This is a nice shoulder-season loop trip providing good scenery and a reasonable workout.  Starting at Homestead Valley TH (elev. 1200'), I took the PTC Trail eastbound for about a mile, then turned on to the Change Creek Trail towards Hall Point.  I continued up the Change Creek Trail to where it ends and intersects with the Olallie Trail westbound toward Mt. Washington.  The Olallie Trail climbs high on a shoulder of Change Peak, and the high point of the loop, where it joins with the Great Wall Trail (3830').  The Olallie Trail and Great Wall Trail then descend westbound together for about 1/2 a mile, where the Great Wall Trail splits off to the right and descends (easy to miss, see picture below).  The Great Wall Trail (formerly the standard route to Mt. Washington) descends another mile or so to meet the Mt. Washington Trail, then back down to the trailhead.  

The clockwise loop (described here) is better than the reverse, since you are hiking up the steep and rough Change Creek Trail, and hiking out on the relatively civilized Great Wall / Mt. Washington Trails.

The snow starts at about 2800'.  Currently there is not more than an inch of snow anywhere on the trail.  Traction devices were not taken or needed.  All trails were in good shape, but be prepared for some rough trail and potentially confusing junctions (much signage is either missing or is only marginally helpful).  Bring maps and/or navigation devices if not familiar with the area.  

I saw nobody all day!  They don't know what they missed.

9 miles rough estimate round trip, 2630' gain.  Extensions available to Change Peak and Mt. Washington summits.

We arrived at the Palouse-Cascades/Iron Horse TH (Exit 32 of off I-90) at about 9:20 a.m. this morning, to partly sunny skies and 39 degrees. Glorioski! No deluge! About 4 cars at the parking lot, which has room for about 30. Outhouses seem to have been perfumed-up recently so as not to send one to the bushes gagging. (As my LA brother-in-law would have put it, the place has been "poodled up"). In fact, my clothes still smelled like a 1969 candle and incense store ten minutes after I exited the place . . . Anyway, we took our usual route: 2 miles up the Palouse-Cascades Trail, then taking the Olallie Trail (a multi-use/mostly bike trail) up to the 3rd viewpoint. RT was 11.6 miles (though it may have been more like 12.5--still haven't quite figured out the mileage. It's a good workout, whatever it is).

The trail is in excellent condition--well-maintained by, I'm guessing, local bike riders and cycle clubs. There are numerous drainage channels dug at strategic points, so there are zero puddles and practically zero mud until you reach the "ridge" about a mile past the first viewpoint (the long part of the trail that heads due east (except for a few switchbacks) towards the side trail up Mt.Washington). No blowdowns today. The whole area is windy, from the Palouse-Cascades to the Olallie--just a North bend-area fact. So, bundle up. I was wearing a long-sleeved polyester shirt, medium weight wool longjohn top and fleece all day--oh, and pants, socks, and boots. Donned a fleece during our lunch at Viewpoint #3. Snow started after Viewpoint #1, but not until reaching the "ridge." The ridgeline is more open, but also you continue to gain elevation, so by the time we reached the third viewpoint, there was about 6-8 inches of snow (see pics). We didn't bring or need spikes today, but poles were handy on the way down.

The terrain and views: you are hiking through second growth forest, much of which comprises the watershed for Seattle (Cedar River Watershed). I find the forest here much nicer/healthier than that on Rattlesnake Mountain. Lots of cedar, Doug fir, alders up top, lovely ferns throughout. The first and third viewpoints have pleasant views. The first looks towards Mt. Si and over the Snoqualmie Valley and North Bend area, the third has two hand-hewn benches and has views across the valley to Middle Fork Snoqualmie's peaks--dusted with snow and gorgeous on this clear, almost-sunny day. We gained over 2000 feet of elevation, as far as I can figure. Saw four people--one hiker (old guy, like us. Love seeing Wrinklies on the trail!) and three bikers. Great to be out in the season's first snows. Happy hiking, Everyone!

Jeno, Chris and I were the first cars in the Cedar Falls parking lot at 6:00 AM this morning (there were also no cars over at Rattlesnake then).  Our hike plan today was to Cedar Butte and around the backside on the Southside and West Ridge trails connecting to the Olallie trail with a lot of walking along the Palouse to Cascades trail as well.

