This report covers the Big Creek loop and an exploratory trip up the Mount Ellinor trail to assess the snowpack. Big Creek loop is a jewel of a hike that meanders beside multiple tributaries flowing down the Big Creek Basin into Lake Cushman. It’s popular for many good reasons which become apparent when hiking it. With my canine hiking buddy for company, I went counter-clockwise so I could first check the Ellinor/Washington viewpoint. Today the summits were obscured by clouds even though there was sunshine beaming into the lower valley. I could see snow up high on partially melted slopes, but not a trace on any part of the Big Creek trail. As I approached the bridges at the head of the valley, I expected to see higher volumes of water in the creeks and was surprised by the mild flow. I suppose the lack of rain this week and the lower temperatures played a role. Acknowledging the dedicated volunteers on the Mt. Rose Trail crew, there are numerous well-crafted and thoughtfully placed benches that line the entire loop.
After passing all the bridges, I continued uphill on the Mount Ellinor connector trail and stopped to enjoy the viewpoint at 2630 feet. No snow on the trail in this section either, but I did encounter three places with minor tree blockage. I arrived at the lower Ellinor trailhead and noted that the road and parking area was covered with a foot of snow. There were no signs of tire tracks, though I did see some footprints. Looking up and down the road, I couldn’t see any bare road.
I continued hiking up the trail towards the upper Ellinor trailhead. One 10-inch diameter tree blocked the trail in this section, requiring a short jog to get around it. Snow began covering the trail at around 3000 feet and became solid snow between 3100-3200 feet. The snow was well compacted, making travel easy. I hiked to 3400 feet and stopped to enjoy a nice viewpoint with a well-made bench, located just 75 steps past the 12-foot boulder. I made this my turnaround point, satisfied that the snow beyond was more of the same. I returned to the upper Big Creek trail and completed the loop, logging 9.5 miles, 2600 feet of elevation gain.
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