Finally got to squeeze a hike in after spending far too much time stuck inside due to COVID-19. Two friends and I decided to do Mount Baldy, as we heard the wildflowers were in bloom this time of year!
I was honestly expecting the road to the trailhead to be much worse. While it is a dirt road, there didn't seem to be any potholes, just a few jagged rocks that can be easily avoided. I took my Nissan Sentra and didn't have a problem :) We reached the trailhead at about 9:15 am, and there were only two other cars parked there.
When you start the journey, it's very easy to end up on the wrong trail. Don't go left to the Kachess Ridge trail, that goes straight up from the beginning, this isn't the way! Instead, follow the short path that takes you to Silver creek, and head up the creek where you will find a nice wooden bridge and waterfall. From here on out, it's basically uphill the entire way, and it gets steep. You'll start off going up some switchbacks through the forest, and eventually you'll end up at the junction for the Easton Ridge and Domerie Divide trails. Take the Domerie Divide route, and you'll soon end up at a nice lookout of Kachess Lake and the I-90 corridor.
Continuing on, the start of mile 3 is where it starts to get really steep, but the wildflowers were remarkable. So many colors in one place, it's just lovely :) It's quite the thigh burner on the way up, but the way back down the steep and dry trail is even more difficult. I would recommend bringing your poles for the downhill trek, as it gets very hard to keep your footing due to the small rocks and steep grade.
When we reached the top, holy moly did it get windy! I was anticipating the wind, but I wasn't expecting it to be quite that gusty. Hold onto your hats! As we neared the summit, it became foggy and misty on the trail, and that combined with the wind made us get chilly pretty quickly. We were lucky enough to catch a few breaks in the clouds up top which provided us with a beautiful view of Cle Elum Lake and the surrounding mountains. It was too cloudy to spot Rainier, but the view was nice nonetheless.
When we returned to the trailhead, the parking area was completely full, including a group of horseback riders setting out on a nearby trail. Be aware that there are horses in the area, so it's best to keep your dogs on a leash in case they are around :)
Comments