Three Fingers, Saddle Lake via Meadow Mountain — Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2025

I’m going to start backwards for those who don’t want to read all of this.  Had a great time but my mom heart is worried.  On descent we decided to take the more circuitous route back on the Three Fingers Trail and walk the road which we made super good time on.  At 2.4 miles from the parking lot and the Three Fingers TH, we saw a pair of hikers just heading to the lookout looking completely unprepared. Shortly after, we came across two young men pushing heavy bikes up and they were only a mile in at 5:30 pm!  They had no map, no tent, hardly any supplies- one didn’t even have a coat with sunset around 7:00 pm.  We offered a map but they declined and just took a picture of it.  They had no idea when we were talking to them that it’s completely different weather conditions up there.  It was cold and windy up there and sunny down below.   Neither group seemed to be aware of what they were getting into.  Due to the rain the trail was muddy and slick.  We counted 50 blow overs from Saddle Lake to the TH where bikes are stored.  You cannot move fast in those type of conditions.  I don’t mean to sound chirpy but please, please bring the 10 essentials and consider any trip as potential for winter conditions and when doing this particular overnighter BRING A TENT!  I literally don’t know how these kids are going to do in the dark going up to the lookout.  And literally due no to little supplies, no options other than to turnaround or push on to the lookout.  Two weeks ago, it was raining torrents and a guy came into the lookout with no coat, in tennis shoes and in the dark.  This is how people get hurt.  Now the report:
 Wednesday was great weather with clouds passing.  We chose to take the Meadow Mountain route which you need to keep an eye out for at about 2.2-2.3 miles in.   There is no pink marker or indicator, so keep an eye out for it on your right.  There will be a TH board once you enter the woods.  Meadow Mountain is very pretty for a woods hike but it is not a maintained trail and you will go over blowdown log after another.  There was 10 in just about 30 feet.  The Three Fingers Lookout trail is longer but I think you can make faster time.   There is endless switchbacks and the Mountain Meadow trail feels like it will never end.  I walked through countless spider webs- oh and some of them are made by these big black spiders so keep an eye out for those.  The trail is very muddy and brushy.  But….  I’m still glad I checked it out and think it’s fun doing it as a loop if you’re not biking in.   Thursday at Tin Can Gap was really cold and blustery and also sunny and warm.  The weather changes from moment to moment sometimes.  Thursday night in the Goat Flats we were the only ones there.  It rained on and off most of the night.  The morning was cold and socked in.  We were going to chill in the sun for the day but decided to call it quits and head home.  We just weren’t sure if it was going to blow over or not.  Oh, and from Goat Flats on- especially towards Tin Can Gap there were more berries than I have ever seen.  See pics below.  Have fun, be prepared and safe!