Today I met a new hiking buddy, my friend's new canine companion. A rescue, he needed a quiet trail to learn some trail manners and gain confidence after being neglected. This trail was the perfect fit for him. It is mostly a walk in the woods on the side of Downey Mtn high above the creek. The trail does not start on the west side of the bridge over the creek, that is a campsite. Cross the bridge and the Downey TH parking is on the right. The lot may look full, but this is the end of the Ptarmigan Traverse, a climbing route that starts at Cascade Pass, and many of the cars are climbers cars.  To find the trail, follow the path out of the parking lot toward the road that is on your right by the outhouse (open). The trail has a small sign and starts right across the road. It starts somewhat steeply but after the first little bit, then begins a  more gentle uphill. There are a few old blowdowns easily crossed. One I recognized from a work party  a few years ago, a big log with a hand and foothold carved in. It has weathered well! Just beyond the big log is a stream crossing with a crossing log.  About 3 miles is is the first stream ford, just deep enough to splash above your boots and get your socks wet. We could cross, but Tucker was having NO PART of this! He did not like the noise, so wanting to make this a happy dog experience, we just turned around, ate lunch, (dog treats included), and hiked back. We saw no one until we got back to the car and met a group of women who had just finished the Traverse! Nice work ladies! This is a great hike for solitude and social distancing. Not many flowers, but several large clumps of Indian pipe, a few monkeyflowers by the streams, pinesap a nice shade of pink instead of the usual orange color, and some candystick just finishing up. Today is the first day of Hikeathon, the fundraiser for WTA. I am hiking for it again this year, so if you would like to donate: give.wta.org/muledeer2020 

It had been over a month since I cleaned this up to snow, thought it was time to return.

The Suiattle River road has been graded!  I must have driven it 50 times, always terrible.  There are so many great hikes up this road, I know where I'll be spending the next couple weeks.  Better road saves half an hour each way to here, even more for trails further out.

Take Downey Creek trail 2 miles to Downey Mountain trail heading up.  The junction is about 5 minutes past the creek with log crossing.  This creek is a good place to fill water, over an hour to next source.

Good and well marked trail leads to "Guinea Lake", the source of the first stream you come to.  Notice conditions worsen beyond first creek encounter, this was where I stopped fixing because of the snow.

At the lake, cross the outlet stream, pass nice campsite, follow orange flags I left today. There is a creek along the trail above the lake, dump out the lake water and refill.  There is a dry stretch beyond here, then plenty of melting snow higher up.

Path soon breaks out of the trees, to an amazing flower show.  After a long traverse trail is lost in knee-high flowers.  I found a path that angled up, not too much side-hilling.  I crossed a few soft enough snow fields, some rock.  

The route I took is flagged and cairned, leads to the top of the ridge.  I walked the crest to the 6500' ish near high point, incredible views of many peaks rarely seen.  It was kind of smoky today, I hope this doesn't go on all summer.

I could see Pilot Peak out on the ridge, map said I had to drop 500', then climb 1100', in 1 1/4 miles.  I didn't think I had enough time, Mike Collins said it took him 13 hours RT.  Turns out I might have, will come back soon and complete, when I'm not locating trail.  I can do it faster now that I know where to go.

First ascent was made from Cub Lake, ridge may be walkable a ways beyond Pilot Peak. Relatively easy walking despite not much of a trail along the ridge crest, few come up here.

On the way down I was surprised to see a fellow hiker, Eric, who was staying overnight.  Like me, he had seen this in the Cascade Alpine Guide, he had also seen my Reports about the work I had done here.  What were the chances I was here before him marking the way.  He thanked me, I urged him to write a Report about his trip.

Summitpost has a good write up for Pilot Peak, with some photos by Fay Pullen.  There is one Report here.  Ended up taking me 11 hours RT.  I'm going to do this again tomorrow, 8/2, if anyone wants to join me, say 8 AM at Downey Creek TH.  See you then.

Hiked Downey Mountain trail nearly to lake 5808.

Since last trip, someone tied a pink flag where the trail leaves Downey Creek trail. After where CP stopped earlier this year about 4600, the trail is pretty easy to follow to the small lake at 4750, which was swarming with bugs on this warm muggy day. After crossing the outlet, trail climbs above north side of the lake and gets difficult to follow for just a short stretch due to blowdown. Makes 3 switchbacks before it begins a long climb heading northward. The first switchback is near the source of a small stream that feeds the lake, great place to water up. Subalpine starts about 5100. At 1 mile above the small lake, the trail disappears in open meadow at 5600. There are 2 blue flags on a small mountain ash, go straight uphill from there to a shallow draw and follow the draw up. Trail resumes at the head of the draw. Patchy snow started here as the trail traversed across some rolling benchy terrain about 5800. Eventually goes through a burned area where the trail is indistinct but exits only about 80 feet below the upper reach of the burn. Shortly after that it crosses a sharp slope break and enters the basin of lake 5808. Snow was pretty continuous here and I turned around where I could see the lake 80% frozen. 

Hiked the first 2 miles of Downey Creek to check out Downey Mountain trail. Lots of recent work on Downey Creek including tread work so it’s in great condition. Couple small blowdown and one duck under that is likely a permanent resident.

Suiattle Road has some class 5 pothole sections but passable if you slow to below walking speed. Less severe but more plentiful potholes on much of the rest. At least they are dry for now. Was 70 minutes from Darrington to the trailhead. 

It was a good day to work on the trail under an Old Growth canopy.  

I stopped at Home Depot on the way out and picked up another shrub rake, it was the only tool I used today.  I found and flagged from where I left off 2 days ago (Report), finally reached creek that had been teasing me off and on all day.  Just past was snow and my turnaround, est. 4600'.

I started raking from the top, did close to 90% of it.  After you hike this no other trail will be good enough for you.  I spent 8 hours today and the same a couple days ago fixing this fabulous trail.  I removed a few branches from the start, now easier to see.

I gained over 2000' in probably 2.5 miles to high on the ridge (map in previous Report).  Now that this is all better it will be easy to get to the top when the snow melts.  Hike Downey Creek trail est. 2 miles to Downey Mountain trail start on R.  It's about 5 minutes past creek with log crossing.

Most of this is pretty gentle grade, except where old trail is not followed,  said to have been built by horse packers.  This will be a whole new area for us to explore, no Reports until now,  doesn't look like many people make it up this way.

I found this in the Beckey Bible from 1961, added it for AngMae who commented below:

"Suiattle - Agnes Group - The interior of this group can be reached via the Sulphur Creek trail, which starts 30 miles up the Suiattle River road.  This trail extends 3 1/2 miles, after which ca. 1/2 mile of heavy brush and timbered blowdown is encountered.  Following this, the trail continues for another 3 1/2 miles of poor, brushy going.  

Downey Creek trail extends 9 1/2 miles up Downey Creek... The first 8 1/2 miles (cleared in 1957) are in good condition, but the last mile of trail is heavily brushed over and affords difficult travel.

At Bachelor Creek (6 1/2 miles up Downey Creek trail), a fair trail extends to timberline in 4 miles.  The first mile has been cleared; however, after ca. 2 1/2 miles the trail is brushy.

Downey Lake may be reached by a very poor (excellent as of 6-12-2020!) 4 mile way trail, which starts ca. 2 miles up the Downey Creek trail. 

A 4 mile way trail (fair condition) extends up Sulphur Ridge."