Weather was good for hiking; cool enough with clouds and some sun. The trail is no longer muddy and there was no sign of snow whatsoever on the trail. Some amount of annoying bugs - some mosquitos and gnats - which was surprising, but nothing too extreme. Saw bear scat about 1 mile in, which was also a surprise. Our dog (on a leash of course) thought he saw a few squirrels and the deer tracks in the drying mud reminded us that wildlife is abundant up there. There was supposed to be blow-downs blocking the trail at about 2 miles, but I think we stopped just short of it - probably about a quarter of a mile before the second major stream crossing??? We turned around because we entered a dried up swampy area very close to the river and the trail got a bit confusing. There was lots of stepping over logs and other things that made us doubt we were on the main trail. The nettles and Devil's Club are really starting to come out now too. Maybe we'll go back sometime when we can go further and see what's ahead. We only met one other party on the trail so it was very peaceful and quiet. Altogether very pleasant walk under the trees.

With all the still low snow and damaged/ blocked roads its been hard to get to many trails this spring. White Chuck Bench is low, easy to get to and clear for at least 2 miles. My friend and I arrived at the trail head shorty before 2 other men did and for our trip there we were the only ones on the trail. It didn't seem to matter that this trail is short and fairly easy as it was sunny and warm on this Earth Day. This trail rolls gently through cool green forest and offers occasional views of the White Chuck River and the surrounding mountains. All the mountains were still covered in snow and the snow line was still very low. My friend and I stayed behind the other men we saw at the parking area but eventually came across them at the end of the trail. They were clearing brush away in an effort to find where the trail once was further up. This area has been damaged heavily the last few years and the trail is hard to follow at about 2 miles. We turned back after a few words and a thank you to the guys doing trail work and found a view spot above the river. There we stayed awhile enjoying the sun before heading back to my truck. It may not have been a hard hike but it was so nice to get out in the woods on a warm sunny day when they have been lacking this year.

We were hoping for a lowland, snow free trail but the conditions on the drive up to Darrington were a clue of what was to come on the trail: rain, hail and snow. We turned off the Mountain Loop Hwy left and parked at the head of road #23. The snow was heavy all the way to the turn around point about four miles away. The turn around and lunch area was determined by the road being washed away into the river. Some areas of the road we hiked were washed out and made walking difficult in areas of mud, slush, running water and downed trees.

To reach the TH drive the Mountain Loop HWY 9 miles south from Darrington and turn left on FR 22 at the sign for the White Chuck Boat Launch. Cross the Sauk River and continue up the road about .8 miles to the TH sign on the right. There are MANY trees across the trail, but all are easily stepped over or gone around. The second growth forest has beautiful cedars, Douglas firs, and hemlock with an understory of various mosses and oregon grape. The trail is mostly flat descending gradually to a bridge over Black Oak Creek surrounded by a grove of alder trees. Shortly after crossing the bridge the trail is harder to follow and finally disappears. We followed the shoreline of the river until we saw the washed out White Chuck Road across the river. Here there were many coltsfoot beginning to bloom. Our GPS told us we had hiked 1.8 miles. This is a very pleasant and easy low elevation hike even in a light rain which accompanied us on our walk!

The Whitechuck Bench trail is slated for repair/reroute this summer, and will once again be 6 miles long, terminating at the Whitechuck Road. Currently, you can walk about a mile and a half before hitting the trail-stopping washout, where it’s a nice drop to the river to bask on large rocks in the sun, when the river is low enough to do so. From Darrington, take the Mtn Loop Hwy toward Barlow Pass. Turn right at the Whitechuck Boat Launch (sign on left) and cross the bridge over the Sauk River. Continue up the road a couple of switchbacks and past the gravel pit area. See the Whitechuck Bench trail sign on the right. This trail starts in a recently logged area, but within 5 minutes, you’re in old second growth forest – My guess is that this forest was logged about 70-80 years ago, so the trees are big here. There are quite a few large cedars, and hemlock & Douglas fir are battling it out to see who among them wins the battle of succession. There are a few silver firs here, too. The forest floor is a blanket of moss, Oregon grape, and false lily of the valley – more lilies on this trail than I have seen anywhere else. Groves of alder are dotted here and there as well. The trail is close to the edge of the slope, there are some open views of the Whitechuck River, and a chanced at dollops of sunshine. There is evidence of recent bear or cat activity here – lots of scratched snags, freshly dug holes in the trail tread, snuffled up chunks of moss, and there was one very old alder snag that was recently upturned – I assumed by a critter looking for chocolate truffles. Or slugs. I walked to pretty Black Oak creek. This particular creek is interesting because it has a thick border of mid-sized alders lining each side of it, more than any other creek would typically have. I don’t know when this flood even took place, but it must’ve been big – Black Oak doesn’t seem to have reached that flood stage since. I have an old, old map that shows a trail leading up the side of the creek, but to investigate means bashing through salmon berry and devils club. I hung out there awhile, and headed back. I wanted to sit in the sun at the edge of the cliffy spot where the road switchbacks down toward the Boat Ramp. Nice place to have lunch, and views of Whitechuck, Mt Pugh, and the Whitechuck Valley are very, very nice indeed. Next I went to Beaver Lk trail directly across from the Boat Launch (turn right off Mtn Loop instead of left to the Boat Launch). This trail never disappoints when you’re looking for skunk cabbage (at the appropriate time of year, of course). The last time I was on this trail, my buddy Jim Kuresman and I met Phyllis Reed, biologist with MBSNF, who pointed out the old railroad pilings near the trails’ beginning, used as a bridge to cross over the Sauk River. This trail is lined with bleeding heart and yellow violet– for almost a full mile (and beyond, if you feel like negotiating the washouts). Acres of wetlands are home to thousands upon thousands of swamp lanterns (skunk cabbage). None of these flowers are at their height yet. I’d give it about a week for the bleeding heart. Maybe a bit longer for the height of the swamp lantern show. O yeah - and the trail is also lined with nettles. Locals hit this trail to picked nettles for whatever they use them for. I think greens – apparently if you boil ‘em, they’re tasty, but they don’t hurt you when they’re slidin’ down your gullet, or after they plunk into your gut. The trail now officially ends at about a mile, where it was washed out in 2003 (or 06 – I’m getting my disasters mixed up). The FS has tried to survey a re-route, but you see, there’s this rocky cliff in the way…. The 2 washouts are get-aroundable with just a bit of hassle (“hassle” being a relative term) - but if you have little kids, the current end of the trail is good enough – with the washouts, there are now impressive views on this trail where there were no views before.