Trails Used

Snowmobile trail, footpath

Trail Conditions

Notes

Started early around 7:00am…. Followed snowmobile trail to first radio repeater then took the very steep footpath marked right after building to the summit. No snow encountered…. Really steep but fun & dry. Excellent 360 views from tower…. Took snowmobile trail back down to the gate. 3 mile round trip hike. No people seen. Just 1 spruce grouse and a snowshoe hare.

Parking

Parked beside yellow gate…. Made it down in Tacoma with no issues…. A car could make it with care

Wildlife

None

Trails Used

Snowmobile trail and (attempt) at hiking trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

This trail follows the snowmobile route halfway up the mountain to the first radio shack building, where a steeper footpath branches off toward the summit. About ten minutes from the parking lot, I began encountering patches of snow packed down by snowmobiles, though most of it was still firm enough to avoid serious post-holing. Once I left the snowmobile trail and entered the woods on the hiking footpath, conditions changed dramatically. Deep, rotting, unpacked snow covered the trail, and I post-holed up to my hip several times before deciding to turn around. Instead, I continued to the summit via the snowmobile trail, which alternated between grassy rock, mud, standing water, and stretches of deep snow. I almost left my microspikes behind, but I was very glad to have them along. The summit was completely socked in when I arrived, but over the course of about thirty minutes the clouds slowly lifted, eventually revealing spectacular 360-degree views from the observation tower. At current melt conditions, I’d recommend giving the hiking footpath at least another two weeks before it becomes fully passable.

Parking

The Enchanted Mountain Road was in great shape and no problem for my CRV. The parking area was still a little soft.

Water Crossings

Heavy runoff from yesterday's rains and snowmelt but all manageable

Wildlife

none