It's been over a year since the last TR so I thought I'd update on conditions. This trip has been on my radar for a while, but wanted to wait until I had some company. The trailhead is 2.7 miles on road 5510- pass both trailheads for Humpback Mountain on road with improving tread, it's actually a great road past the Humpback trailheads. You'll cross Hansen Creek (not signed), but if you watch out you'll see it. Past the creek is a pullout with a fire pit. You want the pullout after that, which has space for maybe 3 cars. Across the road from the pullout you'll see the trailhead, which is unsigned. It's basically a pile of rocks blocking an old road and some old target shooting debris. I've attached a picture to this TR so you'll know it when you see it!
Continue down the old road for somewhat less than a mile. Some of it mossy, some loose and rocky. There are a couple washes that are steep/loose up/down but nothing too big a deal. At the end of the old road, you'll have a bit of a view towards Humpback Mountain and other neighboring peaks. At this point turn left on obvious trail. It's a bit brushy here, and a couple muddy spots to get around. If it's damp, as it was today, you will want to come prepared to 1) get wet or 2) wear rain pants/gaiters. After crossing a couple of minor streams, be sure to take the right turn into dark new growth forest. There's a path that forges ahead towards Hansen Creek, but you don't want that. I placed more sticks over it today to make it more obvious. Once in the dark forest, just watch for the best tread which is also marked with orange surveyors tape. Looks like a handful of old blowdowns took out the previous trail so there is a well packed detour route. I also placed some sticks along the sides of the trail to help make it more clear :)
You soon enter more open beautiful old forest and head steeply up to the lake, which has a minor bushwhacky/trail you can follow around to two decent campsites and a handful of bivy sites with firepits. I didn't see fish, but I didn't look too hard for them either. Lots of blueberries and a few possibly bear or other mammal turds. The lake was much prettier than we'd expected.
I brought pruning shears and trimmed up quite a few brambles and branches that were encroaching on the trail. I didn't trim any of the blueberries though, couldn't bring myself to chop those delicious shrubs.
Definitely bear territory, tons of berries everywhere. I'd recommend bear spray, a buddy and wearing something bright colored if you come during hunting season.
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