearing hiking boots you can walk over it but probably not safe for children. There are also fallen big branches that have to be climbed over.
But it is completely worth it for the wildflowers in the meadows and unhindered views of the snow-peaked Oympics. Also great mushroom sighting and birding opportunities. I am glad we kept going in spite of snow, fallen branches and slush!

Our crew camped at Poplar Flat Campground and spent the week clearing logs off several trails in the Twisp River valley. Louis Lake is now cleared to 4700', Twisp Pass is cleared to the pass, South Creek is cleared to the creek crossing at 4200' (the creek was too deep and swift to pass safely), Copper Pass is cleared to the snow line at 5000', and North Creek is cleared to 4700'.

We had lovely weather, only one wood tick, and the wildflowers were out. On the Louis Lake Trail, we saw more calypso orchids than I have ever seen on one trail. The Twisp River Valley, viewed from any of these trails, is gorgeous, with snow still to be seen up high and beautiful spring greens below.

The Poplar Flat campground was busy, but not overflowing. There were sites available even on the weekend. The facilities are well kept, and there's a lovely CCC picnic shelter with a fireplace for cool mornings or evenings. It's a great place to car camp and use as a base for day hiking any of the lovely trails in the valley. Getting to high elevation can be done fairly quickly. The trails range from moderate (South Creek) to quite steep (parts of Louis Lake and Twisp Pass). Bring trekking poles for creek crossings, as some of them are still running high.

The road to the the trailhead is a little rough but we had no problems in a subaru outback getting there. The trail had a few sites with blowdown, but easy to get around. The snow level was around 3500'-3600'. We were able to follow footprints through the snow to the pass which made the navigating much simpler. We didn't have any post-holing and the snow was about 3' deep at the summit. The views at the summit are awesome and the sun halo and rainbow clouds that day made the views even better.

This was a wonderful hike. The lower trail was clear and fairly dry. The closer to the lake there was a down tree and the trail got wet and muddy. Then you run into snow. The weather was bright, sunny and warm. The view was beautiful with a little haze in the air. We counted 37 waterfalls. We saw skunk cabbage, and trillium (not yet blooming). We enjoy seeing how the forest rejuvenate itself, trees growing from trees, the large root systems from upturned trees.

Headed out pretty late for a solo overnight. After a few day hikers left the trail was empty and I was the only one on the mountain. The first couple miles were pretty brutal with a 30 pound pack but well worth it!
Made it up to a snowfield on the right with great spots for camping, trees for hanging gear and a great view of Rainier. I am glad I brought Deet because the mosquitos were pretty intense, I ended up reapplying a few times. Great sunset. Woke up early the next morning hung my gear and made it to the top ridge before turning around. Great views from the ridge including Adams, Helens blast zone, Rainier and the lahar bed from the 80s eruption. Flowers are just beginning to grow and temperatures were perfect for pants and tank top.
A few blow downs on the first half mile of the trail.
Great time of year to make this hike, well worth the bugs.

Great hike, lower part of the loop is wheelchair accessible. The upper part of the loop is flat, but requires a 700 ft climb when starting from the interpretive site. Very well maintained trails. Be sure to check out the website before going. http://www.irongoat.org/

This hike's about 4mi one-way. The first mile provides some variety with a waterfall, power lines, and the Iron Horse trail junction, otherwise it's all under a forest canopy. We crossed 1 blowdown, some small water streams and muddy spots on the way up. There are small scree sections about 1 mile from the end - these finally provide views of the mountain across, and the trail flattens considerably thenceforth.

The snow's apparently melting fast - you only see it after the scree sections; the final 1/2 mile is all on snow. There was exactly one spot on the way back where I thought hiking poles would've been handy - a small slippery snowy mound that we ran/skidded through. A couple of us did the hike in runners, though I'm an advocate of wearing hiking shoes in general (carefree stepping through streams/mud, no ankle rolls).

The lake itself is very pretty - you have to scout a bit to find spots to sit, and there's a waterfall sound in the background. I did get a 2nd hand report of a swimmer if you're so inclined.

Somehow we took almost as long coming down as going up (~2 hrs), but it felt faster :).

We arrived at Denny Creek right at 8:30- it was the perfect time to get there because there was not a lot of crowds yet and plenty of parking. It was a beautiful morning, the hike was amazing. We hiked up to Snowshoe Falls which was a little of 2 miles. We did have to climb over some logs to cross a creek, but it wasn't to bad. We cannot wait to go back.

So would the Forest Service be mad if I posted a giant sign at the trailhead saying, "A FED GOAT IS A DEAD GOAT"? There is a sign at the trailhead warning people about dangerous goats with their lethal pointy horns, but no sign posted saying why the goats have gotten so aggressive. That would be us, my friends. More on goats later.

We decided to try Lake Ingalls on a day with promise of views of Mt. Stuart. In all the time I've been here, I've seen Stuart, and been up it on a clear day, but every time I've brought someone else, it's been cloudy at the top. Not so today.

