Amazing hike up to Vesper Peak yesterday! I started around 8am from the trailhead and had no issues finding parking. The road wasn't bad in my Crosstrek but I did definitely scrape at one point. Definitely best to have a medium/high clearance vehicle for this.

In the woods, I lost the trail a couple times but it seems like whatever side trails I took always led back to the correct place. Make sure you have maps downloaded for this hike! I came across the hornets nest around .8 miles in and didn't have any issues. Someone marked it on either side with paper plates so it's easy to know where it is going both directions. The talus field below Headlee wasn't too difficult from a route finding perspective, but you definitely need to keep an eye out for the cairns to spot them. The lower part of Headlee Pass was probably the sketchiest part on the way up and down. It's easy to slide out on the loose rock and other hikers higher up can accidently cause loose rocks to slide down the hill. Stay alert! After Headlee Pass, it was pretty smooth sailing to the summit. I followed the cairns up the scramble section and that worked out well. Definitely needed hands and feet for this section. Poles were also nice to have. The views from the summit were spectacular and well-worth the work!

The way down was actually the hardest part. I climbed Glacier Peak and Mt. Baker this summer, so the uphill didn't bother me so much on this hike, but the downhill is killer. Don't get cute in the talus, it will take you down. Lots of slow careful maneuvering, especially down the lower part of Headlee Pass. 

Car to car it took about 6 hours total. Awesome hike, but definitely not for the novice hiker. Some route finding, small doses of exposure, and scrambling. Be prepared and know your limits.

Stunning day out there! Hard trail but worth it. Some awesome person marked the hornet nest with paper plates :-D and we skirted them both times will no issues. Not sure how long the plates will last, but we weighted them down with a rock. It is really easy on the way up because it is right after the big meadow, but a bit tricker on the way down, so pick yourself a landmark. Exact location graciously provided by Jstrauss126: 

https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2023-09-02.0574333080

Road/Parking: The road is short but narrow. The video below shows the full drive from my dashcam. The last pothole is the worst and not advisable for low clearance, but the rest was not too bad. We had 6.8 inches of clearance and didn't rub, but it was close. There area a few spots about .25 mile from the TH right before that but they go fast. Mostly soft vegetation, but there were some spots where it sticks out far enough to brush both sides of the car. There where a couple of roadside camping spots (one boring and one nice with a view). Lots of parking at 8 AM on a beautiful Sunday, but it filled up and people were parked along the road when we got back. Bathroom was not stocked but pretty good. There is a roped off spot by the bathroom with space to turn around if needed.

Trail: 

Forest: Rooty but not bad. Enjoy the shade while you can. The steam crossing were nearly dry! Last time they were gushing and it was tricky crossing, but not now. Still enough if you need a drink. This is the only water until the stream by the lake. Keep an eye out for a couple cool mushrooms. 

Meadow: Stunning! Fall colors are starting to pop and the rock walls all around you are pretty spectacular! Even though we were in the shade it felt way hotter here than in the forest. 

Forest: Again, but just a tiny bit. This is where the wasp nest is. 

Valley and the Pass: You are done with the easy part (although you have already done a lot of climbing). It is pretty much all rock and scree from here out. The climb up was in the sun, unless you are super early, but the climb down was shaded. The pikas were all over here and the valley was beautiful. Some of the shear rock walls here are just crazy! The rocks were pretty loose at the bottom and generally improved as you climb. The trail at the bottom of the pass can be a little hard to see in spots. There is a fork going across the valley so make sure you do not take that by mistake.

Pass to the foot of Vesper: Pretty flat giant rock field with awesome views. Rocks were pretty stable. On the way back this was a little hard to see but once you are on the path it is super clear. At the foot of Vesper you will join up with a creek, the only good water source other than the lake. It is narrow and very easy to cross. Keep an eye out as soon as you hit the street because it is easy to miss the path up. We checked out the lake but I thought it was much better from above. 

