Lingering snow on the Loowit Trail forced us to reschedule that trip so I headed out to the Lewis River Trail to scope out another project for this weekend's BCRT. The Forest Service has been out there restoring the tread and they wanted us to pick up where they left off. I started at the Curly Creek Falls TH and headed upriver to the jct with FS 90. There are some great riverside campsites within the first 3 miles including the Bolt Camp Shelter site although the shelter has fallen apart. There's also a huge gravel bar in the middle of the river that you can walk out onto and it looks like a great place to picnic (about 1/2 mile further upriver from Bolt Camp Shelter. I came across a number of dilapidated bridges although none were so bad that I couldn't cross them, they could be trouble for a horse I suppose. I took a mental note to talk to the Forest Service about future WTA volunteer vacation work to replace them. I think the highlight for me on this trail is the excellent old-growth, particularly in the first 4 miles where the trees are as big as any I've seen. It also looks like the perfect place to introduce folks to backpacking - 3 miles in, flat terrain, beautiful river and big trees - perfect.

Drove 132 miles from the Seattle area just to discover that FR 25 between Randle and Cougar is *still* closed by snow just past the turn off to Windy Ridge on FR 99. I find it hard to believe there has been snow on this road at any point in the past month. I could look 1000' up any of the surrounding hills without seeing a trace. Hwy 20 has been open for weeks. What's going on here? Better signage would have helped also. It was a long 18 miles back to Randle in a grumpy mood.

Waterfalls, weeping walls and wildflowers -- what a wonderful walk! Good trail, few hikers. 1 mile of FR 90 is unpaved and quite rough. FR 25 north to Windy Ridge not yet open. Big Creek and Curely Creek Falls worth a stop as well.

With some health issues and bad weather can't believe it's taken until mid-April for our first hike of the year, but here we are. With a sunny forecast and the predicted first 70 degree day of the year for Vancouver/Portland, today was the day to get out and hike. We chose this hike because it's a pretty easy one (not much elevation gain) and figured to be pretty quiet this time of the year. Right on both counts. While there wasn't as much water as last June (after 20 straight days of rain), the falls were still impressive as normal. SomeMt. St. Helens looked great as well -- so much snow it looked like a big marshmallow! Definitely felt good to get out and hike again. With rain and 50 forecast for the work week, great to get out and enjoy the good weather.

I finally made it to Lewis River Falls - just the lower and middle. These are must sees for anyone in this area off USFS road 90. Trail is buff and suitable for families.