Brad and Susie and I headed up to Kelly to look for berries and visit my old friend. The vine maples are really red and lovely contrasted against the volcanic rock. We saw a frog hopping around the trail on the south side!!! ( wonder if it was lost as there's no water anywhere near where he was....) The lookout was open and we had lunch up there...no views except when the fog briefly parted for a look down towards Lester. The lookout is in good shape as is the trail ( except it's pretty dusty from lack of rain...) there's a schedule in the lookout and it appears that Kelly has been well staffed with volunteers this summer. That's great!!! We wanted huckleberries but they are past prime, small this year, and mostly wrinkled and fading. I found a pair of binoculars off trail there so if you lost them, contact me ( cr421@q.com) and discribe them and we'll hook up to get them back to you...) Where's the lost and found on this site?? We cruised back down, had a nice cold beer at the trail head and went home. Kelly is a great short destination. Go now for fall color... enjoy the great trail work that WTA has done there....

Don't drive your Prius! The Enumclaw ranger station told me the road was better than the terrible one to Corral Pass, which is indeed awful (scraping required in Prius) but we made it in 2011- not so! The last section looks more like a tiny driveway with high grass in the middle, deep pits and big rocks. Allow extra time to park non-high-clearance vehicles and walk this last section. Alas it was evening for us, we didn't have time and drove back down with hot whiny kids :(

Now is the time to hike Kelly Butte. The road to the trail is in good shape and the highlight was that the wild flowers and meadow plants are in full bloom and display. Easy hike to an active fire lookout, the territorial views are fabulous. Only disappointment was that Mt. Rainier played peek-a-boo behind a band of clouds during our time at the summit.

Access Road: Gravel roads from 410 were snow-free with moderate wash-boarding. Last mile or two fairly rough. High-clearance vehicle recommended. About 40 minutes from 410 to trailhead. Heavy equipment in parking area. Remaining room for 4-6 vehicles with other parking available in vicinity. Weather: Warm with slight breeze. Southern exposure on steep portion of the trail can be thirst-making. No available water so bring plenty. Trail: First section of trail is actually an abandoned road. Climbs from 4400’ to 4500’ to overlook at original trailhead and former parking area. Along this section we saw a ground squirrel and the remains of mountain goat kill – mostly hair and a shoulder blade. North of the former parking area a pika called and emerged from the talus slope; from here the trail climbs 900’ to the lookout at 5400’. It initially switchbacks steeply through rock outcroppings, subalpine vegetation, and abundant colorful wildflowers: phlox, paintbrush, bear grass, lupine, and multiple species of penstemon. Other hikers saw a ‘large marmot’ in this stretch. As the trail nears the top, the grade moderates. Butterflies were abundant and included a Sara Orangetip, Coronis Fritillaries, Boisduval’s Blues, Hoary Commas, an Anise Swallowtail, Western Whites, a Duskywing and a Hairstreak. Birds included flickers, juncos, and a Townsend’s Solitaire perched on treetops near the lookout. We heard, but did not see, grouse as well as Varied and Hermit Thrushes. Trail was snow-free; some snow remained in the shade north of the butte. Views were grand: Tahoma (Mt. Rainier), the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the Stuart Range, and Goat Rocks; although numerous clearcuts marred nearby ridges. From appearances huckleberries and fall color (abundant vine maple) will be fall attractions. Image set at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/myake/sets/72157630520642020/

There is nothing like spending our country's birthday on U.S. Forest land with a truly impressive view of one of our nations most beautiful National Parks; Mount Rainier. The drive may seem long and the hike is short but do this hike because the reward is worth it. Make sure to go in and sign the book and please take your trash with you. I was the first to arrive this morning and picked up others trash and packed it out so you do the same. Let's keep this lookout a place people will want to go for years to come.