My friend thenomadicartist already submitted a wonderful trip story below, so I'll just give some dry details:
- The road is paved to the Andrews Creek Trailhead. The remaining 5 miles to 30 Mile Trailhead is gravel / dirt, with minor washboarding, and easily avoidable potholes. We used a Subaru but a passenger car can handle it.
- Chewuch River Trail: trailhead to 4 Point Lake intersection is in pretty good shape. About 10 minor blowdowns, pretty easy to get around. Three stream crossing, either go across janky logs or use water shoes. We forded the water once; it was up to my knees (5'6") and I used poles. Bugs are pretty bad; I kept reapplying picardin.
- The next mile after the 4 Point Lake intersection has 12 bad blowdowns with multiple tree jams. We navigated off the trail a bit to negotiate the blowdowns.
- The Lesamiz Trail is in better shape. Once we got up onto the ridgeline, the bugs were not so bad. There's a steep snow slope within 1/8 mile of Upper Cathedral Lake, maybe 100 yards. I didn't put on my microspikes although I debated it... long way down. There's almost no snow on Cathedral Lake.
- Cathedral Pass to the Boundary Trail is good shape. Glorious views.
- Tungsten Trail: 76 downed trees on the trail. As my friend notes, Swamplandia reigns here. You might be good at water-dodging, but your feet will get wet.... there's no avoiding submersion when the entire trail is flooded. Wet boots are your destiny.
- We stayed at a horse camp a bit past the intersection of the Tungsten and Chewuch River Trails. Nice camp.
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