Bring a mountain bike. The gate is still closed, and walking the extra 2.5 miles down to your car after the hike is over would be crushing.
The beginning of the trail is a bit overgrown, and could stand a maintenance crew, but it's still easily followable, and you could always just bike further up the mountain if you wanted to start after the road crossing. Might also be worth to bring some binoculars to see Seattle, Rainier, Bremerton, etc. in the distance. The road allows for a good vantage point.
Continuing on, the brush is much less dense, and the trail isn't overgrown past the road. The midsection is flatter, but once you get to The Brothers Wilderness, it starts getting pretty hard. The ground turns silty and slippery, and you need to watch your step. It hasn't rained in a while, and the trail is very dry. There are no water sources along the entire trail. You summit several false peaks, but finally, you reach the top. The views are well worth the struggle, but bugs will be following you the whole time, so don't spend too long up top.
The descent is brutal. However bad it was ascending silt and rock, it's way worse going down. Getting back into forest cover is a welcome blessing, but the steepness is still there, and doesn't really let up until you're shortly before the road crossing again. Continue on the final 1.5 miles or so, and bike back down.
Strava said that the trail was actually about 15.2 miles round-trip, so the mileage may be wrong.
Because of the difficulty and inconvenience of access, this hike is well-known for its solitude. Not another soul on the mountain.
Things you need: a hat, sunblock, at least 3 quarts of water (just bring a gallon to be safe)
Things you should bring: binoculars, mountain bike, bug spray
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