We were short on time so we only made it to the forest service road (then walked a bit on the road) before we had to turn around so we didn't get to finish but it was a nice day out in the woods. We hit snow a little lower than the road, but it wasn't too slick, you just had to watch your footing going downhill. We were the first humans to use the trail in a while, we saw some coyote prints in the snow though. 

A low clearance vehicle might have trouble with the road, the potholes are a little deep, very wide, and full of water. Overall it was a nice hike I wouldn't have picked but was pleasantly surprised.

Update on the Townsend Creek Bridge:

 The broken top, middle and bottom rails have been replaced.  

  A little further down the trail, the rotten and broken wood check step was replaced.

  The crew stayed later than usual to get the work done to make the trail safe.

  For those familiar with WTA work parties on the Notch Pass trail, we have labeled 3 sections of the trail.  Notch 1 is the lower trailhead and leads up to the pass, and is about 2 miles.  Notch 2 starts just across the fire road and goes down about a half mile to the paved road, and you need to go up the road/to the right to get to Notch 3.  Notch 3 only has a 4x4 post with a laminated paper to let you know that it is the Notch trail.  This section is just over a mile, but you get to walk on 3 bridges that WTA crews have built in the last 10 years: No Name Creek, Allen Creek and Townsend Creek, as you connect with the Lower Big Quilcene trail.

  I went down Notch 3 to look at the Townsend Creek bridge handrail damage caused by a tree this past winter.  Only a short section was damaged and the footlog is in good condition. —There will be a WTA crew down there to replace the handrail on 7 September.

  I went the rest of the way to the Lower Big Quilcene trail and also saw a step that had broken.  This will be replaced if we have enough crew and time.

  Some areas need brushing and some areas of tread could be improved, but the trail is in good condition.

  I went up Notch 2, which is where there are small logs across the trail.  All are easy to walk around or under.  This section is in good condition.

  I only went down Notch 1 about .25 mile and there was the top of a small cedar in the corridor, but easy to get around.  This small section is in good condition.

  There were still some red huckleberries.  There were also some interesting mushrooms like a Gomphus floccosus a.k.a “wooly chanterelle” (poisonous), and Hydnellum aurantiacum (I had help with those).  Who knew that some mushrooms have teeth!  And a blue fungi whose color just caught my eyes attention.

Got to 3rd access TH at 9am. No other cars. Head east toward the lower TH (nice sign to mark TH) by mistake but got to see the actual pass on that side. Turned around about a mile in and took the correct trail heading west (faded laminated sign at TH). Went as far as Bark Shanty Shelter (I didnt see an actual shelter). Total was 4.3 miles and I only saw 2 people. Still a few trees across trail but easy to cross. Bridges were good.

Hiked what's often termed Notch 3, the segment from FR27 down to the lower Big Quilcene river.  Road in unexpectedly good condition in that the dirt portion was smooth and rut free.  Trailhead was empty except for our party.

Trail in good condition with a few minor exceptions:

- a rotten tree is down on the trail just below the Allen Creek bridge.  It's an 18" step up and then down to get over it.

- Townsend Creek bridge got hit by a falling tree top which took out a section of railing. The tree top end is resting on the bridge though it is easily stepped over.

- a small (~8" dia) tree is across the trail farther down, maybe 1/4 mile up from intersection with Big Quilcene trail.

A very warm day but generally well shaded so it was a very comfortable hike.  The uphill return hike to the trailhead certainly felt warmer than the hike down.