Local green hat Mary gets all the credit for dreaming up this awesome route! She planned it as a fun sunrise hike for Thanksgiving morning, and a great way to earn an extra slice of pie (which she actually packed in her backpack, and we stopped long enough to enjoy at Mount Kit Carson!).

We met early and started by hiking up Trail 182 until the Kit Carson Loop Road, then turned right and took our first snack break at Smith Gap.

It was cold so our stop was brief, and we continued up the middle portion of Trail 140 to Smith Gap. We took another brief break here, then continued up 130 to Trail 160, and took Trail 160 to the summit of Mount Kit Carson. There was a moose hanging out in the trees near the 130/160 intersection! Unfortunately it was tucked in so far that it was hard to see in the photograph. There were other moose tracks in the fresh snow all over the place; Mount Spokane is about the best local chance of seeing a moose on trail.

It was a little too breezy and cold to take a summit break once we arrived at Mount Kit Carson, so we dropped just below the summit into the trees & Mary produced two containers of pumpkin pie from her backpack! It was a fantastic snack break to enjoy on the trail.

After devouring the pie, we continued across Trail 130 to the summit of Day Mountain, and afterwards continued on Trail 130 to where it intersects the Kit Carson Loop Road. We hiked down the KC Loop until we returned to the Trail 182 intersection, and then retraced our steps down the hill to complete the loop. 

There was no snow at the trailhead, but there was a dusting of snow before we reached Smith Gap, and surely more snow will be on the way soon. It was a bit slippery higher up the hill but the temperatures were at that terrible point that allows snow to stick to microspikes, so I opted to slip/slide instead. There are a few steeper downhill sections on this route and I did manage a couple falls; I forgot my trekking poles and Mary definitely fared better for having remembered hers.

Total distance for this awesome route: GPS had it at 14.97 miles and 2,900' elevation gain. 

Trail was well maintained and a little busy on this Saturday morning and afternoon. Lots of families out picking huckleberries. Parking lots were also pretty full by 10am.

The views were fantastic and the hike did not disappoint. The climb wasn't very strenuous, but by no means a walk in the park.

Our goal for today's hike was to take it pretty easy, but perhaps try and get to the summit as long as trail conditions allowed it. I am currently operating on two bad knees and our decision to turn around when the trail got even a little bit hard was due to keeping said knees from sustaining further injuries. So, if you're motivated and can navigate a bit of snow (the kind that's just on the trail and half melted, half frozen, and post-holey) and several/numerous downed tree areas then you could probably summit. Also, with the record heat we had today and more warm weather coming there should be a lot more snowmelt happening in the next week.

Our Starting point: Lower Selkirk Parking lot

Went up Trail 131 then Trail 130 to Bald Knob Campground. Couple of easy to navigate downed trees across Trail 131 and Trail 130. One tree we recognized from our last snowshoe. These were not difficult to cross. Ate lunch at the picnic tables.

Sidenote: The road is not yet open for cars to drive to the campground.

2nd Sidenote: WTA's Holly Weiler will be up here with a crew very soon to cross cut the downed trees. =)

From Bald Knob Campground we continued along Trail 130, but turned around almost immediately. Lots of big snow patches. The kind that's passable, but with lots of stepping here and stepping there all the while slipping this way and that way. With my knees being as bad as they are right now we simply opted to try another trail that's on the sunnier side of the mountain.

Went back down Trail 130 then up Trail 290 which is normally a mountain bike route. But not right now it isn't! And I laugh as I write this. So many downed trees along this trail. And big bunches of them. For one section we went way up the hill and hiked a big detour around the trees covering a large section of the trail. We crossed 3 major downed tree areas then turned around when we came to the 4th. We looked up and large downed logs were on the hillside. They were looking quite dangerous should one of them decide to start rolling down. Looking down below the trail there was just so much loose tree debris that it wasn't a good idea to go around that way. And there was simply no possibility of stepping over the downed trees on the trail. Much trail work is to be had in this section. Can a person find a route around this area? Sure. Yes. But we weren't up for that type of adventuring today.

Back to the parking lot we went where we had the perfect celebrity meet up! Holly (WTA's finest) and Jasper (husky) were walking to their car which coincidentally was parked right next to ours. Then the park rangers rolled up. And it was a meeting of the minds of which trails need some serious cross cutting action.

Almost forgot! The bugs were buzzing about, but not biting. They were a bit annoying at times.

The Hiking Bookworms

Started at Bald Knob and hiked 130 to CCC Cabin and then took trail 140 to Saddle Junction, then Kit Carson rd back to Summit Rd. Drove to the top when I was done to have lunch at the Vista House. The huckleberries were ripe on 140 and i was able to eat them by the handful! Trail 130 needs brushing, encroaching on the trail, but the wild flowers, Fireweed, Wild Buckwheat, Western Pearly Everlasting, Indian Paintbrush and Monkshood were in bloom. 

Parked at the Upper Loop Road trailhead - there is no Parking symbol for this area on the most current Mount Spokane trail map, but there is indeed a dirt parking lot just in front of the Upper Loop trailhead. As you approach the trailhead signs, you will take the wide path on your left, blocked off to vehicles with a metal gate - Mt Kit Carson Loop Road. The loop seems to be popular with cyclists too.

You will pass the CCC cabin turnoff on your left (as well as a vault toilet) and eventually arrive at Summit Junction, where I began Trail 160 by following the sign for Mt Kit Carson. Wildflowers are blooming as well as what seem to be many clusters of rowan berries.

The trail is marked with blue blazes although it's pretty difficult to get off trail on accident. Manageable light rain. The day was very foggy, which blocked the views at the summit, but it was a pleasant day regardless. I wasn't in the mood to stop quite yet and extended my walk a bit by taking the other side of Trail 160, then heading south again on Trail 130 before joining back up with 160. Stopped at the CCC cabin to have lunch and sign the visitor's log. Mileage <4mi.