My friend Penny has been involved with Pierce County Search and Rescue for about 14 years. Yesterday she invited me to volunteer as a subject "hiker lost and hurt" in a training exercise for new recruits. They are always looking for new recruits. 

PARKING: Pack Forest is part of the UW experimental program for forestry study. We parked and headed up Hugo Peak trail that starts at the entrance gate. It is free.

HAZARDS: The trail crossing over several roads so be aware. Also hunting season is approaching so dress in bright colors.

TRAIL: Hugo Peak trail is in great shape and a steep enough climb to get your legs burning. As we approached Hugo Peak we took a right heading south to Kirkland Pass. Just prior to the junction is a trail sign "Restoration Forest" we took that down the back side of Hugo Peak intersecting at "Wildlife Trail" and the 1050 Rd. 

VOLUNTEERING: At this point, Penny instructed me with a scenario and make-up was applied to make me look like I was attacked by a bear. ALL FAKE but it looked pretty real in the photos. New recruits took about 1 1/2 hrs to find me, treat me for hypothermia, check my wounds, apply a dressing and return me to the base camp. There were about 10 other vehicles involved, a dog, radio control van gps locators. It was quite the coordinated effort just for an exercise. 

PIERCE COUNTY SEARCH AND RESCUE can use new volunteers to help. You can read about it here. They are a non-profit and can also use donations if you cannot volunteer.

6.25 miles +1100' elevation gain

Trail was well maintained and in great traffic condition.

First warm summer Saturday- choose this trail for low crowds. Aside from 2 parties descending as we started (1:45pm, me, pup, teenage son & friend), and the person we saw at the peak- we didn’t see anyone else the rest of the day! Second time for this trail. Wildflowers in bloom. Tip: Add road 2000 (the one closer to the port o potty by the Avenue of Giants) for more mileage and an amazing view of Mt Rainier & a peekaboo view of Adams. On the way back, take windy ridge to Avenue of Giants, makes a lollipop loop, 7.72 miles/1500 ft. All Trails is helpful in finding these routes. Saw mosquitos but didn’t get any bites (and I usually do). 10/10

Hiked up the Hugo Peak trail and came down the Advanced trail. There was one tree down across the trail near the peak and branches down on Advanced. Neither were a problem. Very peaceful and laid-back hike. Bugs are definitely starting to show up, but not terrible. Saw a few snakes and was tracking a doe and fawn on the way down but never caught up to them. Advanced is pretty muddy in spots near the bottom. Overall, it was a great hike.

We have driven by this spot many times, but our first visit here. Parked in the small lot right off Hwy 7 with room for 6 cars. The paved road continues up the hill to another area with picnic tables and even further, but we didn't go that way. No facilities, but 50 feet in there's a spot where people go as there are tissues strewn about.

The trail is in good condition with no muddy spots and despite crossing grass-covered roads, it's easy to follow. The register is at the top of the climb, but the obstructed 'viewpoint' is down the hill 0.15 miles. As Don Gerald had mentioned, circle around on other trails for better views. We took the road down to Kirkland Pass (where there's a stocked Honey Bucket with sanitizer) then down through the Trail of the Giants, which was the best part of our hike. Lots of old growth dwarfing the younger trees around them. We took this trail down and back up to the Windy Ridge trail which was a narrow rutted trail with a 20% grade. Luckily it was short. Unluckily, I disturbed about 50 spiders on the ascent. We circled around on the open road 2070 to 2000, which on a clear day would have awesome views of Rainier. Road 2000 descended 1000 feet in a mile back to Kirkland Pass. We headed back to the car and saw about 6 more people for a total of 12 for the day.