David Metsky
Well-known member
Driving north the original plan was up Falling Waters and down OBP, but we had a change of mind. Instead we decided to go up Skookumchuck and down Greenleaf, taking the 2 mile walk on the bike path to the car. The main desire was hit some new trails for Brenda and to avoid crowds. We succeeded on both tacks.
We had a somewhat late start, hitting the trail just before 10:00. There were only 4 cars in the parking lot, the temps were begining to climb and the bugs were coming out. We encountered only one other hiker on the climb up to the ridge; he was heading out and past us about 30 minutes in. No one else on this very nice and green trail. The bugs were pretty nasty, although we didn't get many bites they were swarming everywhere.
We hit the ridge around 12:30 and took a well earned break. Once there we decided that we'd lunch on North Lafayette so we packed up quickly and headed north. While eating lunch we finally saw other hikers headed to and from the Lafayette summit, plus a huge crowd on top. Our little perch was quiet and restful.
After lunch we headed up the to summit where there were 50-75 people. It was quite a shock after the solitude all day. We didn't stay long, headed down the Greenleaf trail to the hut. Along the way we met up with a ski buddy who was hiking up (Hi Marc!) and lots of others on the trail. At the hut we topped up our water, used the restrooms, and headed on down.
Seconds after leaving the hut we were back in solitude. The Greenleaf trail is a bit rough on the descent but it loses elevation fairly quickly. We saw a family climbing up to the hut and then no one else until Eagle Cliffs, where a hiker who we saw on the ridge caught up to us. He was also headed back to Skookumchuck, doing the same loop as us. The rocks at Eagle Cliffs are wonderful, and it offers an exceptional view of the Cannon Cliffs.
From there out is a bit of a slog, the highway is close by the whole time but never seems to arrive. We hit the road at 4:45 and Brenda decided to hang there while I did the bikepath walk to get the car. That took longer than I wanted, nearly an hour, but a peaceful hike. We then hurried back to Boston to make it to a dinner party, we were slightly late.
It's a great loop, one that could be assisted by a bike stash.
Pictures and lots of video to follow.
-dave-
We had a somewhat late start, hitting the trail just before 10:00. There were only 4 cars in the parking lot, the temps were begining to climb and the bugs were coming out. We encountered only one other hiker on the climb up to the ridge; he was heading out and past us about 30 minutes in. No one else on this very nice and green trail. The bugs were pretty nasty, although we didn't get many bites they were swarming everywhere.
We hit the ridge around 12:30 and took a well earned break. Once there we decided that we'd lunch on North Lafayette so we packed up quickly and headed north. While eating lunch we finally saw other hikers headed to and from the Lafayette summit, plus a huge crowd on top. Our little perch was quiet and restful.
After lunch we headed up the to summit where there were 50-75 people. It was quite a shock after the solitude all day. We didn't stay long, headed down the Greenleaf trail to the hut. Along the way we met up with a ski buddy who was hiking up (Hi Marc!) and lots of others on the trail. At the hut we topped up our water, used the restrooms, and headed on down.
Seconds after leaving the hut we were back in solitude. The Greenleaf trail is a bit rough on the descent but it loses elevation fairly quickly. We saw a family climbing up to the hut and then no one else until Eagle Cliffs, where a hiker who we saw on the ridge caught up to us. He was also headed back to Skookumchuck, doing the same loop as us. The rocks at Eagle Cliffs are wonderful, and it offers an exceptional view of the Cannon Cliffs.
From there out is a bit of a slog, the highway is close by the whole time but never seems to arrive. We hit the road at 4:45 and Brenda decided to hang there while I did the bikepath walk to get the car. That took longer than I wanted, nearly an hour, but a peaceful hike. We then hurried back to Boston to make it to a dinner party, we were slightly late.
It's a great loop, one that could be assisted by a bike stash.
Pictures and lots of video to follow.
-dave-