It was mild and breezy when we headed out with the wind picking up the further east we went.  We've done this loop hike a number of times but for a change of pace decided to reverse it today and head out to the Olallie trail first and come in the back door to Cedar Butte as we like to say.  We were approaching the Olallie trail when I turned around and could see a couple of lights approaching us. Turns out it was a couple of guys biking up the PtC this morning.  They continued past the Olallie turn so I'm not sure where they were going.

The Olallie being a mixed use trail and popular with bikers has a gentle grade and is in very good shape.   We got to the approx. area where the West Ridge trail connects to it and it was tough to find.  On previous trips the trail had ribbon flagging to mark it's entrance and also a rock cairn.  Neither were there today.   Luckily Pathfinder Steve on the point remembered where it was and after a little exploration I found it and it's a good thing I did because my hiking buddies would have been giving me the business the rest of the hike if I hadn't.

Down we went on the West Ridge trail which is in rough shape.  The trail is tough to discern at times especially hiking by head lamp but we made it down to and around the ponds to the point where the big hill is located.   At some point earlier this year a rope or clothesline was strung between a couple of trees for people to use ascending or descending the hill.  It has been removed which we were happy to see as we didn't think it belonged there.   Anyway this was our first time ascending the hill and I found it much easier than descending but then I have a high center of gravity (tall with long legs).  

Up the hill we went and continued on our way.  I'm not sure exactly where the West Ridge trail becomes the Southside trail possibly by the ponds but the latter while overgrown in spots is a little easier to follow then the West Ridge trail.   Eventually we hit Saddle Junction and turned onto the Cedar Butte trail which we took up to the summit.   There were very nice territorial views with lots of fall color in the North Bend area and out along I-90.   We didn't stay too long as the wind had picked up quite a bit so we started back down taking the regular trail down and not the Boxley Blowout.  

We saw one biker heading back in along the PtC but that was it for people this morning.  Three bikers and no hikers on our journey.   We were back at the parking lot a little before 9:00 AM with maybe 10 cars there total.  Rattlesnake had filled up with the small overflow lot full and 20+ cars in the big lot.  

This is a fun loop hike even with the trail conditions.  Route finding skills are a plus.   Stay safe everyone.  See you on the trail  SR    

Headed out under partially blue skies and headed up north where blue was no longer visible, nor did it look to be a possibility for the rest of the day. Road signs along 90 around exit 34 warned of FOG. Yeah, it was downright raining. Got to the Homestead lot with plenty of parking. Put on raincoats to go along with our non-Gore-Tex shoes and shorts. The trail had good traction both up and down despite the rain and at points water running down the trail. Saw about 17 people in the first 2 miles - only a few of which had raingear on. We turned off onto the Great Wall trail and headed up along that giant slab of rock. There's a spot where the trail washed out a bit a couple years ago and someone has put a tree along that to serve as a rail - good idea! For the first time along this hike, the trail becomes flat and padded with fir needles - but continues climbing. After about 0.5 from the turnoff the hum of I-90 starts to fade. This trail soon turns into 5010-370 and then meets up with the Olallie Trail marked by 2 pink ribbons and a cairn - remember these on the return trip. Went left onto Olallie where it opens up into talus fields and lots of flowers with a distinct floral scent present. In 0.3 miles the trail splits - Olallie continues to Change Creek to the right and rocky 5010-350 continues to Mt Washington among other places. Now completely exposed, winds whipping through the Change Creek Valley, and obvious lack of view from the top we decided against Change Peak and headed back down feeling the constant squishing of water between our toes. This isn't the best trail for running as most of it is on rocks - both of the loose and fixed ankle-twisting nature.

A fire report.

There is a small fire, called the “Homestead Fire”, which has started within the past few hours between exits 38 and 42 near the power lines running between Homestead Valley TH and McClellan Butte (the area by NF-9020/NF-9021). Stating the obvious, the fire is south of I-90.

Helicopters are on the scene dousing the fire with retardants. The fire was visible from exit 45 going west down at ~13:30.

Please exercise caution and avoid the area until the fire has been extinguished.

More information can be found on this Facebook page. KOMO-4 is also providing live coverage of the scene on Facebook.