I did a loop hike beginning at the Cyrus Gates Overlook in a thin layer of snow and ice which had begun about half way up Cleator Road. I took the Double Diamond (now signed the Double Black Diamond) down. At about 0.5 miles I used the hiker trail that veers to the left and avoids bikers for awhile before joining the main trail once again. At the junction with the Lost Lake Trail I went left and began gaining elevation again. Just a bit before the junction with the Rock Trail I stopped to photograph the falls and then went on to Lost Lake. I was pleasantly surprise to see that the mucky area just before the north end of the lake was doable even with all the rain in the area. The Lake has no ice yet, just snow around the edge and on the snags in the water.
From the lake I back tracked to the Rock Trail and headed up to take in the incredible formations that have a different look every time I see them. Back at the parking lot there were about six vehicles there but I only saw one hiker all day. Winter and a work day. Visiting this area in winter you can see a lot more rock walls, especially along the Lost Lake Trail. Spring through autumn you only get glimpses through the foliage of the stuff the Chuckanuts are made of.
Cleator Road had snow and ice on it in the morning but some of it was melted out in the afternoon even though the temperature didn't go above 36 degrees,it was 32 degrees when I began hiking, but the road is in very good condition and appears to have been graded recently.
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