The parking lot was very full, but surprisingly, there were few people on the Lake Ingalls trail. Perhaps most were headed for Esmeralda Basin. The hike up was easy most of the way, crossing softening avalanche fans a couple miles up. There is a profusion of spring beauty flowers and some glacier lilies, meaning the real flower show is yet to come. It was a perfect day temperature wise, with a light wind to keep us cool.

Past the intersection with Longs Pass, the trail cuts into a basin that was snow covered for the most part. We picked our way up and stopped for views, only to have a goat leap past us and then circle around to a rocky outcrop. Two guys had just come down over the rocks, and three folks were on their way up, so we figured they had spooked the goat.

Then we got up to the camp area below the pass and there was an adolescent goat checking out four unoccupied tents. Another adult was wandering the snowfields. We proceeded up to the pass to the area where people like to picnic and decided to stop and enjoy the highly unusual solitude and lovely views of Mt. Stuart and the basin. Suddenly, we saw a herd of 10 goats head up the basin. We were thrilled as they formed a line and ascended the slopes - and came over the rocks- and then we were scrambling to pick up our lunch as they streamed over the ridge, pinning us to the edge. There were two woolly babies bleating the whole way, but their mothers looked pretty determined.

The goats made patrols and passes for over an hour, sometimes hovering on the rocks above. Clearly, they associate people with food. I have never seen this behavior, but after reading the warning from the Park Service about NOT LETTING THE GOATS LICK PEOPLE'S HANDS AND ARMS at Mt. Ellinor, I figured these goats had been corrupted like the red foxes at Mt. Rainier that get too many balogna sandwiches. We ignored the goats and they dispersed, leaving us to rest in the sun and enjoy a light nap until- BAAA! There was a goat baby and mom right by us. Yikes. We finally shook ourselves out of our pleasant little spot, which not another person had visited, and left.

So, excellent place to see mountain goats, but please please please don't feed them or let them lick your arms. Wildlife always pays the price for human error in the end.

At around 11am we took Baker Lake Road to Road 1152 (long, narrow, and winding). It was dry and in good condition. At the trailhead, there were more than a few vehicles. The restroom was in very good condition.

Before taking the Shannon Ridge Trail (which we literally chose randomly, without any knowledge on the trail) we left our names and plans at the Forest Service box (find the box a little ways down the trail). The trail was snow free for awhile, then patches appeared around 3000ft. By the time we approached the 3500ft, the trail was gone and we followed others footprints. There were multiple sets with multiple flags on different routes.

We followed a climbing group to the Shannon Ridge where we found breathtaking views of snow-topped peaks, lakes, and the beautiful Mount Baker. We didn't have any snow gear and so upon a VERY steep ascent toward rocky peaks, we turned back.

We saw yellow, purple, maroon, and white wild flowers and a grouse. The runoff from the glaciers was loud and beautiful to hear.

A fallen tree blocks the FS road about a half mile from the trailhead. We walked to the trailhead easily. The trail is covered with a bit of debris but easily handled. Snow is on the trail and spots are expansive enough to cause us the search for the trail. At Independence Lake we encountered lots of snow and a more than half frozen lake. Stay low along the lake as this is where the trail is even though its covered in snow. At around three quarters the way down the lake don't hesitate to traverse the flat open area as it is solid ground and not the lake. At the north end of the lake there is bare ground and you can see the gravel path that is the trail. We stopped here to have lunch and it was very pleasant. No bugs! We tied an orange tape to the tree that has a worn trail marker showing the way. The talus area is covered in snow hiding the switchbacks upwards. We found the trail up the slope but decided to turn around because of more snow and time. We did not go on the North Lake. The forest is amazing with Western and Mountain Hemlocks everywhere some of them huge old growth. The forest floor is covered in young Hemlocks adding to the beauty. Enjoy!

Mountaineer CHS hike kicks off Summer hiking! As much as we love our local trails, come June we start longing for Mountains and pristine Alpine Lakes. Long no more...

The only downside to Mountain day hikes being the multi hour, early morning drive from Seattle to a distant trailhead. Assembling at the P&R at an hour too early to be mentioned in polite company, our group made the mostly silent drive to the Lake Stuart Trailhead arriving around 9:30 to find the large parking area mostly full. Lots of fellow hikers answering the call of fair weather.

There being no recent WTA trip reports on Lake Stuart we decided to hope for the best and left the gaiters and micro-spikes behind trusting the warm weather had done it's work on the snow. It had.

We left the TH at about 9:45 and reached Lake Stuart about 1:00 after allowing for photo and various other stops along the way. The trail was in great shape! A few small streams to hop across (in addition to the scenic log bridge) some slightly muddy spots and one of two patches of snow (see photo) that were easily crossed or stepped over. (In fact, likely to have melted off in the next few days.) A few rocky bits to climb over but nothing to deter anyone.

As this trail serves both Lake Stuart and Colchuck Lake you will encounter most of your hiker traffic (and do most of your altitude gain) before the trail junction at about mile 2.5 where the Colchuck traffic heads East.

Arriving at the lake we enjoyed the scenery and awesome mild summer weather, had lunch, relaxed and shared the lake with a fair number of hikers and over-night campers. Didn't feel crowded however even on this stellar June weekend day! Reluctantly leaving the Lake at about 2:25 we were back at the TH around 5:00.

