Return to Easton Ridge, May 20, 2011

EASTON RIDGE (May 20, 2011)

Finally – we enjoyed a delightful hike with summer-like conditions including wildflowers, sunshine, views and unfortunately – ticks. It’s unfortunate that when conditions are favorable for a pleasant hike on the east side that’s about the time the ticks are out and about on their relentless search for blood. We knew we’d need to be on the alert for the ticks but we didn’t prevent them from enjoying our day in the sun.

This hike is a favorite standby – the trail melts out earlier than many and it’s often where we spot the first glacier lilies and yellow bills of the season. This year was no exception – driving back from Umtanum Ridge a few days ago we noticed that Easton Ridge was mostly snow-free so a return to Easton Ridge was in order.

Easton Ridge is an enigma of trails ranging from established trails to game trails. Not even maps and guidebooks agree on mileages and elevations -- lingering snow always adds to the adventure. After parking at the trailhead (Kachess Ridge/Easton Ridge) we turned right onto a short path that leads to an old camping area along Silver Creek then walked upstream a bit to cross the creek on a bridge (happy the bridge is still there!).

We expected to be hiking in snow before the hike was over but that wasn’t too high a price to pay for getting to see wildflowers starting right from the trailhead. Glacier lilies and Calypso orchids added color to the first forested switchbacks after crossing Silver Creek. Trilliums are also at their peak, sweet and fresh.

After climbing a few switchbacks the trail meets a gravel road (about 2,700 feet). We turned left onto the road (no trail signs at the road). The road soon makes a switchback – and the trail is obvious (left, uphill). The sign is missing but there are splendid views of Lake Kachess here and improving as the trail begins to climb more steeply.

After gaining about 1,200 feet we reached the trail junction (signed) at 3,400 feet per the Green Trails map. Easton Ridge Trail No. 1212 (right) Domerie Divide Trail No. 1308-2 is to the left. As we continued on the Easton Ridge trail we began to encounter snow patches (not enough to obscure the trail).

A short steep climb brought us to a familiar-to-me rocky outcropping (about 4,300 feet). Here we stopped for views of Easton Lake and Kachess Lake before continuing upward. There are also views of Mount Rainier but it was hazy enough that getting a good photograph of the mountain was out of the question.

We began to encounter more snow than trail but route finding is easy and we managed to stay on the trail most of the time. The trail continues to several high points; each one inspired us to continue further until it looked like snow would be mostly continuous.

We stopped for lunch at one of the high points and that’s where the ticks were waiting for us. Having to watch for ticks was kind of an “ick” factor though the 360-degree views compensated for our discomfort.

More flowers are beginning to bloom along the crest of the ridge including purple Douglasia and spring beauties. There are lots of glacier lilies blooming where snow has just melted as is their way. Friends sometimes ask how I remember to tell avalanche lilies and glacier lilies apart. My solution: think G for gold (glacier lily) and A for white (as in avalanche, snow).

There are good views of the Domerie Creek drainage of the northeast side of the ridge, including Mount Baldy. You cannot see Thomas Mountain from this ridge. On the southwest side, of course, are views of Easton Lake (so green!) and Kachess Lake (so blue!).

On our way back we ventured a little way onto the Domerie Divide trail to a favorite viewpoint of Kachess Lake, Silver Falls. The outcropping is a little exposed; don’t get too close to the edge.

To get there: From Seattle take I-90 east and turn off at Exit 70. Drive over the freeway and turn left onto a frontage road signed Kachess Dam Road and proceed to Forest Service Road No. 4818, turn right. Stay on Road No. 4818 to an unsigned road junction and turn right – continue about ½ mile to the trailhead, elevation 2,400 feet, no facilities. A Northwest Forest Pass is required. The maps are Green Trails Kachess Lake No. 208 and Green Trails Easton No. 240.

From the trailhead to Easton Ridge is about 5 miles round-trip about 1,950 feet gain.

Additional information: Cle Elum Ranger District (509-852-1100).

Berkeley Park via Sunrise, July 10, 2009

Sunrise to Berkeley Camp (Mount Rainier National Park)

This is an upside-down hike. Other than a gentle ascent along the Sourdough Ridge trail out of Sunrise the rest of the hike is downhill. The trail is hard on the knees but easy on the soul.

We enjoyed the drive from Enumclaw to the White River entrance of the park, stopping at Sunrise Point for views of Mount Adams (south), Mount Stuart and Glacier Peak to the north plus Cowlitz Chimneys and other prominent features of the park. Between Sunrise Point and Sunrise the road was bordered with lupine, Indian paintbrush and buttercups.

