Marten Creek — Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026

I didn’t get around to my annual hike to the mine in 2025 and I was curious to see how the trail held up to the unprecedented storms last month. I only went about 2 miles to where you cross on the big log before turning around but still got a great workout and had a beautiful view of Three Fingers.
The trail is in remarkable shape and conditions are almost identical to past years. There are billions of small pine branches and a couple of small blowdowns that pose no obstacle until 1.7 miles where there are some bigger trees down but still easy to maneuver around. Patchy snow starts shortly after the first mile around where the approach for Anaconda splits off and gradually gets more continuous. I saw old dog prints but no human prints to accompany, until some showed up heading up the hill to Long Mountain. A level of fitness I could only aspire to! Shortly before the clearing with the view of Three Fingers, there is pink flagging tape and an X made out of sticks on the ground to mark what I’m assuming is another approach to Long, these markers are new since my last hike in late fall 2024.
After the clearing, the trail turns into a river with ankle deep running water. I opted to get wet rather than risk potholing in the snow off trail. The big crossing log had untouched snow, there aren’t any obstacles that would prevent one from continuing forward. I didn’t get to see if the erosion in the existing receding spot has progressed, and I didn’t get to see how the crossing of Marten Creek at the end of the trail looked.
I almost never wear gaiters but was happy to do so today. Waterproof boots are a must. I wish I had brought extra socks. This is a gem of a trail especially in the winter, even only going as far as the viewpoint is worth it.