Saving the mildly bad news for last... as usual, the bug population has survived the winter and is thriving... they also seem pretty unimpressed with bug repellant. Certainly not unique to Lake Stuart and no reason at all to stay home!

Capped off a highly successful hike with a most excellent dinner at "South" in Leavenworth. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to our intrepid hike leaders!

 

 



   

Trying to kick myself into shape. Lake Serene on Monday and decided Mt Dickerman would definitely kick me!

It did. A long, slow ascent on a great day punctuated by high clouds but still rather nice.

The switchbacks, well, they are still there, one after another, after another. The Waterfall Gully snow crossing is still intact but I did not test it on the way up, rather, dropping down into the creek on some slippery rocks, crossing and climbing out.

After the waterfall, you start picking up more and more snow finally heading off the Summer trail and taking the direct snow route up and up and up some more. Where you'd normally cross the creek and head a bit left, you take a right turn following the tracks into a broad gully and up the ever narrowing gully. Watch for developing holes dropping into the creek.

Then it's up until you reach the summit ridge and head to the right to the summit. There were quite a number of folks up there and more came later.

Nice views in all directions somewhat affected by the high clouds.

Spent about 3/4 of an hour and made my way slowly down the snow and then the trail.

I used ice ax and poles and gaiters made for dryer hiking. Lots of folks with only poles. More folks using some form of microspikes or traction than I've seen before - with some firm snow, it looked like a good idea particularly on downward sloping tread.

Day hike with my 6 year old granddaughter. Main trail very well kept but the loop trail across the river and over the suspension bridge did have some standing water and mud in the trail. This did not cause any real problems however.
Though this trail has signage saying "most difficult" with appropriate care it was not at all hard for her little legs. The glacial run-off was obvious in the deep blue of the pools and was well worth the effort. She actually hiked Ape Cave lower cavern after Lava Canyon and was asking where we were going next. If your kids listen well and are careful this is a great hike!
The secondary trail that is just after the suspension bridge is closed at this time so be aware of this fact.

Out and back from Longmire to Narada Falls. Some snow on the trail after Madcap Falls but then the last portion to Narada Falls was snow free. All the falls were roaring and the mountain even made an appearance in the morning before afternoon clouds partially blocked the view. Narada Falls even had a little rainbow at the bottom just like in the viewpoint sign picture!

Awesome trail on a beautiful day. The tread on this trail is so easy to hike on. The trail is in great condition and the bridges and wood walk ways over the boggy areas are for the most part sturdy (although watch your step they do have some holes). There are some blowdowns that are not to difficult to straddle over or around.
There is a lot to see on this trail. You are in the woods most of the time but never feel closed in. There are plenty of open areas where you catch glimpses of the surrounding mountainsides, you come close to the river a few times and you pass through some meadows with flowers blooming.
I followed the trail as far as the bridge over Foss River where there was a very elaborate camp set up (someone knows how to camp) and had lunch alongside the river before returning.
A good way to put some easy miles in. When I am a little faster and a little stronger later in the season I may try this again and push on to the lakes.
There were two other groups that started about the same time I did this morning (10am ish) but I never caught up to the pair in front of me and the pair behind me didn't catch me until I was eating lunch so it was a very quiet, uncrowded hike. Passed a few groups heading up as I was heading back.
Easy access as his trail is not far off of HWY 2, 4 miles of which the first is paved and the second is county maintained which only leaves 2 miles of dirt road with a few big potholes in it.

Well, I was looking for a hike to break in my new hiking shoes. And this one just seemed right, not to much incline, not too long, not to mention it sounded very interesting after reading through the description and some previous trip reports here.

After stopping first at impressive Big Four Mountain, where I was lucky to get the picture of this morning-dew covered Dandelion, I started from the Monte Cristo trailhead at 07:30. As the description says, this is all hiking on the road and not technically difficult.

Only obstacle is the road being washed out after around half a mile. The big log can be crossed easily, though in case it being wet, this can be dangerous indeed. So be careful then.

On one hand it is impressive to see what happened to the old road and the steel bridge in particular, on the other hand is is hard to imagine how this could have happened, seeing the river flowing by just pretty normally.

After finding the road again easily, it is just level walking along it for the next 3.5 miles until reaching Monte Cristo. The two or three 100 yard inclines towards the end are not a challenge. But there were around 15 blow downs across the road overall, but all can be passed easily over.

At Monte Cristo itself there is still a lot to see at the 'main plaza'. So it is for sure worth going there. (I saw other ghost-towns with almost nothing to see anymore). After passing the main plaza, taking the bridge to the left one enters Dumas Street. Well, there's not much left of it, and hard to imagine this once even had a 30 to 40 feet wide boardwark as the information board says ...

... I will leave it like that, everybody should explore this place by him- or herself.

I turned back to the main plaza, had late breakfast, enjoyed the sun for a while, and headed back at 12:15, lot of other hikers just coming opposite to my direction. I was back at the trailhead at 13:30. When I started I was the 3rd car, now the lot was full. This hike to Monte Cristo - especially during weekends - is very popular indeed.