Up to the peak: It starts mellow, then climbs through the trees with a rough but well established path. Beyond that it is choose your own adventure. Staying left seemed to be pretty good but you will be needing your hands for some scrambling here and there no matter what. It was super steep but generally quiet solid. We saw a couple Ptarmigan.

Count on much more time than usual, this trail takes time. 

First time doing this hike. Beautiful, very steep, rocky and rooty, but doable. 
The trail is pretty easy to follow, until you get to the rocky part close to the peak. The rock you have to walk on is whiteish, the cairns are rare and also white. The white clouds moved in. I had to turn before the summit since I couldn’t see much. Beautiful views from where I was and rushed down to avoid the fog. 
There is a toilet at TH. Road has a few big pot holes, not horrible. Trail is in good shape, used gaia through rocky areas. We saw the wasp nest, but they left us alone. This hike is worth the pain. Also, cute pikas and grouses!

There is a hornet's nest on the trail to Vesper Peak near GPS coordinates: 48.01806, -121.48507

As you are hiking up from the trailhead, you will go through forest and then a large, open meadow. After the meadow, you will re-enter the forest and the trail goes over a steep rooted section. The hornet's nest is under a big arched root on the climbers right side of the trail about 15-20ft into the forest. 

Some people were able to avoid being stung by spacing out through this section, sticking to the climbers left side of the trail, and by moving quickly. Not everyone was so lucky, even with these precautions. Be prepared to treat multiple hornet stings if you hike through. 

*** WARNING: Yellow jacket nest on trail, about 1.25 miles from trailhead. I got stung several times on the way up, and on the way down. ***

                I hiked this trail on Saturday, but have been busy and didn't get to write a report until now. We got there at around 8am, parking wasn't an issue. There were a few spots left for others to park. There are several potholes on the road near the trailhead, but hey... I saw a Prius at the parking lot. 

               The trail itself is challenging, think of this as the Mailbox's old trail combined with Pilchuck's trail. The beginning of the trail is like the old trail at Mailbox, it then turns into something like Pilchuck's trail (rocky). I average about 25 minutes per mile on hikes like Mailbox, and Mount Dickerman, but not on Vesper Peak trail. It took me 4 hours to reach the peak, and drank 3 liters of water on the way up. As mentioned on my warning, I got stung 4 times on my right leg below my calf, and 3 on my left leg below my calf as well. On the way back I got stuck another 5 times (same areas) on my right leg, 4 on my left, and 1 on my butt!

               Anyway, I read some reports stating concerns about falling rocks and such. I took a bump cap with me, but after completing the trail I don't feel it's necessary at all. I didn't feel like any rocks were going to hit me on my head or anything. What I would recommend is that you bring some gloves, I didn't have any. You may need them once you get closer to the peak, may need to do a bit of climbing/crawling on those big boulders (specially if you have a late start on a sunny day, the boulders will be hot). I didn't see anyone commenting on a place to filter water, so I brought 5 liters of water (3 liter bladder, & a 2 liter bladder) which I drank all of. There are a few streams of running water where you can filter water (2 near the trailhead, a few near Vesper Lake, and Vesper Lake itself). No need to carry as much water as I did, you can bring your filter. 

               After our break at the summit, we headed down to Vesper Lake for a refreshing swim. The water is cold! but quite refreshing. I saw some guy skinny dipping, and someone fishing. There were a few others around the lake. People were camping near the lake as well. When descending from the peak, take your time. The boulders could be slippery, no need to rush. Same goes for the rest of the trail. I did slipped a few times, but nothing too serious to injure myself. The views at the peak are beautiful, the lake is so pretty, the water is clear and cold. We saw 2 guys climbing up the peak as we were taking our lunch, that was impressive. On the way down we saw several other people climbing another peak (don't know the name of it) which seemed to be more challenging than Vesper.

               For me, this is not a hike where I'd expect to reach the summit quickly, although 2 people in our group go there in like 2 hours. I'm not fast, and I'm out of shape so I take much longer. You need to keep your eyes on the trail, stop if you want to look around. If you walk while looking around, you may end up in a bad situation. Take your time, and enjoy the hike. Stay safe!