WTA deleted my Report for these 2.  Suiattle River Road mile 18, park before Downey Creek.  Downey Creek Trail snow free about 2 miles.  Old Green Mountain Trail starts L of outhouse where you parked, in decent shape.

Tried to think of the one of the most remote trails in lowland northwest Washington.  Didn't see a soul.  Hadn't been here in 5 years, and it's a great shoulder season hike.  Mossy forest floor carpets, sound of the creek all along the trail, trail in good shape, and relatively long distance possible this time of year. The only downside is the poor shape and distance of the dirt portion of the Suiattle Road , but that makes for a less-traveled route.  WTA has done some good work shoring up the trail since the last time I visited.  

The trail starts with a few switchbacks which climb 300 feet in the first half mile, then the rest of the way ambles gently up and down and parallels the creek cutting across a slope high above for the first 3 miles or so.  There were only two trees down (in the first .8 miles) which took any effort to get around or over.  And only two creek crossings of note on slippery rocks between 2.0 and 3.0 miles.  Snow started in earnest at about 3.25 miles (was very patchy and no issue before that) and got to about 2 feet deep when I stopped at where the trail meets the creek at 3.75 miles and 2100'. 

Saw some relatively recent large cat scat on the trail.  And even though the forecast for the area said 90% chance of rain, no precipitation materialized and even enjoyed a few sun breaks.

Drove the Suiattle Road one mile past the Downey Creek trailhead, where I encountered enough snow on the road that I chose to turn around.  So I never made it to the Sulphur Creek trailhead.

Hiked the first part of the Downey Creek trail.  Saw nobody on this Monday.  I'm in that senior category and supposed to isolate myself, so this day was excellent for that.  The outside temperature in the mountainous areas was consistently 30 degrees F. all day long, while closer to Puget Sound the daytime highs were in the 50s.

The 24 mile Suiattle River Road is now open to the Downey Creek trailhead.  I ventured farther east on the Road and there is a three foot diameter log blocking around Milepost 21.  The cool weather means there are no bugs.  Didn't see anyone else this far east on the Road or the trail.  There is a pit toilet at the Downey Creek trailhead.  A Northwest Forest Pass is required.  The first 10 miles of the Suiattle River Road are paved.  After that it is gravel and dirt.  The infamous potholes have gotten bigger!

I wanted to see if the 3 foot diameter tree blocking the Suiattle River Road before Milepost 18 was still there (from a previous report by me).  Someone has cut an opening and people can now drive thru.  Thank you!  I also met and chatted with a guy from Darrington who was cutting up more of the tree for firewood.

As I continued down the road (easterly) I continued clearing branches and smaller trees off the road.  A ways past the Downey Creek Trailhead guess what?  There is another 3 foot diameter tree across the road.  My 14 inch electric chainsaw cannot deal with that size.  So I turned around at this point after taking the attached photo with my Pulaski next to it to show the size.