But it is worth it to go there, even if it is just to see, how nature takes back what men created. And 100 years is not that too far ago.

I definately will do more reading about this place and its history now.

Very nice and relaxing hike, for a slow day.

.

It was our first hike this summer and we are completely satisfied with Poo Poo point hike. Amazing view of Mount Rainier, Lake and Issaquah. Trail is clean and maintained and you will find so many hikers on your way. Initially hike is little bit steep but second part is bit easy. You will get two view points: first Mount Rainier and second Lake and Issaquah city. Don't forget to bring your camera to click some amazing natural photos.

The trailhead for this hike is a little tricky to find. When you leave the parking lot turn right on the trail about 10 feet before the Kachess Ridge Hike sign. You will then go down a slight incline towards a creek. Turn left on the trail, go through the gate, and then turn right on the bridge by a waterfall.

Also, the road to turn on from the frontage road is called Kachess Dam. You won't see the marking for FR 4818 until you driven down the road.

This hike is pretty much an uphill hike the whole way until you reach the ridge. There are some short reprieves from time to time with some flat areas but they don't last long and then it is more up and up and up. Most of it is in the shade so on a semi-warm day like today, we were able to keep relatively cool.

We saw lots of wildflowers and we had wonderful views along the hike up as well as when we got to the ridge part of the trail. We stopped for lunch along the ridge on a flat area above the trail and not wanting to keep going on and on the trail we then turned back for the trailhead.

The descent is much quicker (and harder on the knees) then the ascent which is hard on the calves and quads.

Overall, good hike with a couple of great hiking companions including two black labs.

Arrived at 10:00 AM. The parking lot was about 3/4 full. The trail was clear and dry. There were a steady flow of people up and down the trail but I had lots of time where I was alone too. There were lots of dogs and a few smaller children.

Pulled into the parking area around 730am. Parking lot had 4 other cars in it. Pit toilet available at parking lot. Started hike at 745am with temps in the upper 40's.

All insulating layers quickly came off as the trail slowly gained elevation. Trail was in great condition. The rhododendrons hung over our heads as we made our way up giving way to glimpses of Welches Peak.

As the trail steepens we had a few small water crossings.

as you gain elevation the trail then turns to switchbacks making nice work of the steep hillside.

The ridge to the summit then comes into view. small wild flowers were all over the place as you started leaving the tree line. there were a few small snow crossings as well.

we finally gained the summit ridge and it was just a short walk to the summit gracing us views to the north east from Baker all the way down to mt Adams. Great views of the surrounding Olympics as well.

A WTA crew spent 3 days clearing multiple blow downs from the first river crossing to well above Startup Creek. Another multi-day work party will work farther up toward Sundown Pass in August. Projects closer to the trailhead are being tackled by several one-day work parties.

The first river crossing is best accomplished using a fallen cedar downstream of the now missing bridge. Tumble Creek is easily forded with only the outside of ones boots getting wet. The second river crossing bridge broke last year, survived the seasonal floods and can still be easily crossed. Startup Creek is low and could be forded. We opted to cross on the bulky log that has a pronounced slant across the stream.

Marsh Mallows, Avalanche Lilly, Salmon Berries and Bear Grass were all blooming. We had frequent visits from humming birds.

We began our hike by crossing the suspension bridge across the Yakima River at the Umtanam Recreation Area. Shortly after the railroad tracks at an unsigned junction we went left from the main canyon trail to hopefully climb 2000 feet in 3 miles to Untanum Ridge. However, the many variety of birds, flowers, and butterflies slowed our pace so that we had to turn around 700 feet short of the ridge. We saw lazuli buntings, yellow-breasted chats, Cassin's finch, gold finch, phoebes, and towhees. Hyssop, yarrow, large-flowered collomia, linear leaf daisies, and a beautiful white flowering shrub we haven't identified yet were some of the flowers seen. The clouds helped to block the sun at times so with a light breeze, the heat was tolerable. It was a very enjoyable day! :)! We saw only 4 other people the entire 8 hours we were on the trail.

Left Bellevue at 6:30 am with a friend from Illinois. Had to explain that Tiger Mountain was really the foothills. Supressed laughing when she wanted to stop to take pictures of the beautiful Lake Kechelus (clouds hid the best of the pass). Hit blue sky half way between Easton and Cle Elum, as usual. Reached trail head at 8:30 am. Roads in typical condition. Take your time through and around the potholes.
Lots of wildflowers and more to come. Saw trillium, columbine, calypso orchid, lupine, white phlox, paint brush, vanilla leaf, spring beauty, miner's lettuce, and the special plants that can survive the greenish serpentine soils like: rare grass poa curtifolia, holly fern, reddish-purple douglasia nivalis dentate. Enjoyed hugging the ancient doug-firs (likely Ents) that live high in the basin.

The trail is in fantastic condition. No snow on the trail to Navaho Pass and as far up Navaho Peak as we went. Views spectacular throughout the hike. This trail gets dusty later in the season, so enjoy it now. No bugs to speak of, except lots of butterflies as the day warmed up.

