[pct-l] Alpine Lakes PCT Trail Closure...........

[robin smith]

Be sure to check at the Forest Service Ranger Station at Snoqualmie Pass for updated info on this closure. When you come off the PCT northbound at the ski area,  go east on road paralleling I-90.  Ranger station will be on your right.  There is also a motel and fast food store.  It would be a shame to miss this beautiful portion, including Spectacle Lake if you don't have to.  Going Brian's Way you would get around the closed portion but miss the altitude and spectacular views.

 

Raining in the area today so check for up to date info.





 
> Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:28:22 -0700
> From: brianle8 at gmail.com
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Alpine Lakes PCT Trail Closure...........
> 
> To walk around this trail closure, I suggest that from the north-side
> Snoqualmie Pass trailhead that instead of taking the PCT, skip the first ~37
> miles of PCT by walking to the Alpental Trailhead (a safe and easy 1-1/3
> mile road walk N-NW of the PCT trailhead) and take the trail to ever popular
> Snow Lake. From Snow Lake, take the Rock Creek trail #1013 down to the
> Middle Fork Snoqualmie River trail #1003 (it's signed at both ends of this
> trail), turn right, walk 2+ miles to cross Burnboot creek on logs (easy),
> then navigate a relatively short signed detour trail clockwise around
> Goldmeyer Hot Springs and cross there at the nice bridge. And I do
> recommend crossing there at the bridge to take the ROAD (closed FS road #56)
> rather than the trail (which latter starts on the south side of the river by
> the bridge), because at least when I walked through there on July 22nd this
> year parts of that trail were really really brushy to the point that in
> coming southbound on that I turned around and walked back uphill to take the
> road.
> 
> To take the road, just follow it initially WEST after crossing the bridge
> for a couple hundred yards or so, then turn sharply right at the junction.
> This road has been closed to traffic for a couple/few years, but is easy to
> walk. It leads NW to the former Dutch Miller Gap trailhead camp, with pit
> toilet and a few campsites. This is right on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie
> River, close to where Hardscrabble Creek intersects. UTM coords about 10T
> 624675mE 5263026mN, elevation about 2800'.
> 
> >From there the closed road turns into trail continuing NE. Follow that up
> to scenic Dutch Miller Gap, then follow along on either side of (beautiful)
> Lake Ivanhoe and follow this trail down to intersect with the PCT (turn left
> when you get there ...).
> 
> My trip report from July 22nd gives some additional details,
> http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2009-07-24.8681564097
> 
> This walk-around is actually shorter, on the order of maybe 25 miles total
> rather than about 37. There's an initial climb of about 1400' in a couple
> of miles on very well maintained trail to Snow Lake, then a 2800' drop down
> to the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River trial over 3 - 4 miles of
> not-so-maintained (but not too bad overall) trail, then mostly gentle but
> after Goldmeyer Hotsprings a steady long climb to gain about 3400' over
> about 13 miles, and then a 2000' drop down to rejoin the PCT. Not all the
> best trail in the world, but not bad either, and IMO the only logical
> walk-around alternative. If I remember correctly, this is actually former
> PCT trail before it was moved some time ago (?).
> 
> Best of luck to all thru's making their way through WA state!
> 
> 
> Brian Lewis / Gadget '08
> http://postholer.com/brianle
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> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
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