Windy Creek, Windy Peak & Basin Creek — Friday, Jul. 4, 2025

Approached Basin Creek trail #360 from the top, via Windy Creek/Windy Peak, clearing everything save for a short section (~150 yards) before the end of the ridge.  I have attached a picture of the unlogged section and indicated it on a copy of the Bauerman USGS quad. 

That's it.  That's all that's left, I cleared the rest of the ridge to Topaz Mountain and the junction with trail #342.  This is a bit less than a day's work for me, but I hit my exit time and had to leave.  Sawyers, like climbers, have to set and respect their deadlines.

A hiking party willing to cross this bit of cruft can enjoy the rest of trail #360 trouble-free.  I camped right on the trail and found water at 6713', 10U 0718834N 5423689W.

I actually saw one hiker on this trip, a fit guy with a good dog, headed out the Chewuch to Thirtymile, with a road hike by headlamp to the Andrews Creek TH.  I did this exact same segment 23 years earlier to the day.  He ground through all the obstacles on the route that I then cleared out over the next two days.  There's just a tiny bit left, I think I'll finish it as part of a larger loop to Cathedral and the border.