Loads of ticks. I don't mind bugs at all, but the ticks are pretty bad right now. I found 4 ticks on my dog and one tick on myself-  thankfully none had bitten yet. They were still crawling around looking for a spit to burrow. Girlfriend found another tick in our bedding. Trail was great and we had a lot of fun camping. But I've never seen so many ticks out there before. Came home and gave my dogs their flea/tick meds a little early this month just in case. 

The hike to Capitol Peak is, by now, a predictable experience for me and yet, I came away from yesterday’s trek downright inspired. But more on that later.

A new bridge is almost completed where Sherman Creek crosses the Divide Trail South, 1.14 miles from the C-7000 Road. The decking has been screwed on to the sparkling I-beams and hikers can cross over safely but motorcyclists would find it difficult getting their machines up onto the bridge. To discourage them, the entrance to the trail has been blocked off with flagging tape on both ends.

The intimidating No Trespassing sign that was erected on state land by Weyerhaeuser just below the Capitol Peak summit has been removed. I’d like to think that the company had second thoughts about the bad PR generated by the hostile sign and the fact that the sign itself was “trespassing.”

Now to the source of my inspiration. Hiking buddy Gary and I have done numerous outings to Capitol Peak and many other places in the past. He and I are the same age and it’s easy for me to relate to him. For the past year, he has slowly but surely slipped away from the hiking scene, citing a lack of energy, especially on some of our more ambitious hikes. He had also confided a certain sense of dissatisfaction with his hybrid retirement and I remember suggesting he try some volunteer work, something I found to be a great antidote to becoming too jaded. Last week, I reached out to Gary and asked if he’d be up for a hike and, to my pleasant surprise, he suggested Capitol Peak. When we rendezvoused, he had a large, red bag clipped to his pack and announced that he was going to be collecting garbage. As we walked along, whenever he saw some litter, he would stop and pick it up. The story of his transformation slowly came out. He said he was tired of complaining about how everyone was trashing the trails and he just decided to start cleaning things up. It wasn’t his first day doing so. He had already started his cleanup mission the previous month on a few solo trips. I then realized that the trail we were hiking on was visibly cleaner. We made it to the summit and had a leisurely break. As he surveyed the panoramic view below us, I could sense his satisfaction in how he contributed to improving the experience for himself and was happy to share it with others. As we made our way back, the bag he was carrying was now stuffed full and his slight frame struggled under the load. I offered to help carry his bulging bag, but he declined saying it was important to carry the weight. Gary's example reminded of Mato, the Patron Saint of Party Balloons and prolific WTA trip reporter, who shares the same motives and exerts the same inspirational influence on others. I’m grateful for witnessing how people can make a big difference. I will be bringing my own, maybe slightly smaller bag next time.

I used twin peaks on the way up and the grunt on the way down, waddel basin in between! It was closer to 12 or 13 miles from parking lot and back using that loop. It was a great hike! I was trying to challenge myself to go the extra mile ;D haha. I did find a Rick on my dog afterwards. I don’t know much about ticks but it was red. It was super foggy and I didn’t get many good views. There were some tree debris on the trail I did my best to move out of the way. The trail in logged areas is mostly rock so I had to be extra careful there. Happy hiking, leave no trace!

Capitol State Forest requires a Discover Pass. The Fall Creek Trailhead is easily accessed over paved and dirt roads. Dirt roads require driving around potholes, but no stretches of washboarding were encountered. From route 101 it’s possible to make it to Fall Creek campground which is very close to the trailhead. There are a number of closed roads within the forest, but gates along this route are consistently open day and night. Campgrounds are closed until Spring.
This hike began and finished at Fall Creek. From there Wedekind trail, to the Greenline trail, to Crestline trail, rejoining Wedekind at Porter Trailhead, and back to the Fall Creek TH.
Wedekind is very well marked. Crestline was hit and miss. The trails occasionally sometimes cross logging roads and picking up the trail on the other side is not always self evident.
Wedekind is a great choice for easy grades while Crestline offers moderately challenging hiking and better views of the valley.
Some snow was still present near Capitol Peak, but only in trail for brief stretches.

Parked at Fall Creek Trailhead. Discover Pass is required. Fall Creek has vault toilets, ample parking this time of year, a fire pit, and a covered pavilion with picnic tables.

Followed the Wedekind trail to Porter Trailhead which took me about 4 hours. Ate lunch. Didn’t see any facilities. Just an intersection of 3 roads and a concrete pad. Came back the same route arriving at the car about 3-1/2 hours later. About 16.9 miles running south of Capitol Peak. 2,144 ft in gradual elevation changes.

Lots of water running off the hillsides in rivulets and small waterfalls. The trail itself was well maintained, mostly graveled with a top dress of muds, leaves, or needles. Mostly a walk in the woods perhaps one scenic vista, if the clouds cooperate.

Quiet day with only 2 runners, 2 hikers, and 2 pairs of bikers, one with a dog companion were encountered.

The trail was well maintained, mostly graveled, slippery here and there with a top dress of mud, leaves, or needles. The report of gunfire from Triangle Pit could be heard at times. Occasional bear scat, but no sightings.

The adjacent Fall Creek campground is closed until Spring when horses are allowed back on the trail.