Goat Creek Loop — Monday, Jul. 3, 2023

We started on Weyerhaeuser land near Vanson Peak, then hiked down Goat Creek to the Junction, then up Tumwater and around to Deadman's Lake, and back to start--about 18 miles.  The trail below the small lake on the Goat Creek Trail, down to the junction at Goat Creek, and up to the top of Tumwater has about 20 logs (some oldgrowth) across the trail, with some harder to get around blowdowns. These trees (some of which are partially cut out for hikers) make it impossible for horses and difficult for bicycles to complete this loop.  Hikers will have no real problem.  Get water at spring near the top of the Tumwater climb because the pond on the tope is drying fast.  The trail is recently cleared between the open rock viewpoint on top of Tumwater Ridge, Deadman's Lake, and Vanson Peak and partway down to the small lake on Goat Creek Trail.  Plenty of mosquitoes at the lakes and between Deadman's and Vanson Peak.  No flies yet.