Hiked 6/21/20.

Distance: 7.7 miles (Gaia)

Ascent: 2550' (Gaia)

4 hrs round trip including 20 minute lunch at top

Arrived at the TH around 11:00 am. The TH head is a bit confusing since it is unmarked. You turn off Salmon La Sac road and go up the forest road about 150' to a gate and that's the TH. Park along the Forest Road. When I arrived, there were probably 10 cars - 80% of the FR was taken. No issue parking.

The first 2 miles of the hike are up the FR. Very wide and well graded (see Pic 4). Easy to hike and social distance on. There are a bunch of other FR turnoffs, but as others have said, there are arrows made out of sticks and rocks indicating the correct path. If you have a GPS you'll be set. I also had phone reception most of the way up and down (AT&T). Heck, my buddy in NYC even FaceTimed me on my way down and I was able to respond with video... much to his surprise. The last 1.8 miles to the top are on a hiking trail. The turnoff is marked with sticks/rocks and a sign, but if these were missing it might be easy to pass. This trail goes straight up the ridgeline, no switch backs. Pretty good haul straight up. However, this trail is in very good shape (see Pic 3). Wildflowers galore. The dirt is very dry so can be a bit loose when descending down the steeper sections. After the junction with the Sasse Mountain Trail, you turn right and the trail flattens out. Here there is a very impressive juxtaposition between the green Spring growth and the burnt trees (Pic 2). A large portion of the trees on this hike are burned out. I had the top to myself for about 20 minutes. No one in sight. Beautiful 360 deg views. Unfortunately both Rainier and Glacier Peak were hiding. Stuart was out and proud though (Pic 1). Had lunch and saw some people coming up the other trail (Trail 1348.1) so decided to head out. Just in time too. 3 dirt bikes roared up 1348.1 just as I left the summit. Also saw 3 other dirt bikes on the FR when I was just starting out the hike. They are so loud and destructive, real shame to see so much trail and vegetation damage along this trail clearly caused by dirt bikes. I'm sure they are a blast to ride though. Hike down was uneventful.

COVID-19 Info:

I saw probably about 20 people on this hike between 7-8 groups. Everyone was good about trying to social distance, however only 2 other people had masks with them. Bummer, but what can you do. People are gonna be selfish because wearing a 1 oz piece of fabric that they only have to put on when passing someone else is too much of an inconvenience to them.

Fantastic hike. Trail was steep at times but not terrible. Most of the forks in the trail were marked by sticks arranged into arrows. Hiked with my mother, 10-year old brother, and border collie. The views of Lake Cle Elum were incredible. Many of the trees on the way up were burned (from a fire in 2017?), but this allowed for better visibility of the surroundings. The wild flowers were in full bloom and were beautiful. Saw several deer on the way up and then an inquisitive deer kept approaching us near the summit. Also saw a few hummingbirds on the way up and an unidentifiable blue bird, yellow bird, and green-yellow bird. Saw a red hawk on the way down. Also saw a chipmunk. A little disappointed the clouds prevented visibility of Mt. Rainier, but had a great unobstructed view of Mt. Stuart. 

Started at ~6:30AM and finished around 11:00AM. Saw one lone hiker near the summit on the way up (we were the second hikers to summit), and fewer than ten on the way down. This is an underrated hike that I am looking forward to doing again!

A fun, challenging, day-hike, it was relatively steep the entire way, not substantially leveling out until the top view. No snow, and was sunny and clear until I got to the last mile where it rained. It also rained the first mile down and then cleared up again.

Started at the unmarked trailhead at 47°18'08.0"N 121°03'42.5"W.  Road is rough but suitable for most vehicles.  Monday was light rain on and off all day.  Getting up Hex is steep but short.  Continuing along the ridge requires going straight down the west side of hex peak, but the trail quickly becomes visible.

Sasse Ridge was rough in places, with no sign of trail in areas.  GPS was helpful here, but basically just always stay as high as possible and you will find the trail.  Sasse peak is underwhelming.  Eventually you'll hit snow, some very deep patches but mostly you can walk along side it.  The trail is easier to follow here until you head into the valley.

The signs at the junction of Teanaway, Jolly, and Sasse are still readable.  I skipped the 1-mile detour to Jolly because it was foggy and freezing rain.  Heading down into the valley to meet the river was really hard to keep track of the trail, but there is no undergrowth so just watch your GPS and don't go far from the river.  

It was a couple of miles before I found a place flat enough to set up camp, so plan on this.  About 13.5 miles from the trailhead for the first day.

Day 2 was better weather, which was fortuitous, given that I had to ford the Teanaway about 5 times.  There's no way to get across in boots right now, but with water shoes and poles the crossings were not difficult.  They just slowed me down a LOT while I dried off before putting my socks and boots back on.

At the end of the West Fork Teanaway River trail, there is a logging road.  I use AllTrails and here the roads do not match with what is on the map.  With a little trial and error, this is the way back:

Keep right on FS4305-115 for a little while until it looks like there is a turnoff to the right.  On the map it says there is a road.  There is no road, but you walk over the giant dirt piles and go down and go straight across the river.  You can see a dirt bike trail going up the bank on the other side.  Walk up this path and at the top turn LEFT.  It loops all the way around and eventually becomes a "normal" logging road and matches the map again (still 4305-115).  If you stay on this without turning, it will eventually meet back up with FS4305 and it's easy to get back to the trail head.

Wednesday was sunny and warm, so I headed back up Hex to get a few photos before returning to my car and heading back to Seattle.

Loop was about 27 or 28 miles (not counting second ascent of Hex).  I had mixed feelings about utilizing the logging roads rather than actual trails, but the flat ground was a welcome change after two strenuous days - and the roads are remote.  I didn't see anyone until I made it back to the trailhead.

Echo previous trip reports that the turnoff to the right onto the trail comes sooner than expected, and that the trip description is somewhat confusing in this regard. Other trail users had made arrows of sticks in the dirt to direct hikers in the right direction, which was helpful. 

Trail condition is good but good shoes and warm clothes/windbreaker are a must. The trail is dusty and steep which makes it easy to slip, and it's extremely windy and chilly at the top. The trail is well maintained throughout, but is rocky and narrow at points.

Trailhead parking was largely full by 11AM, but nearly cleared out by 5PM when we returned. Wildflowers continue to bloom, and we saw woodpeckers and other birds all throughout.