Our friend was dutifully impressed. On the way back as we approached Kechelus Lake, she said, "This is not so impressive now. I bet you were internally laughing at me when I was impressed this morning." We laughed so hard I almost had to stop the car.

Finding the trailhead is a little tricky for this hike. From Sparks Road in Easton you drive north on the Kachess Dam road. It is dirt but only a few big potholes. After crossing under the powerlines, look for a diamond-shaped marker on the tree marking a rough dirt road to the right. Follow that of about ½ mile or so to the trailhead for Silver Creek and a nice spot to hang out by the water. I was surprised to see 2 other Subarus at this quiet trailhead on a weekday.
The climb out is steep and switchbacks up through the valley and evergreens. I could hear Silver Creek gushing though the box canyon to my right, and had a few good views of it. The going is fairly rocky too. There are a couple nice spots for views where you can see across the canyon or back towards I-90. Once I flattened out on top, I hit patchy snow. As much as 2’ in places, as it is shaded, but nothing dangerous as it is all on flat ground. The snow was pretty consistent by the time I reached the boy scout bridge, the first major creek crossing. There were 2 blow-downs near there, one rather large, but easy enough to crawl over (unless you are a horse).
 Just before the bridge the Beacon Ridge trail (1315.1) takes off up the hill to the west. I had never been up there so decided to take that route. There was no snow along the east facing ridge except a couple small patches near the top which will probably be gone in a week or two. This trail is not really maintained, so a little more technical with stuff to climb over and overgrown by huckleberry bushes in places. It climbs steadily then heads to the south where it pops out on a ridge overlooking the I-90 corridor. There is an older tower there on top. The views were amazing, 360 degrees with Rainier and all the way into eastern Washington. I wish I had brought a camera. There are side trails along the ridge both directions but I had reached my turn around time so headed back down.
As a trail run it took me just under an hour to reach the top.

To start off, the directions to the trail head are not kidding about the last couple of miles being very rough. On top of that, the last little jaunt to the trail head is blocked by a blowdown, so parking is in the same location as the stock vehicle parking. The trail itself was nice, the first couple of stream crossings weren't that bad, had some rocks to step on, and the crossing points aren't that deep. A handful of the streams were a bit trickier. About a mile and a half in snow starts showing up, and about another half mile after that the trail was completely covered with three to four feet. I think I might have almost gotten to Spider Meadow, but after the third time completely losing the trail for a good twenty to thirty minutes and a couple of hours trudging over slushy snow I decided to turn back.

Minor blowdowns, but the trail is in generally great shape. The trail around the lake is mostly covered in snow.

The snow that kept us from the top five weeks ago is almost all gone now. The remaining patches are easy to cross. There are blowdowns, but none are too hard to get past.
We enjoyed the hike even though the clouds blocked the views. There are wild flowers, neat trees and giant rocks to see. We will go back on a clear day to see the views.
It is steep! We are glad we followed the directions and took the steep left side up and came down the gentler right side. Both are worth seeing.

We hiked the loop starting on the Lower Elliot Creek trail and returning, in part, on the Upper Trail. The lower trail is more scenic but with all the water coming down the mountain the upper trail had some nice waterfalls along the way.

McIntosh Falls is roaring with water now but it was difficult to get a good vantage point from which to photograph it because of downed trees on the boot path to the edge of the falls. Cadet Peak was obscured by clouds but the snowfield below it was visible.

The trail is snow free but there are some muddy parts as well as water running over the trail. The Upper Trail is not fairing well in the mountain climate. A huge boulder blocks most of the trail in one spot and a culvert that used to be under the trail is completely exposed as the stream it was supposed to be routing is now flowing around it washing out about ten feet of trail.

No bugs! I guess it may have been to cool for the critters that usually hang around the lake and meadows.

Beautiful day in Leavenworth. My first time on Ingalls Creek, and I picked the day before the heat comes in. Perfect.
Several small issues to deal with - and ALL of them were dealt with by the little kids on the trail.
I found the trail melted out to just beyond falls creek, (Mile 6) with reports of 5 more miles of clear trail. The wildflowers have peaked, but the stream is still awesome to behold.

Yes, this was the day that the 23 year old hiker was rescued from the middle falls - see http://www.kirotv.com/[…]/ We passed by about ten minutes after he fell, apparantly trying to get a better look. I guess gravity had a surprise waiting for him. Amazingly he rode the falls down river and crawled upon some rocks waiting for a rescue. The news said he had no injuries. But he does have one heck of a story to tell his friends. The park was closed during the rescue, but we had arrived earlier.

Getting there at 11:00 there were many open parking spaces to be had. The trail was dry with the rare exception of a mud puddle here and there. The falls were spectacular, with a large volume of water helping them to live up to their reputation.

WTA lists this as an Easy hike, but that depends upon how far up you want to go. The handout at the state park lists Small Falls as easy, Lower and Middle Falls as medium and Upper Falls as Hard. I go with the park version. However if you have the energy and are willing to put one foot in front of the other then you should have little problem. There is nothing technical about this hike.

Once reaching the upper falls you are warned with a sign about the hazards of going further without proper equipment, etc.

This is a great hike for very scenic falls.

