Squire Creek — Friday, Oct. 9, 1998

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

I joined a WTA work crew on this trail earlier this year. I realized that our small one day crew could only put a dent in the ton of work this trail needs. I am going to write to Darrington Ranger District and ask to make this trail a priority with their new trail dollars. The trailhead is only fifteen minutes from Darrington, so it's a very popular day and overnight hike. The first mile is abandoned road in good shape. The second mile starts up through lovely forest. As we climbed on, we applauded huge fir trees overhead, and tiny fungus underfoot. The third mile is alot of roots, rocks, and water flowing down the trail. At three miles we reached a bloulder field full of orange, red, and yellow brush. Through the mist and rain we spotted five mountain goats on Three Fingers, above the hanging glacier, and below the cliffs that disappeared into the clouds. As we crossed the boulder field, we looked down into the huge basin of Squire Creek. Scramble up a not so dry wash and the final mile is an ankle deep stream, trail eroded down to bedrock. We reached the pass in time for the snow to start. Fall is here, winter not far behind. Nine miles roundtrip, 2200' elevation gain, trip time was six hours including lunch, pictures, and stopping to listen to Red-tailed Hawks scream as they flew down the valley. Despite this trails popularity, and the peak of the fall color show, a little sprinkle of rain let us have this trail to ourselves on a saturday.