It being a weekday there was plenty of room for parking; soon we were on the trail. We headed up to Sourdough Ridge, turning left (west). A few minor snow patches remained on the trail; all easily negotiated. We puzzled over the “start” of the Huckleberry Creek trail (it looked more like a scramble than trail) and stopped several times for photos on our way to the 5-way junction at Frozen Lake.

Just past Frozen Lake snow patches cover the trail in places; some of them pink. If you have never encountered watermelon-colored snow before, it is a natural phenomenon caused by algae, rest assured you are not hallucinating. The route is wanded across larger snow patches but the snow is melting quickly.

At higher elevations the plants are small; small versions of lupine and Indian paintbrush hug the earth. Trees that look “young” are actually ancient; it takes them a long time to grow in this harsh environment. The white and pink heather may look tough but is extremely fragile. A single boot-print can kill it - it takes years to grow a small pot of heather in a similar environment.

As the trail loses elevation the tundra-like barrens of Sunrise are replaced by glowing meadows. More flowers appear; magenta paintbrush, Jacobs ladder, lupine and buttercups appear. Western pasqueflower is prevalent at most elevations.

The meadows are especially lush near Lodi Creek in Berkeley Park; glacier lilies carpet the meadows like fallen stars. The moss-bordered creek is an exquisite shade of blue-green; the moss varying shades of green ranging from hunter green to lime. Clumps of monkey flowers, not yet in bloom, sit atop small islands in the stream. Marmots run about the meadows; on marmot-errands. It is always a joy to see or hear them. When I hear the first marmot whistle of summer I feel that all is right with the world.

As we approached Berkeley Camp avalanche lilies predominated; it’s best just to sit and experience such exquisite beauty. Neither words nor cameras can do them justice; both fail to capture the sweetness of Lodi creek and surrounding meadows. Perhaps such places cannot be captured because getting to them is part of the experience. You cannot take them home with you.

Past Berkeley Camp significant snow patches covered the trail; we turned around shortly thereafter, retracing our route back to Sunrise.

Ingalls Creek Trail, June 14, 2009

Ingalls Creek (Alpine Lakes Wilderness), June 14, 2009

Twelve of us Mountaineers enjoyed this hike despite the threat of thunderstorms. This hike has a good reputation for wildflowers and the trail did not let us down.

The trail is best described as undulating the first 6 miles to Falls Creek Camp (a good turnaround for a day hike). With ups and downs the trail parallels Ingalls Creek, at times dropping down to the stream to potential campsites and lunch spots. On this sunny Sunday the trail was crowded -- our group added to the “crowd” so I dare not bewail a crowded trail as “we” were part of the problem. Yet the trail is long enough with alluring spurs that even on a busy day, hikers can find a place to be alone to peer at a flower or listen to the chatter of Ingalls Creek.

The flowers: Indian paintbrush (including yellow paintbrush), columbine, thimbleberry, mertensia (bluebells), collomia, balsamroot (almost gone), yarrow, Queens cup, serviceberry, wild rose, pussy-toes, Solomon’s seal, vanilla leaf, larkspur (starting to fade), lupine (lots) and best of all Mountain ladyslipper orchid and lots of mariposa lilies (sometimes called Sego lilies) and honeysuckle.

After thumbing through several field guides I’m still not certain of the “proper” name for this lily so I won’t be offended if an expert corrects me.

In the morning it was hot and humid; “little” uphills felt like “big” uphills. By the time we reached Falls Camp the thunder was booming and rain began to fall. Fortunately it didn’t last long, just long enough to soak the bushes. As the heat returned it felt good to have the wet foliage brush our legs.

About a mile before Falls Camp we noticed that the course of the creek had changed. It looks like last winter – and/or the winter prior was hard on Ingalls Creek. Parts of the creek had moved far away from its original bed and what had once been a creek-bed was a jumble of rocks, roots and a few standing trees.

My memory may not be correct but as I recall the lunch-spot where the Falls Creek trail begins on the other side of Ingalls Creek looked different. Now there is a little beach there rather than the abrupt edge I remember. A large, de-barked log spans the crossing; we could see where the Falls Creek trail began on the other side. It appears to be an extremely risky crossing, especially now as the creek is running high. One slip on the log into the creek would probably be fatal.

It didn’t rain long but it rained hard enough that new puddles had formed on the trail and the muddy sections were a little muddier. Despite the rain, the trail is in great shape at least as far as we hiked.