In celebration of our 21st wedding anniversary, my husband and I decided to do something really exciting... we went for a hike. We hardly EVER get to do that! ;) Thorp Mountain Lookout was our destination and we decided to walk the long ridgeline from the north called No Name Ridge.

We ended up parking on the wrong road; don't do that. It took us an hour to find the trailhead (turns out the right road was covered in snow and inaccessible anyway). There was lots of snow still on the trail (about 75% of the way), making navigation difficult at times. Our saving grace was knowing the trail traveled atop the ridgeline all the way to the spur trail heading to the lookout. When our route was in doubt, we slogged on until the trail appeared. No worries.

Flowers are busting right through the snow in places, and out of the running snowmelt in others. We saw glacier lilies, prairie stars, ball-headed something-or-others, phlox, little yellow jobbies, and gardens of anemone (I think).

Views are remarkable in places along the route! Mountains I hardly ever see and certainly don't know the names of appeared magnificently as clouds parted and skies became mostly sunny yesterday. Of course, the lookout boasts 360 degree views that are unbelievable!

It's over 5 miles to the lookout from the trailhead (longer for us, since we had an hour walk before finding the trailhead). The route goes up and down, and up and down, and up and down, finally ending in a 700ft scramble in .3 mile to the lookout. There were snowfields along the north slopes, making for a significantly more challenging scramble to our final destination. My husband looked pretty cool carrying his new shiny ice axe (and fortunately didn't have to self-arrest).

I'm quite sure we were the first to visit the lookout this spring (at least from the north ridge). There were no signs of human life. We played around the rocks, on the deck of the little house and snapped dozens of photos before fueling up for the return trip.

What a slog the return trip ended up being!! Wow! Did I say this trail is entirely uphill BOTH ways? Well, it is. We forced our bodies up the hill coming out, and crawled off the trail at 7:00pm (ten hours on the trail!!), weary and footsore. What a beautiful day and a wonderful way to celebrate 21 years. We saw half a dozen elk with calves, a deer, a chipmunk, and TWO snowshoe hares whose feet were still white. What a fun day!

We headed up Highway 2 to Baring, crossed the BNSF railroad tracks and drove up FS Road 6024 to the trailhead. There is a new restroom at the small parking lot, only two weeks old. Once on the trail, we hiked through the second growth forest from the area logged back in the late 1960's for about 1/4 mile before entering the old growth trees. This makes for a nice valley trail. After crossing Barclay Creek on a sturdy log bridge, it is only about another mile to the lake. At the outlet log jam there were three guys fishing. Further on we came to several campsites along the north side of the lake. One party had their tent up and had been doing some fishing, but said they had not caught any. We hiked to the end of the lake before having lunch. There is one short section on the trail that has been rebuilt near the side trail that goes to the wilderness toilet.

At our lunch spot we saw a Downy Woodpecker getting its lunch while walking along an old fallen tree. It was pecking like mad getting some bugs. While eating, it was cold with the wind blowing off the lake. On the way back out, we met other hikers headed to the lake, some with fishing poles. With the cool weather and low clouds, no skeeters or flies were seen. Some flowers are beginning to bloom. Also, note, you can not lock the new restoom door as the slid lock is jammed. (I'll send any email to the Skykomish Ranger Station and let them know).

The trail is in very good condition, with minimal rocks and roots to contend with. Whoever works on and maintains these trails should be commended.

Views on the way up would be great as you pass through rock fields and clear-cut forests (luckily, the clear-cut areas are minimal) - except for on this day, there was plenty of cloud cover to block our view. Regardless, the trail and its surroundings provide plenty of great views - and even the clouds can be interesting to see.

One note on the "steep" section: The last mile or more does indeed become steep, but calling it steep is almost an understatement. You will pretty much be scrambling up rocks. But the terrain is interesting and enjoyable, even if it does strain every muscle in your legs. Getting to the top is worth it though.

On the way back, we took a jaunt over to Mason Lake - which is also well worth the trip. Only another 1.5 miles round trip, it's a great relaxing hike and the lake provides a great resting point to soak in the beauty.

Decided to take a drive out on the Mountain Loop. This is a nice quick stop. It's a very nice hike similar to Lime Kiln, but much shorter. One important note: there is no grand lake; the destination is essentially a large beaver pond/marsh/lake--the trail keeps on going through the beaver area until the river so it is not entirely obvious that the area with the beaver dams is the destination.

The Seattle weather looks upbeat but there are a lot of clouds off toward the mountains as I head out to explore some trails at the eastern fringe of the Tigers. I park at the upper lot at the Tiger Summit Trailhead off Highway 18 and head east on the Crossover Trail, noting "Timber Sale" signs on trees on both sides of the trail. These trees seem too small to be "timber," and I feel concern about what their harvest might mean for this trail.

Across the Main Tiger Mountain Road I find the NW Timber Trail. Some years ago I walked the first part of it as a quick side trip, and today I'll do it all - it's only about two miles - and then continue on from there. The first part is very mossy, with branches arched over the trail. In about a half mile the trail skirts one of the steeper hillsides I've seen in the Tigers, must be a flank of Beaver Hill.

