Decided to go up the "dangerous" rim trail. It was super fun, and very scenic because you can see down the valley, Naches, Tieton, Yakima...and also into the canyon and the mountains on the other side. Getting to the top there is a geocache. At this point I started to descend on the opposite side I came up. This proved to be much more difficult than the way up the ridge. Following a steep canyon/creekbed down, I eventually met up with the main trail that took me back to the parking area. Brought my dog with me and he did great. Very tough first hour going up the ridge line trail, be sure to bring lots of water and snacks. Up the ridge and back down took about 4.5 hours round trip. Also...coming back down the main trail, there was a huge nest of fire ants right on the trail. My dog got into them and they were attacking his paws...just be careful of those. Saw elk on opposite side of canyon at one point, no big horn sheep though. Great hike.

I decided to go for a short PT hike today up on Clemans. I parked at the waterworks entrance and followed the canyon trail all the way to the Jeep trail on top, then proceeded east to where Meystre Canyon connects to the top to see some wildlife, due to some snow patches, I back tracked to where I hit the top and came down via waterworks. Total time that it took me to get to the Jeep trail was 2 hours. The trail itself was somewhat overgrown, loose rocks, and patchy ice. I hike this area roughly 50 times a year mainly from October 1 to May 1. Snakes are often an issue during the summer months. The latest I had snake encounters last year was November 18th while Chukar hunting. I have had people ask me the last few times out if I saw any snakes. Due to the warm temperatures and above average long term forecast, I am predicting snakes will be out towards the end of April.

Today we discovered a trail to add to our "favorites" list! This is a beautiful canyon with many interesting rock formations. There were still a few aspen and cottonwoods wearing their leaves! About a mile and a half from the TH we saw 4 hunters a short distance west of the trail. One had shot a ram. This was opening day of the season and only 5 permits are issued. Our turn-around time came about 1/2 mile beyond a beautiful aspen grove. We saw a ram and 2 ewe near the top of the ridge in this area. On our return to the TH we met 2 men who were hiking in to help a friend pack out a ram he had shot near the top. They would be needing headlamps to hike out! We look forward to returning to this canyon in the spring for the flowers.

Ethan & I did the Pt 3582 - Waterworks Canyon loop today. We were right on the edge of the weather, so we had lots of clouds, but also lots of sun and not too much wind. When we got to the large band of basalt outcroppings about 2/3 of the way up the ridge we traversed out into the pinnacles and then back up to the ridgetop. Once on top of Pt 3582 we found a geocache/summit register in the summit cairn. We had great views down the Naches Valley & out over Naches Heights (there was still quite a bit of fall color left), back to the bulk of Mt Cleman, and down into Waterworks Canyon, but the Cascades were socked in. We also had a few flakes of snow come down as we ate. Just as we were about to head down a lone hiker came up the ridge and it turned out to be the person who had placed the cache a couple of years ago. After talking with him for a while, we headed down into the saddle between Pt 3582 and the main bulk of Mt Cleman, then down the trail that traverses easily into Waterworks Canyon and down the canyon to the car. We saw a couple of groups of bighorn sheep on the sides of the canyon and some aspens and cottonwoods still holding on to some yellow leaves in the canyon itself. This was a great day on one of my favorite hikes.

Hiked at Waterworks Canyon today on Clemans Mountain just west of Naches. The wildflowers at the mouth of the canyon are spectacular. After walking up the canyon about 10 minutes, I climbed the west ridge to the initial highpoint. flowers were denser down low. No rattlesnakes yet. Wind and snow skiffs might have helped keep them in their burrows. Balsam root, lupine and phlox were pretty stunning.