We hiked 12 miles round trip with 1,450 feet gain according to the GPS.

Getting to the trailhead: From Seattle drive east on I-90 to us 97 (north) and about 12.5 miles north of Blewett Pass turn left on Ingalls Creek Road (signed). Proceed about a mile to the trailhead. Fill out a Wilderness Permit at the trailhead; a Northwest Forest Pass is required. Maps: Green Trails No. 209 Mount Stuart and Green Trails No. 210 Liberty. Allow about 2.5 hours drive-time one-way.

Lime Kiln Trail, April 25, 2009

This was a Mountaineer hike to the Lime Kiln Trail in Snohomish County, near Granite Falls. I've hiked this trail in the past and will hike there again - it's that kind of trail. One visit isn't enough. It's a four-season trail.

Spring has finally arrived. We saw trilliums, flowering red currant, bleeding hearts, skunk cabbage, yellow violets and false lily-of-the-valley. On my last visit the trail was bordered with hoar frost - on this visit the trail was lined with salmonberry with bright pink blossoms.

We stopped to ponder artifacts along the way - from bygone railroad and logging days. The trail follows the line of an abandoned railroad grade and ends where a railroad trestle once spanned the Stillaguamish River. The trestle is long gone but the supporting structures on both sides of the river remain. The lime kiln is fascinating and looks more like a Mayan ruin than anything you'd find in the northwest.

The hike is about 6 miles round trip with about 450 feet of elevation gain (including ups and downs).

Getting to the trailhead: From Granite Falls turn right on South Granite Avenue, drive 3 blocks then turn left onto Pioneer Street (it becomes Menzel Lake Road). Turn left on Waite Mill Road and drive about 1/2 mile to a school bus turnaround, continue on left branch of the road where it splits (just past the school bus turnaround). Go another 0.2 miles to the well-signed trailhead and parking, no facilities as of this writing. A Northwest Forest Pass is not required.

Charles L. Pack Experimental Forest, April 22, 2009

This is one of my favorite hikes in spring. The Pack Forest is not far from Eatonville and in late April we are pleased to report that spring has finally arrived. We hiked several of the trails within Pack Forest, including the Reservoir trail, the Hugo Peak trail, Trail of the Giants and a few of several nature trails. You can pick up a map at the gatehouse (the entrance of Pack Forest) that is a must if you have not hiked these trails before. There are also interpretive guides at some of the trailheads (Trail of the Giants, Hugo Peak).

Wildflowers have returned - we saw trilliums, yellow violets, red flowering currant, Calypso orchids and coltsfoot. The forested trails are "greening up", flowers are blooming and alas, mosquitoes have also returned.

We ended up hiking about 6 miles with roughly 850 feet of elevation. If you hike the Hugo Peak trail (it begins from the gatehouse) it is about 5 miles with roughly 950 feet of gain. You can also start from trailhead parking, a little further up the entrance road. Parking is on the left side of the road, the Hugo Peak trail is well signed - it starts a little further up the road just past trailhead parking.

Getting to the trailhead: From Seattle go south on I-5, get off at Exit #133 (South 7) and follow signs to Mount Rainier (on State Route 7). You'll go through Eatonville and Elbe. Just before you get to Le Grande find Pack Forest (left), well signed and hard to miss.

Westberg Trail Revisited, April 19, 2009

I returned to the Westberg Trail for a Mountaineers hike. The hike was for the Mountaineers Conditioning Hiking Series (Seattle branch). The hikes begin in April - each month mileage and elevation gain are increased. By September hikers who stick with the course are hiking up to 18 miles round trip with up to 4,500 feet of elevation gain. Leading hikes for this series has helped me to stay in shape as well.

This time I mentored a new hike leader and was able to lead from the "rear". I enjoy leading from the rear because it gives me a chance to photograph the wildflowers and wildlife. The new leader did fine and will be leading more hikes for The Mountaineers (John Connelly).

We hiked beyond the memorials for increased mileage and gain. The hike ended up being 9 miles round trip with just under 2,500 feet elevation gain. It was also the first "hot" hike of the year. Still no sign of ticks. A few changes with the flowers - more grass widows, lots more sagebrush violets but bitterroot has yet to bloom. Balsamroot is just getting ready to bloom - another week or so for them if it stays warm.

Since I didn't get any great photos yesterday I am sharing a sketch made by one of our hikers, Catherine Jean Barrett. We thought her sketches were beautiful -- if you'd like to see more of Catherine's work you can reach her at kitzen@u.washington.edu

Westberg Trail, just one reason this is a favorite hike