...the road in, that last 5+ miles of non-paved road, were plenty wet and rough on this day. Even though I note as 'rough but passable' I'd imagine that a sedan or similar would have to go pretty slowly and cautiously to navigate some of the deeper potholes (very waterfilled yesterday), rocky sections, etc. Mostly high(er) clearance all-wheel and 4x vehicles at the trailhead.
I hit the trailhead about 9:30 this sunny Saturday morning and there were maybe 6-8 vehicles there already - still plenty of room for a few more.
The beginning of the Dingford Creek trail is pretty standard stuff. You're climbing right out of the gate - about the first 30-35 minutes for me of steady switchbacks with not-infrequent bigger steps, rocks & roots to overtake before getting in to a more rolling traverse before hitting Pumpkinseed Falls at about the 45-minute mark. This first portion of trail (up to the Hester-, Myrtle Lake split) is in pretty good condition.
At the split in the trail - at least if you are opting for the Hester Lake direction - leave any hopes of dry feet or clean boots there as the Hester Lake trail quickly gets wet and muddy and these only increase as you get closer to the lake. Numerous smaller creek crossings (rock hopping) before getting to the first crossing that, at least as far as I could find (and I did not hunt around much for alternate crossings) required just plunging in and walking through (at least on this day) shin deep water...and that first one was the most tame of 4 crossings that required walking in to the water versus the numerous others where I was able to rock hop across and (mostly) keep my feet dry. My hiking poles were indispensable this day for balancing on the dodgier creek crossings and muddier sections and vaulting across more of the same. Just as soon as you step ankle deep into a super muddy section, fear not (!) as the next water crossing will rinse all of that mud from your boots and pant legs : ).
I'd estimate that I started to hit significant patches of snow about 1-3/4 to 1-1/2 miles from the lake so going got trickier as the snow is very degraded and undermined and I really had to pick my way across/around to minimize punching through. Where the trail is visible it's generally covered with mud and running water and as the snow increases I lost the trail several times and had to bushwhack my way back on course or bushwhack around some sections that were completely inundated. I made it to within a mile of the lake before hitting my turn-around time so I luncheoned next to a little creek rife with emerging skunk cabbage (not particularly aromatic yet) before heading back.
The washout (from last season) right before Pumpkinseed Falls has been repaired (or maybe the trail just cut more deeply into the hillside. Right now at least the trail surroundings are lush with creeping dogwood (I love these), salal, barberry, vine maple, a couple different types of ferns and plenty of others. Some lovely little frogs in the wetter portions of the trail (watch your step please) and one red-headed woodpecker along the way - grateful for these trail companions. I only encountered a handful of folks along the trail and most seemed to be headed towards Myrtle Lake. I did see some large tracks/prints in the snow right over/on my tracks as I made my way back...I'm going to trust that these were from a large dog hiking with their person (though I did not encounter any dog-hiker combos while I was on the trail...). Grateful for the relative solitude and 'thank you' to the solo trail runner that I encountered on the upper section of the Hester Lake trail where the creek crossings and trail alignment got a bit obscure and it took some joint observation of cairns, an old wooden sign nailed to a tree, and a couple of dodgy creek crossings to regain the trail.
Take your hiking poles, maybe a pair of dry socks and your resolve if you're going to make a play for Hester Lake right now. I'd expect that, with a few more weeks of melt-off and drying out, conditions will soon be more navigable but for the time being this route will keep you on your (wet) toes.
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