Tronsen Ridge — Sunday, Jun. 11, 2023

As AlpsDayTripper mentioned, there are downed silver snags, but I found all easy to step or climb over and they only last for the 1st 0.20 mile from the trailhead proper.  To be clear, there's about 0.90 mile from where most people park (at Upper Naneum Meadows) of an intermittent jungle gym to navigate before having clear trail.  Beyond that, there's the occasional blowdown, also not difficult to navigate either over or around. I'm so glad I didn't let the previous report deter me from enjoying the bountiful wildflower show that Tronsen Ridge puts on every year.  I got a late start to the day so I only made it a little over 3 miles from my car to the top of the large rock outcropping.  The trail switchbacks here to cross below the outcrop and this is where I met my turn around time.  Of course the worst part of hiking Tronsen Ridge from the southern trailhead is having your return be all uphill; it can be brutal in afternoon sun but I was late enough in the day and the clouds were plentiful enough to keep me pretty well shaded.  My hike of around 6.5ish miles took around 6:00 as there was much lollygagging and picture snapping.  In addition to the plentiful Lewisia tweedyi that Tronsen is known for, there was also an abundance of Lewisia columbiana and the very beginning of what will be carpets of Lewisia rediviva.  They really should remane it Lewisia Ridge.  There was also a good showing of Delphinium lineapetalum as well as Valeriana columbiana, all species that tend to only be found in this small microclimate.  One of these days I'll have to see if Five Mile is really as bad as they say.