We started our hike today at the Interpretive Site at milepost 58.3 on US 2. We headed up the Windy Point Crossover trail to Windy Point and then on another 2 miles where we decided to stop at a snow field. The trail is in good shape except for a few minor blowdowns that are easy to get around. The snow on the trail was not a problem as it is hard packed.

At the trail head of the West end of the trail on the old cascade highway by 10am. No other cars. We were going to take the upper trail but as we climbed to the first bend we spotted a black bear standing at a tree, about 40 yards ahead of us. It didnt seem to notice us or care, as it dropped to the ground and meandered out of site. Regardless, we decided to give it some space and took the lower trail. Interesting historical markers along the way. I'd like to see this at the Monte Christo site. We walked in jut over 2 miles to the long wall. Lots of spring colors and smells. Some mesquitos. I was surprised by how many humming birds were on this site. No biger than a few inches. Worth the trip. We will be back to set up the cars so we can walk the entire 9 miles. Picked up a book about the Wellington event called The White Cascade.

There is a large avalanche full of downed trees blocking the lower trail about 0.5 miles west of the Windy Point crossover. It is rather nasty and the snow is getting thin in spots making it dangerous. Other than that the trail is great, lots of tiger lilies, penstamen and columbine.

Decided to do a loop hike on the Iron Goat Trail starting from the Scenic Trail Head off of Highway 2. The new trailhead has restrooms, and a Great Northern Railway caboose on display. I went up the lower railroad grade trail to the junction with the Windy Point crossover trail. This trail switchbacks up the side on the mountain for 1 mile where it connects to the upper railroad grade trail. I hiked over to the Windy Point overlook and the east portal of the double track tunnel. After a snack I started down grade to the Martin Creek Trailhead seeing all of the interesting historical places along the way. I first hiked this section of the trail 33 years ago in 1975 long before the good trail was built. I had not been down the section of the trail from Martin Creek to Scenic, so I had new things to see. The Twin Tunnels is an interesting area. The tunnels built in the fall of 1916 replaced steel railroad bridge #402 which was wiped out in a avalanche on January 22, 1916. The new trail truss bridge uses the up grade cement concrete bridge abutment from the original railroad bridge. Further down the trail is a large avalanche debris field from this past winter. It is covering the trail with trees and snow about 20 feet deep and 200 feet wide. Adults can get over it, but not recommended for small children. It is located about 200 yards up grade from the end of the cement concrete back retaining wall of the old snow shed. There is a smaller pile on the upper trail above this location. Makes for a nice loop hike of about 7 1/2 miles. The last regular Great Northern Railway train came through on Jan. 12, 1929 and then starting using the new 8 mile tunnel. It is amazing to think that where the Iron Goat Trail is now, that the railroad grade, tunnels, snowsheds and bridges were built in the day of no computers or even a calculator. For some interesting photographs of this trail area, see the book, ""The Great Northern Railway, A Pictorial Study"" by Charles and Dorothy Wood, published by Pacific Fast Mail in 1979.

The Iron Goat Loop from Scenic up the cutoff to Windy Point, down to Martin Creek and back to Scenic was the perfect, easy Father's Day outing. The trail was clear all the way except for one tree you had to squeeze under or go over and around on the Windy Point cutoff, one large avalanche full over broken trees crossing the trail on the traverse from Windy Point to Martin Creek, and another even bigger mound of avalanche debris not far from the Scenic trailhead coming from Martin Creek. Some parties turned around at the avalanche debris, but we climbed over. It's not too hard now. The branches and needles keep the footing from being really slippery, and the packed snow underneath gives you something relatively solid to stand on. But I imagine it'll be tough to pass over once the snow melts. It will also take a big work crew to clear. Other than the avalanche debris, there were only a few tiny snow patches next to the trail near Windy Point. Trilliums, miner's lettuce, salmonberry, flowering red currant, and skunk cabbage were all in bloom, and we saw Calypso orchids, too. The historical plaques were, as always, great, as were the remains of tunnels, snowsheds, and other artifacts from the railroad days of 80+ years ago.