Further along the trail enters an area logged a few years ago. It's been replanted, and now a few knee-high trees can be seen among all the native transitional vegetation. At least it's green and easy on the eyes.

The NW Timber Trail ends at a junction with the East Side Road (Road 7000.) I follow the road, initially west, crossing tiny Trout Hatchery Creek that flows down from Beaver Valley. I'm alert for the junction with the Silent Swamp Trail. The map claims it's a 1.9 mile walk along the road but that has to be a typo. I think 0.9 mile would be about right.

I've never hiked the Silent Swamp Trail and am not sure of it's current status. Reputedly, much of it was destroyed by a clear cut operation a few years ago and it has been closed since. Apparently true! The trailhead still is there along Road 7000, and a sign confirms the trail is "closed for a reroute project." I'm curious, so try walking a short way up the still-visible beginning of the old trail. In a couple of hundred feet it disappears into an impenetrable slope of downed branches and new growth. Perhaps it would reappear somewhere upslope if I press on, but I'm content today to backtrack to the road.

A few feet along the road the trail "reroute operation" appears. It's a volunteer effort by a mountain-bike alliance to create a new incarnation of the Silent Swamp Trail. They aren't here yet today, so I can't ask more info. A makeshift sign on cardboard asks folks not to "ride" the new trail until it is finished. Nothing is said about hikers, but I elect to skip the new trail for now. I'm uncertain whether it goes through, or exactly where it would take me (read on... ) and I resolve to check it out in the fall if the work is completed by then.

I continue on Road 7000 another 0.8 mile, take a sharp left turn onto Road 5500 and come to the trailhead for the Preston RR Grade. It looks very familiar - I was here June 10 on a hike from the north side - but today I continue walking the road.

Soon, I notice a new trail coming up on the left. There's a signboard with info posted, and I learn this is the upper end of that new Silent Swamp reroute. The elevation here is only about 100 feet higher than at the lower end. Of course I don't know about the route between the two endpoints, but it looks like the reroute has very little elevation gain, and joins Road 5500 over a mile north of the former upper trailhead.

Further along Road 5500, as I approach Spring Creek, I note a trail heading off the road to the north. A faded paper sign indicates it's for maintenance access to "remote parts" of the Preston RR Grade but closed to other uses. It's not on my agenda for today so I skip it.

Another half mile or so along Road 5500 I come to the upper end of the old Silent Swamp Trail. There's an identical sign posted at this end about the closure and rerouting. While I ponder this, a sudden rain squall begins. Fortunately I packed my rain parka, and it's very welcome. Rain comes down fairly hard for about fifteen minutes, then abates.

The scene at this old trailhead is ambiguous. There's a heap of large stones, a pile of gravel, and some concrete blocks of the sort sometimes used in Tiger trail construction. And a few feet down the old trail a wheelbarrow has been stashed. Are there plans to begin something new here? Or are these just sad artifacts of trail work that was aborted when logging began?

Once again, I can't resist exploring so I start out down the old trail. At first it's quite passable, with an occasional blowdown to step over. In less than a quarter mile the trail approaches a crossing of Trout Hatchery Creek and it becomes much more rudimentary and overgrown. The creek crossing itself is easily negotiable on logs, but on the far side I find a jungle of prickly growth, over head high and very wet from the rain, and the footing is spongy. I force my way through a short way, then give up and retreat. I might attempt this again in the dry season to see if anything new has evolved. And, as for heading upstream toward Beaver Valley forget it. At least along the creek it looks totally impassible, and has devil's club to boot.

So it's back to Road 5500, termed "Crossover Road" on my map. Soon I come to an intersection with a logging road coming up from Beaver Valley. It too is familiar - I came by here on a hike June 7 - and I continue on Road 5500 up to where it levels out on the NW side of Sally's Summit.

I seek out the boot path up Sally's and quickly climb to the summit. As I noted in my earlier hike the boot path seems to continue on down the south side, and I intend check out that route today.

The path is somewhat indistinct, but it gets just enough use to remain visible and quite passable. Small blowdowns have been pushed aside and an occasional larger blowdown has been sawed and cleared. Some of the saw cuts are very weathered and quite old. The route may not appear on my map, but it has had some care over the years.

The route continues steadily downhill along the ridge, with an occasional few feet of uphill to cross a knoll. The largest of these most likely is Point 2393 shown on the map. Eventually the route reaches the Main Tiger Mountain Road. There is no sign here, nothing at all to mark the junction, and the route remains almost magically invisible from the road.

At this point I've completed my explorations for today, and I hike the road back toward my trailhead. Along the way I'm passed by a single maintenance vehicle, and I encounter one lone mountain-biker just before I turn off on the Crossover Trail toward the parking lot. These are the only people I've encountered all day.

It's been an interesting hike, as Tiger explorations always are when I try out some new trails and routes. There are a few more out here before I will have hiked them all.

AMAZING rhododendrons blooming!
3 minutes of hike video clips: http://youtu.be/yOuY6mrc5dU

I reckon you have another week, maybe two to see the rhodies before they finish blooming. Both road and trail are in great shape.

Only saw one other group on the way down. Too cloudy for a view, but the forest and flowers took center stage anyway.

