Started off the day participating with WTA for the trail work party up on Mount Walker. Our little group stayed towards the base with Charlie and fixed some tread , blocked some "cheater trails" that cut the switchbacks and made a nifty trench (Good job Emily and Stephen!)It was a great day to help work on the trails, and even though we did not make it up to the top of the mountain today we will definately come back to enjoy the work that we and the rest of the crew did. Lots of people on the trail today here! After the trail work we headed south for a quick hike top Murhut Falls since we were already in the area. Turned out to be the Hike of the Week! Murhut Falls was beautiful. There were no problems on the road getting to the trail head but there are many blow downs on the trail, had to climb over and around a few trees. The falls are impressive right from the end of the trail, but 2 of us got a more up close experience by crossing the fallen tree over the river and climbing up to the base of the falls. Everything was very wet and slippery and probably not recommended trying to cross to the other side as the water below is very cold! It was a great experience though and as you get up and around the rocks the spray from the falls literally takes your breath away. Completely soaked for the hike back to the car, but well worth it. There is also a geocache at the end of the trail (and at the beginning) but if you look at the hint please be advised that the cache is NOT on the other side of the river.

I cannot submit a report to cover my hike, because I could not get to the trail. The road up is icy and my SUV got stuck twice; once on the way up and once trying to turn around. I thought I would be spending the night in the sub-zero woods with no one around. Note I have a late model SUV in perfect condition, and relatively new tires. I was spinning off the road on an icy patch on an uphill windy portion of the road, and then I had to back down until I found a place to turn around, and almost got stuck there to. My engine light turned on and I had to shut off the car several times, dig around the tires with a shovel, etc. VERY scary. Despite the fact that today was quite sunny and nice, and the road was open with no warnings. I would never try coming back here except in summer.

The road to Murhut Falls is in great shape. There is a little bit of snow, but it is easily passible by a standard passenger car. The trail is also in great shape. The waterfall is quite impressive considering how little work is required to get to it.

Considering the conditions around our place SW of Olympia, I was astounded to find both the Murhut Falls and Ranger Hole trails unscathed by the storms. I brought my work gloves to clear off branches and limbs but had very little to do. What a shame! Forced to traipse along unhindered through lush, fresh-washed woods accompanied by early thrush song and moss-filtered sunlight. These are two of my favorite winter trails as they plunge immediately into quintessential Olympics of big trees, copious moss and lichen, and frothing green rivers. Murhut Falls has some snow on the road to trailhead (4WD was appreciated) and a little on the trail but no need for traction devices on either and mostly bare. We had the trail to ourselves on a Sunday afternoon. The Duckabush River Road is plowed and paved to the trailhead. What little snow there was on the way to Ranger Hole melted to nearly nothing in the three days I was there. As astounding as the lack of storm damage on this trail is the quantity and quality of work done since I was here in December, courtesy of the Mt. Rose Trail Crew. My photos highlight some of the amazing drainage and tread restoration accomplished by these hearty men, some of whom also volunteer with WTA. Among other work, they dug drainage channels, fortified them with rocks, and filled the trail with gravel quarried from the woods bucket by bucket. Thank you so much!!!!! Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51278183@N05/sets/72157629158144749/. Click the thumbnail to see the whole photo. If you want to see some real storm damage, go to "sets" and look at Snowpocalypse 2012!

To reach the TH drive the Duckabush River Road 6.3 miles and turn right at a junction signed Murhut Falls Trail. The TH is 1.3 miles from the junction with parking available on the left side. The trail is in excellent condition and climbs 250 feet before dropping about 50 feet to the beautiful creek and falls at .8 miles from the TH. The sound of the falls and creek can be heard as you approach the view point.