Visiting friends who have one of the forestry cabins at the base of Crystal Mountain. They all went skiing, so I decided to head on a hike up to Corral Pass. Walked out their cabin at 10am, about 30 degrees, no wind or snow coming down. For the first couple of miles I just hiked in my hiking boots. Two snowmobilers went by after about a 1 mile, so it helped to have their tracks to walk in. Then I put on my snowshoes. I don't do a lot of hiking in showshoes, seemed harder but maybe I am just not used to it. I didn't know that there was a fire up there a few years ago that burned a lot of trees.

I went about 5 miles, and decided to just make it a 10 mile round trip hike. With all of the snow, there was never a good spot to sit down and take a rest. Then I started getting cold, and it started to snow a bit. When I got back down, I decided a needed some destination, so I walked out to Goat Falls before heading back to the cabin. 

I set out to camp at the Corral Pass CG via the Corral Pass Road and day hike to Noble Knob and back. That plan changed!

On Wednesday, Dec 13, when I stopped by the USFS Ranger Station in Enumclaw, Ranger Julie was very helpful and informed me the CG was closed for the foreseeable future because it was in a burn area. So, I decided to take the Deep Creek trail instead and camp on a bench just below the intersection with the Noble Knob trail. (That plan changed, too :))

My next hurdle was finding parking to access the Deep Creek TH. I didn't want to park on Corral Pass Road because Ranger Julie said they were going to close the road on Friday, and I wasn't sure where the closure point would be. The Deep Creek TH itself was surrounded by what looked like private backwoods homes and I didn't see a place to park. Likewise, the Loge Resort did not have public parking but the good folks there allowed me to park in an empty spot next to their snowplows (thank you!) But...USFS--why is there no winter parking for this great trail network??

I set out just before noon on the Deep Creek trail, with snowshoes strapped to my pack. About a mile up I ran into a friendly couple who was familiar with the trail and were trying to day hike to Noble Knob. They were able to guide me through one of the bigger blowdowns, and later, after the snow had gotten really deep, I was able to just step in their footsteps and didn't need to put on my snowshoes. (Thank you too!)

Blowdowns...there are a fair amount on this trail, but nothing too egregious, and not so many that they ruin the hike. Although it's forested, much of it is in a burn area so plenty of sunlight was able to filter through and provide beautiful sidelighting for my hike. I also got peekaboo views of Tahoma to the south and the Corral Pass Road across the valley. Since this was my original planned route, I could see what a slog that would have been and was grateful for the CG closure that prompted my change of plans.

Sustained snow started at about 4200', about halfway to the intersection with the Noble Knob trail.

By the time I got to the bench where I planned to camp, sunset was approaching. There is a large granite slab that is currently snow-covered and would provide a perfect camping spot if it weren't for all the snags. However on this night, a strong wind was forecast from the south, and I was able to set up my tent well upwind from all the snags, so I felt OK. Otherwise, I'm not sure this would be an appropriate camp spot unless the USFS is able to fell some of the snags--which would be wonderful, because it's ideal otherwise.

I set up camp with plans to day hike to Noble Knob the next day. Unfortunately, I was beset with two equipment failures. My stove gave up the ghost after I boiled my first batch of snow for water. So, I was able to have a meal of tepid ramen and tea, with a half liter of water remaining. Then, during the night, my air mattress blew out. At this point I made the decision to hike out the next morning with my remaining half liter of water.

I arrived back at the trailhead in good spirits, because it was a beautiful hike with great weather. But having skipped breakfast (could not reheat my dehydrated oatmeal) and rationed my water I was pretty hungry and thirsty!

Now I have two things to add to my Christmas wish list--a new camp stove and air mattress--and one hike to add to my "unfinished business" list--Noble Knob.

Happy Hiking!

Needed a good training day,  and we decided this was a good one to try.

Some really bad blow down on the lower portion of Deep Creek on the way up.  We pressed on. Spikes for a little while  (maybe unnecessary, but I prefer to use them) and then snowshoes became necessary after around 2.5-3ish(?) miles up.

We created a loop route to go right under Mutton Mnt and continue down Corral Pass. After Mutton Mnt we were fully breaking trail (previously had been following an old path someone made and been recovered in snow, to Mutton Mnt) and there was some serious slopes to cross.  We went up off the trail a bit to avoid some of the steeper sections, and navigate back down in less crazy areas.

SO many animal tracks. Elk, deer, coyote (assumed), cougar, squirrel (we think), LOTS of hares.... but never saw another human soul, which was amazing and wonderful

Drove to the Corral Pass Trailhead to do the Rainier View trail. (I included Noble Knob and Corral Pass Snowshoe to add info to those connected trails.) The road off of Hwy 410 was steep, narrow, and rocky with a few concerning dips, but our Subaru did just fine and it seemed easier on the way down (doesn’t it always). About 6 miles, gaining 3,000 feet and took us about 45 minutes to drive it slowly. There were 3 more 4X4s at the large trailhead, but we had the Rainier View trail all to ourselves. The trailhead also serves Noble Knob and some nice lake loops below. The bathroom at the trailhead was clean and stocked. The Rainier View trail starts off to the left of the bathroom and was in great shape. We ended up doing about 3.5 miles rt with 685 gain. There is water on the trail a little less than ½ a mile up. We ended at the knoll just prior to Castle Mt and the views were pretty much 360. The recovering burnt forest was stunning against the views of Mt. Rainier to the south and Stuart and Glacier Mts to the north/east. Beautiful!

Not knowing what I was getting into, I parked below the gate and strapped snowshoes to my day pack.

Snow at the base of the road is at about 1-2 inches right now. At about 3600 is started to deepen, and by 4000 ft was over my ankles.

The road was in the shade, quite a lot of it through the old fire zone. I never did get much of a view. Mostly it is just a demanding training opportunity- my math shows an average 10% grade from the bottom to my turn around at 4672, about 3.3 miles up.

At my turn around, I spotted a wildlife trail heading over the nose of the ridge and decided to check it out, hoping for a moment of sun and possibly a view. I was triply blessed- the wildlife tracks included coyote, snowshoe hare, deer and elk. Evidently they all enjoy the opportunity to look south and bask in the sun, too. ;-)