The CCC Road was one of those projects during the Great Depression. It's a very impressive route up the Middle Fork valley. Seems that we owe many of our highways, roads and trails to the CCC, back when America had money to invest in people and people programs during the Dark Ages before they found a much more noble necessity - corporate welfare and paying Ken Starr to peek in people's bedrooms. We started at MP10 of the Middle Fork Road. It's always a fun drive down the Middle Fork because we use curse words that have been long forgotten. The trailhead is at point 959 on the topo, where the Middle Fork Road curves sharply right. The CCC Road goes back to the left. There are a few windfalls over the trail and two of them lie across the trail. This was a well-built roadbed because there are only a few muddy spots. After nearly three miles, the CCC Road intersects an active service road. We headed up this road, marked by switchbacks, to a waterfall (marked on the USGS topo), heretofore unnamed, but now dubbed MacGyver Falls. The weather was overcast with occasional showers, with wet snow above 2000 feet. Trillum, yellow violet and salmonberry are in flower. There is a very spooky part of the trail where one could probably see lions and tigers and bears, oh my.

The Elanthian Ranger Corps joins some really stressed out people to attempt climbing this substantial hill to the north of the infamous Mailbox Peak. Getting there: Drive up the middle fork of the Snoqualmie River, 1.6 miles past the big cement bridge over the river. On your left, there's a yellow gate. Park, or blow up the gate. Hike or drive up the road, respectively. After a bit, you'll run into 'the CCC road' and follow it for 1/4 mile easterly.. and then turn up the hill again. Being there: Nice just now, salmonberry blossoms out, promised gloriously sunny days.. hmm. Snow was at 3000' (and up) and -very- slushy. Deep, snowshoes were good to have, woulda really been icky without em. Promised days turning to glop we couldn't see in and legs turning to glop we couldn't walk on, we turned back at the saddle at 4000'. Nice view to the North from there, great around the valley views, up the Pratt valley to Granite Mt., etc etc, starting at around 3000'. Advantage of hiking on closed roads and wide trails: you can hike next to your sweetie holdin' hands. Good long hike, worth checking out. Nice waterfalls by the road. Bet the views from the top are quite nice. -Navigator in Chief, Elanthian Ranger Corps