Pack Forest - Hugo Peak — Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area

Warm sunny spring day in February - do Hugo Peak to get loosened up. Park at parking lot just off highway. Most important comment: Download pdf of Pack Forest map off their website before you leave home. You will need it, and map box at gate is empty. Trail is in near perfect condition. You walk lengthwise on some long boards over the muddy spots. Poles help for balance, and for several dozen steps on downhill return trip. When trail crosses gravel roads it is marked well. About a quarter mile from Hugo Peak notice old lichen covered, rotting sign. Faintly reads "Hugo Peak, Tacoma Mountaineers". Did they build trail decades ago? Views at the top are gone until next logged. There is actually a trail log box, but logs are clear full. Nice grassy meadow, with two lazy mosquitos. Backtracked to first intersection and took 1080 Rd., S maybe 1/4 mile to Kirkland Pass (not named on map). Five roads and two trails meet at this rather indistinct swale. Took Trail of Giants, long version. Sign says trail was built by Eatonville HS FFA. Marked 1 mile. Hmm. Maybe their yardstick was only 26" long. Nice walk through closed canopy Doug Fir, and a few locally large cedar, with sign stating larger 4-5' trees survived 1800 stand replacing fire. One ruffed grouse thought best place to fly away was further down trail. Jumped poor thing three times. Two pileateds were heard only. Some new downfall made me ponder route at point long trail connects to short loop. There are several large logs you duck, or almost crawl under, but they are permanent part of trail. Turn left on 2000 Rd. back to Kirkland Pass, then left on 1000 Rd. back to entrance and car. About a quarter mile from Kirkland Pass on the downhill side notice some of the cedars have had the typical partial bark harvest, for weaving material. Trees usually survive this, bark slowly regrows over wound. All in all a good day.