Robinson Creek - South — Monday, May. 30, 2011

North Cascades > Pasayten

This hike is called "Robinson Pass" in "100 Hikes in Washington's North Cascades National Park Region", by Ira Spring & Harvey Manning, Third Edition, Second Printing, 2003. We scoped out this TH yesterday, after our "Lost River" hike (see "Monument Creek" trip report 05/29/11) and decided to do the first 4 miles, then turn around. The trail begins flat & wide and narrows quickly to trail size. Then it begins a steady ascent for the first .5 mile. Lots of wildflowers (arrowleaf balsamroot, indian paintbrush, and a purpley, yellow striated bell shaped one I can't name!), some water trickling down the trail early on, and a bridge under construction at 1 mile. Normally, the bridge would be a "no brainer". With our rambunctious Labrador Retriever needing knee surgery and not knowing his limits, I was nervous. The 3 un-planed logs were huge and required a big "step up" for me (5'7"). Scout couldn't figure out how to get up and he kept circling around and under. The creek was flowing full and fast and one slip on the logs would mean doggy overboard and I wasn't up for that. Bill (6'3" and intrepid) all but called me chicken**** and we turned back. (I wish I took a picture of the bridge and the creek flow under it.) So, 1 mile in and out, and then we drove on down the road to re-hike the West Fork of the Methow River Trail. Check out that trip report, which I will be writing up next.