Squire Creek Pass via Eight-mile Trail — Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020

Trail crews deserve the highest level of respect there is, and this trail will show why. The old descriptions are outdated; this trail is easy to follow and while it is messy, it's not nearly as rugged as made out to be. I started around 11:30 AM with two cars at the trailhead, one had a couple who were assembling their climbing rack. I didn't see them the rest of the day but I did hear them at 3 o'clock Rock on my way down.

The hike up to the rock is a steady climb, you turn right and just past the cairn on the right is the trail narrowly weaving through heavy brush back into tree cover. The trail steepens even more after the rock, switchbacking as you gain elevation. There are endless huckleberry bushes, the biggest berries I've ever seen, and blueberries higher up. Once out of tree cover the trail does ease up but I wouldn't go so far as to say it "levels out" as you are still gradually climbing. It was hot and I was tired, but the teasing peek-a-boo views of Three Fingers beckoned me on. When the trail runs out and you are entirely on granite, you are no more than 5-10 minutes from the pass, and there are well-placed cairns to guide the way. This is one of the only trails I've hiked where the cairns were actually helpful! Three Fingers comes into full view and feels close enough to touch. The endless granite around you feels like a mini Enchantments, minus the lakes and the crowds. It was extra special because I was on my own and had this magical place to myself.

I didn't see what time I got to the pass, I think it was around 3, I only stayed long enough to snap some photos and eat a snack. It took me 1.5 hours to get down and I arrived at my car around 4:30. There were two climbers who caught up to me coming down within the final half mile to the trailhead, and they were the only two people I saw besides the two at their car when I arrived.