Went in during snowy conditions.  The 4WD road up was passible for high clearance vehicles. (It was snow covered with 8" new snow).

The trail was snow covered.  Someone had gone up before me for about a mile and I walked in their footprints.  After that, I trail blazed in fresh snow (I needed to use a GPS to stay on the trail).  I used crampons on the steep sections and snow shoes at times.  (I would posthole past my knee without them). 

Overall it was a nice winter hike.

Driving the last 3 miles on Road 4109 to the trailhead is quite a white knuckle experience, for both driver and passenger.  Pot holes just does not justifiably described the small to medium crater like holes in the road, along with deep tire ruts and water run off ruts.  It is doable in a high clearance vehicle but travel slowly and pay attention to how you approach each road obstacle.  We grew up in rural Michigan so my partner was actually having a grand ole time driving.  We arrived to 2 other cars at the trailhead, and when we finished the hike around 2pm there were then 11 cars in total, so this isn't a very crowded hike, and we hiked on a Saturday in early August.  My suggestion for Ed's trail is to hike this trail on your return from Silver Star mountain so you can take the rock wall and steep hill going down instead of up, makes it easier to scoot on your butt for those not sure footed and you can use small tree trunks to pick your way.  It's really not that bad, we did it with two dogs, just a bit intimidating due to how skinny the trail is and the drop off to your right. Overall this hike was absolutely amazing!  Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous views and the drive added a kick in the pants adrenaline as well.  

Arrived around 1:30pm and there were about 7 cars in the small parking area. The final stretch of road leading up to the trailhead is as bad as everyone says, and probably the worst stretch of road we've driven getting to a trail. The hike however, made it all worth it. At the top of Silver Star Mountain we had views of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Jefferson and Portland--with binoculars. Tons of wildflowers as well, and the most variety we've seen to date on a hike. Lastly, we were taken aback by how quiet it was on top of Silver Star; no highway noise, planes, trains, etc., just the sounds of a panting dog and buzzing pollinators.

After junction of L1100 and 4109 , the road is rough and you need a high clearance 4WD . There is still lots of slushy snow in this area and we had to park and walk 1.5 miles to the trail head. Used microspikes on the road section then switched to snowshoes when we got to the trail as the snow was deeper . 

Nice hike with great 360 views. It was clouded over on the way up, but later it cleared a little and we got some nice views of Mt St Helens. We didn't go all the way to to summit because it was hazardous:straight up on melty snow. 

I am looking forward to going back in the spring or summer to see what this area looks like once the snow is gone.

We started our hike at the junction of road W1200 and W1280. From there we hiked .85 mile up gated road 1280 to Silver Star trail #180. We hiked up #180 north bound to the Grouse Vista trail #180F, and headed south on the Indian Pits Trail #180E to the Indian Pits.

The 180 is, like many of the trails in the area, and old road bed.  It's fairly steep with varied terrain from duff covered trail to rocky roadbed to open rock slopes. The trail is in good shape until the Indian Pits Trail.  This trail starts off okay until a downed tree, it's easy to get under but the trail is pretty overgrown after that. It's not hard to follow but its hard to see your feet and where you are stepping.  Once you get out from the brush the Indian pits come into view one after another, extending down the talus slope. The fog ebbed and flowed giving us peek-a-boo views, until it began to clear in earnest.  We made a lollipop loop out it and hiked cross country down from the pits to the trail which we could see below us.  The intermittent brush on the talus slopes was deep and challenging to wade through.  We were glad to be off the talus and back on the trail.  7.5 miles ; 2640' elevation gain.