What a day on Bootjack! I saw only one other couple coming down on my way up and one other coming going up on my way down.
A few things about this hike:
First, it is steep, but not as steep as Mailbox, Teneriffe, or Snoqualmie Mountain. It's a little over a thousand feet of gain per mile. It never feels like climbing stairs, and the tread on the trail is remarkable good -- it's often soft, rarely filled with roots or rocks.
Next, the scramble at the top is not that bad. It's short, not very exposed, and it's very easy to find the best route. You can use your hands, but you might not have to. It only takes a few minutes to do this part.
Finally, the view from the top is epic. With as few people as there are on the this trail, you might even have it to yourself.
The trail is easy to follow almost the entire way. Here's my GPS track. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/361027711. As you can see, I took a "shortcut" on the way up where the NW Trails map indicates the ridge trail splits off, but I couldn't see a trail. I just off-roaded through meadows to get the ridge. On the way down, I determined that wasn't really necessary. I followed the faint trail down the ridge and took the obvious left back toward the trail I had ascended through the forest. Either way is fine.
Note to the two ladies who passed me on the way down: One of you dropped something (not terribly valuable) on the trail. I picked it up. Reply to this and I'll get it to you.
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