This is a good choice for an early spring day in iffy weather when you just want to get the BLEEP out of the city. Irrationally exuberant potholes last couple miles of the road. NOTE: This old road is on the North side of the valley, so should melt-out sooner than a lot of other places. Substantial snow on last couples miles of old Taylor River Road, but firm, not a significant impediment. Some blowdown and water crossings but nothing corgi-proof. It's mostly fast & easy. Major bridges all in good shape, including a new one. At the old Snoqualmie Lake trailhead (signed), do not let the nest of blowdowns dissuade you. It's the worst (will soon be gone). Trail is mostly snow-free until close to the lake (not what you'd expect; there's snow on the old road but not much on the trail). There are some blowdowns but few of them mean business. We did not go all the way to the lake. Snow starts getting deep but it's firm. Trail is rough in places, rocky/rooty, water on trail, BUT it is surveyed and flagged for ambitious-looking trail work. Lots of old puncheon in picturesque stages of advanced dissolution -- some of it's completely gone. Gosh, does guvmint still pay real people to create real jobs? Hope some of us get our money's worth both repairing and walking this one. There's an ipressive cascade. This'll be really sweet when the work is done; see it before they improve it too much.

So, this is the last trip on this trail for the 2005 season, it appears. From forest road #56, our persistent group got about 4 miles in, past Marten Creek, which was a great hike. The creek midway between Marten Creek and Lipsay Lake/Otter Falls, though, has entirely taken over the trail (appears to be flooding). Might be able to be forded, but it was running fairly fast and deep when we were there (it had been raining all day) So, we trekked back to Marten Creek to check out the trail up to Marten Lake (trail 1006). Problem is, we couldn't find it! There were two possibilities, both of which disappeared about a half mile up. Anyway, just a heads up for anyone looking to head out on this trail until spring or summer.

After doing a work party on Dorothy earlier this summer, Ted wanted to go back and continue past the work site on up to Snoqualmie Lake. I was all for it for it and Foobee did her little doggy dance when she found out she'd be going too. Megan and her pup, Nicky, decided to join us too, so it was a good crew. We picked up Megan and Nicky promptly at 6:30 am then headed for the trail head. I took my normal spot strapped to the back of Ted's back and we were on the trail at 8:30. A decent start for the 6-1/2 miles (one way) up to Snoqualmie Lake. Dorothy Lake was reached in about 40 minutes, so we were making pretty good time. It was early enough that there was minimal wind and Dorothy Lake was still fairly glassy when we got there. That made for a good photo opportunities. There were surprisingly few people camping at lake as we hiked along the eastern shore. We only passed a handful of people the whole day. Once you get around the southern end of Dorothy, the trail heads up hill to Bear Lake. The trail is pretty rough from that point on. Care needed to be taken on the wet roots where the trail traversed some of the steeper slopes. Luckily, the trail is only moderately steep up to the pass. Once you reach the pass, it's a short decent to Bear Lake and a short hike to Deer Lake. After passing Deer Lake it's about a half hour to Snoqualmie Lake. The decent here is another set of moderately steep switchbacks that can be tricky due to wet/mossy rocks and roots. Watch your footing. We reached Snoqualmie Lake right at noon, so it was a prefect time for lunch. Megan was kind enough to bring some puppy chow for Nicky and Foobee, but once again, there was no bear chow to be seen. Come on Ted, what's it going to take to get you to bring some snacks for me? Lucky for me there were still a few blueberries along the trail, but they weren't as tasty as the ones we found on the last few trips. Good enough to stop my grumbling stomach though. After Lunch the dogs did a little stick fetching and then it was time to head for home. We got back to the truck at 4:00. As expected, we got stuck in normal Sunday traffic on the Hwy 2. Only took us 2-1/2 hours to get from Gold Bar to Sultan. Plenty of time for Nicky, Foobee and I to nap on the way home. There's a few good sized log down on the trail that need clearing, but they are easily skirted.

The Taylor TH is a short drive from Seattle, and just outside of North Bend. The hike follows the Taylor River for a while (5-6 miles) along an old road thru forest. The trail begins at about 6 miles when you begin to elevate up the ridge into the Alpine Lks Wilderness and towards Snoqualmie Lk. in about 3 miles, you get to the shore of large Snoq Lk. Immediately, there are about 3-4 campsites. We followed the trail past those for about 0.5 mi to find a lunch spot, but the trail elevates above the lakeshore, so the best spots to eat are right away. We didn't continue to Bear and Deer Lks and beyond to Dorothy, but I remember going to those from the other side and they were pretty lakes as well. Snoq Lk is surrounded by rocky cliffs, big cedars, and huckleberries - classic alpine lake. We ate in a spot surrounded by ripe berries, which made a good dessert. Not many bugs. The trail up to the lake is suffering from age and lack of maintenance, but is still easy to follow. Some of the creeks are in different spots too, as is evident by huge abandoned culverts. This is a nice trail, but not one to show off all the wonders of the Pacific NW. The blueberries are nearly untouched though!

Past peak bagging prime. But mountains are still calling. I'll be pass bagger. The Manning/Spring 55 Best Trails in the Snoqualmie Pass area mention continuing up past Little Myrtle Lake to the pass over into the Dorothy lake watershed. They add further inticement with a photo of the Lake from up high. Started at the Middle Fork Trailhead and hiked to the bridge back over the Middle Fork. Wonderfully maintained with beautifully built bridges; thank to all who did this work. Up to Myrtle Lake to camp for the night; the way was somewhat muddy but free of brush. Mosquitoes and black flies present, but relatively benign. Next morning headed up to Little Myrtle Lake. The start of the trail at the head of Myrtle Lake was hard to find as the way was through old downed trees. My dog Fuzz is built low to the grown, able to see and smell the way. ""Which way Fuzz?"" and he was over the logs and up the trail. After this initial rough start, the way became clear to the lake. Skirted around the left (west) side and on up about a half mile to the pass. Easy. But have you bagged a pass if you don't go down the other side? Granite slabs stretched in both directions with no discernible trail. Topo map suggested bearing about 60 degrees east. The way was thick with willows which obscured bouders. Frequent 10 to 15 foot drops required detours. After about half mile I turned north following a small (steep) creek. This joined a larger creek which clearly flowed to Lake Dorothy. High banks required crossing and recrossing this creek several times. Coming up the bank, there was an orange flag. What a welcome sight as I had been bushwhacking for about three hours. This flagged trail lead to the foot bridge at the head of the Lake. I suppose I should have followed this trail back up the creek to see if it lead up to the pass; but I was too tired. I'll leave that to another day, or another hiker. From Bear Lake to the junction with the Nordrum Lake trail, the way was very brushy with salmonberry. Three volunteers were working clearing this section. Thanks. Back to the car after completing this 27 mile loop. I had camped a second night west of Snoqualmie Lake; so I spent two and a half days on the trail. If someone wants to do this loop, I suggest going around clockwise (follow the orange flagging). Going uphill through the willows would be a lot safer if more difficult. Billy Milkweed