Anderson Butte — Friday, Jul. 20, 2018

I want to get a current report for this trail onto the site.

We wanted a short hike to see how my 12½ YO dog would do; also to toughen up her pads a bit.  The trail shows signs of little use and has had no maintenance this year.  But it is such a good trail, it really presents no significant problems to passage.  On the first leg, before reaching the junction to the butte or the lakes, there is a bridge down from a fallen tree.  The gully beneath is dry and only a few feet deep so it is easy to get across.  There are three down trees total to the butte.  None should result in more than a few seconds delay.  The road has plenty of potholes, some washboarding, and a few channels from the snow run off.  I saw nothing I thought would stop a sedan although some care is needed.

We had no views as the clouds were slow to lift.  It was clear on the butte, but there was little sign of Baker or of any of the other surrounding mountains.  Apparently the butte attracted no one but us.  We saw no one up or back on the spur nor during the hour plus we spent on top.  No bugs on top and very few on the trail.  As always, the parking lot was another story.  Not real bad but quite a few mosquitoes there, especially in the morning.

And, for anyone curious; the dog did fine.  She was even lively the next morning.