After two months of leaderless sloth, Geezer Patrol cracked loose all the solidified knee cartilage and ventured forth on the last hike 2014 in new territory. The ride to the trailhead consumed 2 hours but was well worth time. Unfortunately, the coming snowstorm may cause this area to be closed off as it is past the mountain loop closure gate.
The trailhead at 2070' elevation is large and accommodates horse trailers. It has a privy totally devoid of TP so bring yer own.
Leaving the trailhead is like entering a cathedral. One is immediately surrounded by massive cedar and fir trees causing us to once again travel at a snails pace while gazing upward instead of forward. These are some of the largest trees we have ever encountered in our travels all saved by the Glacier Peak Wilderness in 1960, four years before the Wilderness Act was passed by congress. The trail base is pretty much hard sand covered with fir needles - kinda like walking on a pillow top mattress - nice!. There are a few areas of rocky/rooty trail with minor ups and downs along the way. We only traveled to the Pilot Ridge Trail cutoff 2.7 miles in with our allotted time due to continuous stops to admire trees, solve the worlds problems and to provide update on our patrol mascot, Kate Upton. This trail intersection provides a nice lunch spot in a large campsite right on the river. You could just sit and stare at these trees all day.
We picked up 650' of elevation there and back. This is a nice easy stroll along the southern flank of Red Mountain and would make a fine long hike or backpack in the summer with the cool of the high canopy and the rushing river. We must go back after the melt out next year.
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