This is an update to my May 18, 2017 report, since the trail conditions have changed for the worse in the intervening month. The trail is much drier and about 30 more logs have come down in the first 6.2 miles to Basin Cr, mainly due to the late May windstorm. The routes over, under, and around these logs can present some difficulty to hikers, especially with large, heavy packs.
On the plus side, the flowers are out and there is no snow on the 9.6 miles to Tungsten Cr, nor on the first 2.3 miles of the Tungsten Trail (to Cinch Cr).
The bugs are a minor annoyance and the flowers are at their prime.
The bridge over Horseshoe Creek is damaged, with the second part being a "springy" two-log crossing of about 25 ft. The alternative is a knee deep ford. With an overnight pack, I opted for the ford!
All the campsites are dry and usable. Just be ready for the weather - overnight low of 38F, with highs of 84F (and essentially no shade in the first 3 miles of the Chewuch Trail). In the burn area, water is readily accessible at 5.7 miles (Chewuch R.) and 6.2 miles (Basin Cr). The smaller side creeks in this area have dried up.
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