The road is closed at FR-2081 because of about 25 downed trees. We had to hike to the trailhead - about 2-3 miles. Trail is wert, but not bad for spring conditions! We hit snow about .7 miles from the lake and had a bit of trouble sticking to the trail, but it wasn't bad. Snow is compacted and easy to walk on. Overall, this is a great little hike!

Our group of 4 set out at about 12:30pm, and we hiked to the waterfall and back. We saw about two or three other people/groups.

There are small fish and other interesting wildlife in the streams and pools, such as freshwater clams.

After setting up camp at Big Pines CG, we had time for a short walk so drove to the Selah Cliffs Natural Area Preserve which we first visited on 5-26-13. The following link describes the area and our first hike:

http://www.wta.org/[…]/trip_report.2013-05-27.4715549088

Today we saw basalt daisies on the basalt walls along the Yakima Canyon Road just before the turn for the preserve. Flowers were few at the preserve, but we did see one blazing star, purple sage, and a beautiful white flowering shrub which we have not yet identified. This is any easy walk to view the basalt daisies and to hopefully observe birds and other wildlife. Today we saw a coyote, a quail resting on a tree limb and red-tailed hawks.

The bugs are basically gone. Trail is mostly mud-free.

 Road 49 to the North Fork of the Sauk was in good shape with few potholes, they did a great job on the road. Arrived at the trailhead at 10:15am and was the only one there. A few big blowdowns at the start of the trail, but was able to get around them ok. Just scouting today and only went in as far as the first creek crossing. It was running high and had the little dog with me, so turned around there. Love the old growth in the forest on this hike. The trail is brushy in spots and needs to be cleared. On the way back 2 deer were running full speed on the trail and ran into us. The little Yorkie stood her ground barking and growling. One deer ran to the left and the other to the right, about gave me a heart attack. I think the little 6 pound Yorkie looks in the mirror and sees a Bengal tiger. Later in the summer I'm going to do a one day 26 mile trek up Pilot Ridge and come back down the North Fork Sauk from the Pacific Crest. Doing my conditioning now. Stopped and checked out Sauk Falls on the way back. The trail is not marked, but its a mile from Mountain Loop Highway. Trail was in good shape, but can be slippery. First time on the trail to Sauk Falls and there are some great views. Great day to be out, didn't run into another soul.

arrived at the trailhead around 4. took us just under an hour to get to the top. had a nice break and returned back in another 45 minutes. the trail is in good shape, few wet and muddy spots, but overall in solid condition. no animals were seen, few slugs is about it

I hadn't been on this hike since the kids were little, a long time ago. This is a great trail for kids and beginning hikers. The road going in is good with a few pothole. One note, the book Day Hiking Central Cascades lists the FS road as 6034, but it is signed as 6024 and also listed that way on the GT map. It's obvious where the road is, though. The trail is green, as only a NW forest can be. There are some big trees, big old stumps and big blowdowns, which have all been cleared. There is no snow left either. There are nice places to picnic/camp all along the lake. We ate at the end of the lake by the inlet stream, there is a nice place to camp and a backcountry toilet. You should be able to see Mt. Baring and Merchant Peak on this trail, but we saw only the rock bottoms. I was fighting a nasty cold, so instead of exploring for the Eagle lake trail, we turned around and hiked out. Some trillium, fading to purple, salmonberry and skunk cabbage blooming. Interesting fruiting bodies of a lichen on a stump, at least that's what it looked like.

Trail to Colchuck lake is in great condition. Completely snow free at the lake. Lots of wildlife seen on the trail from black tailed deer, porcupine, and a group of 4 mountain goats at the lake. They were very curious but got spooked easily. Bugs were very mild, but it won't last for long.

This is the perfect time of year to hike this trail. The mixed patches of snow that you come across during the last 3/4 of a mile on the trail are very infrequent and manageable ( though still take caution if you're inexperienced hiking on snow ). There is not much to say about this trail other then that you hike a fairly long distance through second growth mixed forest, expending a decent amount of energy gradually climbing upward to obtain the prize of a very scenic finish. Abiel peak has a much more dominate presence than I expected, looming over Annette Lake in the background. The snow patches on and around the lake create awesome mirror-like reflections off the surface of the lake's water if you go later in the afternoon. If half the reason you hike and explore the outdoors is to practice photography like me, getting to the lake between 4:00-6:30 pm is a must. Go too early in the morning and the bowl-like ridge will blot out any ideal useable natural light. Go around noon and there will be issues with glare and extreme brightness from the reflection of sunlight off the snow. If you do go later afternoon, there is a little blood sucking mosquito action waiting for you if you hike with sluggishly with no bug repellant on your skin :) Happy day.

        I also got a chance to check out the scrambling route to Silver Peak. The two main avalanche chutes/talus fields that can be used to gain the north ridge of Silver Peak looked to be mostly free of snow ( though I could not see past a line of trees that obstruct the view of the upper portions of the scramble. The top of the peak looked to have relatively little snow on it from the view at Annette Lake. This route is on my list in the near future, and looks good to climb soon for all those light mountaineering types.