I ignored my own dictum of never-hike-on-a-weekend and came here. From the Homestead Valley Trailhead I hiked east a short way on the Palouse to Caascades Trail. The unmarked start of the bootleg Change Creek Trail takes off at the west end of a small concrete trestle between the much larger Change Creek and Hall Creek Trestles. Once onto the Change Creek Trail, you will rarely see anybody, even on, God forbid, a weekend.
I took a cue from C.P. and brought my pruning saw, intending to clear some brush from the trail. Snow, however, kept me from reaching the section of trail I had intended to work on. Will have to come back in the spring. The trail is in good shape, with several easy blowdowns. As you reach the ridge below Hall Point, there is a trickier blowdown to scramble/straddle over, but doesn't pose a serious obstacle. Patchy snow starts here too. I continued to just before the first crossing of Change Creek (culverted). It was at that point I needed to decide whether to put on my gaiters, or turn around. I turned around and took the short spur trail to the summit of Hall Point. This is a delightful flat summit with a comfortable sitting rock and a log, and with great views.
No traction needed, but conditions change almost daily this time of year. Be warned, this is a steep, ornery trail, not for the casual sightseer, though it's well-built and safe enough if you hike carefully, especially on the descent.
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