Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake, Mount Defiance — Friday, Nov. 6, 1998

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

After hearing reports of a $100,000 toilet at the Mason Lake trailhead, I just had to see for myself! I showed up too early at the Park-N-Ride, and was nearly wrangled into a work party by our webmaster. Matt and Steve appeared however, and saved me from an otherwise equally enjoyable fate. I realized I am losing perspective on what makes a good trail (time to join another work party): ""if it does not go straight through the devils club, is more than 2 inches wide, and you can follow it, then it is OK"". I suppose there were several blow downs, some boot sucking mud and icy root ladders and boulders, but otherwise it fit the definition of OK trail. Of course, the snow started at 3500', so we only saw part of the trail proper. After Steve postholed around some rocks for us on the final ascent, we enjoyed the clear skies on top, grateful that we were not testing our rain gear. Steve also gave us an inspiring demonstration of how not to wipe out sidehilling across steep semi-snow covered brush The toilet was indeed one of the three most impressive I have ever experienced (BYOTP). Mushrooms above 2500' are frozen :(