If it is solitude that you desire, then this is the trail for you! My wife and I were alone on the French Cabin Creek and Kachess Ridge Trails to the West Peak/Silver Tie Trail for most of the day, until we saw two people hiking down from the direction of Thorpe Mountain in mid-afternoon. It was a little lonely and great for social distancing. We left our vehicle on FR 4308 next to the trail sign and walked up the 0.5 mile narrow and rough road to the upper parking lot where the main trail begins. FR 4308 had some potholes but manageable for about any vehicle, higher clearance vehicles recommended for the upper road.
Our day was filled with blue sky and few clouds. It was a bit warm going uphill but a nice breeze in the meadows in the upper portion of the French Cabin Creek watershed. There was an abundance of flowers in meadows and along trails - asters, amica, and pearly everlasting – great for any nature lover! We hiked a total 6.6 miles, including the access road, over a 6-hour period; however, much of our experience was exploring and photographing nature in the meadows, a picnic in the meadows, and viewing surrounding alpine peaks. Awesome Mt. Stuart was also visible at several locations along trail. Trail conditions were variable ranging from pine forest duff to imbedded and loose rocks with some steep sections. We arrived back at the trailhead at 3:30 p.m.
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