Went to check out the new trail, given the previous glowing reports and our past boring snowshoe hike up the logging road route. Started late (10:30 AM) and saw no sign at the trail junction, but the rest of the route was clear: left at the pond and then thru the gate. The world had a beautiful coat of new snow in the trees and when we emerged on to the ridge. The going was so pleasant that we were surprised to reach the upper road so quickly. Summited at 1 PM and ate lunch and drank a thermos of hot tea inside the little grove of trees. By this time it was snowing so heavily that our footprints were getting filled in. Deepest snow was 8 inches in places near the top; no snowshoes needed but we were glad of our gaiters. We were sad to finally descend into the rain but it was a great hike given the forecast. The new trail is well designed to take advantage of the available wilderness beauty. One traverse was an avenue inside trees with trunks all bowed the same curvature as if they were stressed by the same avalanche at the same age. But the open ridge where the new and old alternate trails meet was the best, with little stunted trees covered with caps of snow. We had not views but the fog proved to be a great backdrop to these trees.

Some of us old timers used to restrict our ascents of Mt. Washington to the wintertime when the so-called winter route was feasible. When the steep forested hillside behind the small pond at about 3,500 feet was covered with deep snow, hikers/climbers with the ability to travel on steep snow slopes could make a direct ascent to the summit. For years the summer route required a long multi-mile traverse of old logging roads. Now the direct winter route has become the preferred summer route as well. The new trail appears to be essentially completed. Leaving the Owl Viewpoint continue to the trail junction where the left fork takes you to the logging roads and the right fork crosses the creek and leads directly to a small pond at the end of an old long abandoned road. All the nasty brush has been removed leading to the small pond. At the pond a convenient arrow made of stones points to the new trail. [Do not cross the outlet of the pond.] The new route soon comes to a DNR wooden trail barrer--presumingly to keep out horses and motorbikes. Beyond the barrier the new trail is obvious all the way to the summit. The new trail follows much of the old direct winter snow route. The new trail certainly has the appearance of professional oversight. Does anyone know the source of the funding for this endeavor? Sunday was a magnificent day to be in the Cascades. It appears that it will be the last one for quite some time.

Also needed a trip close to home, intrigued by viggo's report of a new trail and after working on trails this summer I can really appreciate the effort involved so I decided to head for the summit on the new trail. I had forgotten how rocky the beginning was, and how particularly annoying it can be on the way down. Trekking poles are highly recommended and even then I was pretty stiff the next day. Fixed a hole or two on the way up and tried to repair some drainage on the way down, lower section needs a little brushing in parts. Stayed to the right at the fork and ran into some really soggy areas on the flats but the new trail is great and views at the top, spectacular! I could see Baker, Glacier, Rainier and the Olympics. Only met one couple close to the bottom on the way out. Not sure why, it was a great day!

Dayhike.Needed a hike closer to home and not too long.Plan was to do ""Paul's"" trail going up and take the logging roads down.Did not happen. First mile after you leave Iron Horse is rocky.From the sharp turn where the climbers trail goes left and main trail goes right ..trail is in good shape.At the Y after Old Owl Spot I stayed right, ""Paul's"" trail.Left takes you up to logging roads.Paul is in good shape.Last half is really steep.Halfway up the steep part I suddenly ended up on a brand new trail.Followed it,crossing one road and it took me all the way to the small meadow 100 meters from the top.Because of this new trail I changed plans,going down.Wanted to find out where this trail would take me.It traversed the hillside in long switchbacks and hooked up to Paul where the old logging landing is..This trail is so new that the sawdust from the tree cutting is still warm.So now you can get to the top of Mount Washington without walking long stretches on logging roads.Met no other hikers.Most sane people would be home in their dry, warm houses eating clam chowder instead of hiking in steady downpour.Coming home I went straight to the garage fridge,brought out a mini Champagne bottle and made a toast to the work crew who had built this new EXCELLENT trail.R/T 9 miles?

I had not planned on writing a report for a routine hike up Mt. Washington, but there turned out to be a wrinkle. I took the standard route, and there was little to comment on until reaching the final bit of ridge to the top, where a pair of honey buckets was parked where the road splits and the trail goes up the ridge. This seemed mighty peculiar! Just before the summit, a newly constructed trail came up the ridge from the north side. Most people familiar with Mt. Washington are aware of an alternate route that has been improved in the past year or two by a local 'trail gnome', and I assumed this might be part of his work. Maybe so, but this was a 'real' trail, with stakes and ribbons and all the expected accouterments of organized construction. I could not resist following this route down, and was astouned to see the extent of construction. Although it also heads into the Washington Creek basin, it follows a completely different route from the known alternate, staying away from the ridgeline and instead switchbacking down the west side of the basin. Circling around to the east, the construction currently ends at a pile of puncheon logs. From there you have to follow your nose to pick up the usual alternate and follow it the rest of the way. I don't know whether the new trail will go that way or continue to take a new route. Eventually I can see that this new trail will become the regular route up Mt. Washington, but I'm mystified as to the who and why of this undertaking. There was just a trace of new snow at the top. Across the valley the snow line was just above the level of Mailbox Peak.