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Trip Report

Franklin Ghost Town — Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
Walking through acres of Himalayan blackberries

The Franklin Ghost Town trail is one of the least pleasant hikes I've been on. The whole area is overgrown with Himalayan blackberries. This required a combination of pushing the canes out of the way, squeezing through sideways, and not daring to step off of the trail even to sit for a break. English ivy, another invasive, also infests the area, not to mention minor outbreaks of vinca and knotweed.

I generally love being in the woods, but I do not love invasive plants. This hike made me wish I were somewhere else.

Nevertheless, learning about the defunct town of Franklin and its coal-mining history was mildly interesting, as was the old cemetery. And the swimming holes along the Green River are fantastic! Imo, this is a good place to swim and not a good place to hike.

English ivy infestation -- possibly left over from mining days
Vandalism
Coal, which tickled our grandchildren
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