Hiked Sulphur Mountain Trail #794. The gravel portion of Suiattle River Road (about 11 miles) is terrible, for the most part, because of ever worsening potholes; plan on an hour from Hwy 530 to the trail head at the end of the road. A standard clearance sedan can make it okay but it’s just really slow going as you slow down and wind around the major potholes to avoid being swallowed up or launched through your roof.
The trail is excellent under foot with soft pine needles and small hemlock pinecones most of the way; a bit brushy in spots the first mile or so. There are several dozen downed logs that are mostly step overs and a few logs that require going around but they’ve been that way awhile so a route around is clear and easy to manage. The worst of the obstacles are within about an hour and a half of the trail head with easy step overs after that. The only water, aside from the snow at the top, was a small stream about a half an hour from the trail head. We managed fine carrying two liters of water each.
Our first snow across the trail was at 5200’. After a short bit of travel the trail became more obscure with increasing snow; we put on crampons and using a point from the gps took the most direct route up picking the easiest travel through the trees. On our route up on the snow we encountered occasional flagging which indicated we were on the route or someone else’s route that was going to get us to the top. Crampons and hiking poles recommended with the snow; snow shoes not needed. The view at the top was gorgeous in all directions.
My gps showed an elevation gain 4690’ and a total distance of 9.6 miles which is probably slightly shorter than when the snow melts because of the more direct route up and down while traveling on snow.
Comments