Using Five Bears excellent directions posted in https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report-2021-07-05-6667486227, Geezer Patrol elected to tackle the Alternate TH path to that most noble of knobs. We parked in a clearing about .2 miles north of where Five Bears shows his trail entrance. There is trail access there which required dealing with a few more blowdowns enroute. Road conditions were excellent for all cars with just a few potholes to navigate.
A nicer trail would be hard to find. While it is all UP, the soft ground cover keeps the feet cushy as you lumber up the ridge line until you reach a fairly level exposed meadow at 5600' that takes you to a George Lake/Noble Knob intersection sign. Wildflowers abound in the meadow for those of you who are wise enough to know their names - not us. If you take the Noble Knob path, you will go along the West flank of the ridge. Feeling stallionesque, we took the George Lake trail about 50 yards whereupon you look straight up to access the final push to the Knob. Climb that hill 200 feet and you will once again find a slightly primitive trail but in great condition heading toward your destination along the ridgeline. The views all around up here are outstanding and the breadth of the damage from the 2017 Norse Peak fire is self evident.
Two of us were gassed and stopped 200' from the knob to lounge and eat lunch while the other two "bagged" the Knob. They reported that final leg of the trail was in good shape also. 4 miles RT with about 1100' gain. A pristine day with minimal bug issues and a trail all to ourselves - who gets that ? 4 miles RT with about 1100' gain.
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