Spokane Gulch, Flagg Mountain Snowshoe — Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023

Decided to do a hike since we needed a break from cross country skiing. Our options were Spokane gulch and/Flagg Mountain. For some reasons I couldn’t download the trails on gaia. They do have the same TH. From the Mazama store you walk across the meadow, carful not to walk on groomed trails. There are some signs, a little vague. Once you cross the meadow there are some blue arrows indicating the TH. Trail was snow free for the first couple of miles. Ice here and there. We eventually got to a couple of signs the one pointing left said sage meadow over look and the other said Goat Peak logging roads. Neither said Spokane Gulch or Flagg Mt. we went left first and had some lovely views. Were .5 miles from gulch and decided not to proceed. There was snow from here, but only up to your ankles. We went back to the intersection with the sign and I went solo following the Goat peak sign. Almost immediately there was another small sign pointing towards Flagg Mt. It was snow covered from here, but the signs are intermittent and there is a boot pack. As you get closer to the Mt, the trail becomes more and more faint. Almost got to the top when I noticed animal prints, which I immediately assumed were cougar; my biggest fear. Went back without reaching the peak. What a shame, but i was solo. Did not use snowshoes or any traction