Biggest news first: The massive "hazzard tree" looming over the road has finally been removed. Thank you Forest Service! Road is still rough, but with careful driving a sedan can probably make it. I once scraped the undercarriage of the Crosstrek, but that was my fault for going too fast through a ditch.
It's a great time to hit this trail IF you don't mind the additional slipperiness caused by the seasonal wet. The trail is every bit as steep, rocky, and rooty as promised, and the roots are now extremely slick. The granite slabs have a nice grip even when wet, but watch out for the occasional slick organic film. I lucked out with a partly sunny Saturday afternoon after what felt like three weeks of continuous rain (aka standard PNW fall). Lots of trail sections had running water over them, but nothing too deep that couldn't be stepped over. Some swampy sections (conveniently marked by huge leaves of Swamp cabbage) had ankle-deep mud. I was glad I had opted for boots.
Fall colors are a bit past their peak, but the base of 3 O' Clock Rock still has vibrant maples on display, and the berry bushes further up a dark crimson. I think I snagged the very last edible berries :). All kinds of mushrooms have popped up around the tread. The pass is snow free while Three Fingers and Whitehorse opposite have a nice dusting. (This may change soon, of course. Last year I went in mid-November, got my boots soaked in mushy avalanche debris under 3 O' Clock Rock, and turned around shortly after when the trail had completely disappeared under snow.)
Comments