3 day / 2 night trip to Sundown Lake with the intention of staying both nights. Really, this trail is not suitable for most hikers. The blowdown starts right away and doesnt stop until the park boundary. Where there isn't blowdown right in your way, there's vegetation reaching out across the trail. The horse flies were on me from the minute I opened my truck door till the minute I shut the tent fly 8 miles later. I'll try to break down the obstacles in order:
First mile - blowdown at steep angles across the trail. You have to get up and over some, and there's not much footing possible on one log. You can get under some, but with a pack it was hard and killed my knees.
Second mile / second crossing - blowdown persists but not as frequent. Vegetation crowding trail. Second crossing of Skok too deep to rock hop. Rocks are fairly slippery and it would be easy to fall without poles.
Miles 3-4 - Devils club and salmonberry growing right in the trail. You'll have to choose between wearing long sleeves and pants to avoid getting cut. It was 95 degrees, so I chose to get cut. Walk straight up the overgrown meadow.
The worst blowdown is just above the last creek crossing (where there's a nice pool). The log is too big to get over or under - you have to go around. I fell here and cut my arm. The mess continues all the way to first large meadow with a campsite (Riley).
The trail takes on a different character here - narrower and harder to find (stay straight through meadows). The way is marked by ribbons and enormous piles of cougar scat (about the size of a 12 boot). The horse flies here began to get worse. Several elk were serving their blood in a little pond near Sundown Pass. Sundown Pass is very steep - I fell here also.
The trail after Sundown Lake to Six Ridge Pass is delightful and absolutely free of any obstruction - the only section of enjoyable trail along my entire journey. I know the Skok was logged out and brushed really well just a couple years ago and it saddens me to see the state of the trail now. It's no wonder there were no other people along the entire way on Friday and only two hearty folks coming up Saturday afternoon.
This is not a trail I would do again or recommend. It's dangerous in its current state, and even after clearing, I'm not sure the reward (Sundown Lake) is best reached by this route.
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