Only about 30 degrees when waking up at the trailhead. The trail is easy enough, climbing first through trees, then the meadows of Sibley Creek. Our plan was to take the way trail to Sibley Pass, then climb Hidden Peak. Snow above 5000' obscured things, and it was easier to follow the main trail. A long, cold, windy traverse across a bouldery hillside finally turned up, switchbacking toward the col. Although there was only two inches of new, it drifted a foot deep at times. The frozen puddles had me stretching and slipping in unanticipated directions. While taking a picture I almost stepped on two rock ptarmigans, their feathers almost completely white. They cooed at me, and eventually wandered off. Harsh wind greeted us up top. We headed straight for the summit, but the new snow filled in the holes between the rocks, which I kept trying to fall in. Nonplussed, we ate lunch and headed down before succumbing to the arctic air. Two men and a dog had spent the night at the lookout. It really started to warm up on the way out. We also met a half dozen groups headed up. Nine miles and four and a half hours roundtrip.

Rainy day to go hiking. Temperature at top of trail was 32 degrees fahrenheit. Needless to say it was really cold at the top, since we really did not come prepared to hike in the cold. Not to mention we were hiking in 4 to 5 inches of snow at the summit. Trail was begining to be hard to see and locate above 5900 feet. 1 to 2 inches of snow was evident below 5900 to 4300. We ran into several others on the way but only 2 above 6000 feet. Found trail going to the lookout tower but visibility was low since it was snowing at the time and we were having troubles seeing the trail. That's about all I can say about that!

On Saturday (9/18) I journeyed north to the Cascade River Road and headed up the trail to Hidden Lake Lookout. To get there, you go to Marblemount, cross the bridge, drive up the Cascade River Road, and turn left at a sign which says Hidden Lake Trailhead. This is Sibley Creek Road, and it is a steep and narrow road but much improved relative to the condition it was in a few years ago. It takes about three hours to reach the trailhead from Seattle. I didn't leave the car until almost 1 pm. It is probably best to leave earlier in the day to avoid the heat on the first part of the hike, but I didn't feel like getting up excessively early. After a short stretch in the woods the trail starts switchbacking up an open, west-facing slope. This gets pretty hot in the afternoon. After almost 2000 feet of climbing it crosses Sibley Creek just below Sibley Pass. I sat by the creek, ate lunch, and filtered some water. While I was doing that a couple of climbers came by, and I gave them some descriptions of the route out to the Triad. After passing the creek, the trail goes along a broad bench and traverses under Hidden Lake Peak. Then it starts climbing again, eventually rising to a col between the peak and the small knob with the lookout. Going right leads to the lookout, going left leads to the peak, going straight ahead leads to Hidden Lake, and going back leads to the place you just came from. I went right. Up at the lookout I met a fellow daytripper and a couple who were planning to spend the night in the lookout. The lookout has a double bed, a stove, lots of interesting reading material, and generally seems like a cozy place to spend a night. It is probably also full of mice, but you can't have it all. Don't rely on staying there, though, since it is first-come-first-served. After chatting with them a while, and identifying nearby peaks (""Why is that one forbidden' Oh, you mean it is *named* 'Forbidden'....""), I headed back to the col and on up towards the peak. The route from the col to the summit is mostly blocky slabs, and is generally straightforward. When in doubt just stay on the ridgeline. Class 2. At the summit the view is better than at the lookout. You have an awesome angle on the massive face of Eldorado, and you can also look down on both of the hidden lakes. Also Baker, Shuksan, Glacier, Forbidden, Sahale/Boston, the ptarmigan peaks, etc.... Routefinding is a bit trickier when heading from the peak over to Sibley Pass, because the bouldery slabs become slabby boulders. But it is still class 2, and fairly easy. The last bit follows a trail through the heather up and over a little hump on the ridge, then drops down to Sibley Pass. From the pass the trail goes back up and follows the ridge on out to the Triad. I didn't have time left to take that ridge traverse, but it is really scenic and fun. Instead, I dropped down the (mostly) snowfield back to the official trail, ending up right where I ate lunch. Then I booked on out the trail back to my car, getting there *just* before a headlamp was required. This is a fun loop with great views. It can be done as a day trip or an overnight, with plenty of side-trip exploration available.

Got a late start and reached the trailhead at noon. Trail starts through old clearcut but overgrowth gave shade from the sun. Switchbacks continued up through forest and then after a little more than a 1 mile trail breaks out into the open and views of Sibley Creek Pass and Hidden Lake Peak up the valley. Trail was in good condition most of the way. After crossing and recrossing Sibley Creek, hiked up faint trail to the Pass avoiding some large snow patches still lingering. Awesome view as you reach the Pass of all the peaks surrounding the upper Cascade River Valley and also good view of Snowking Mountain, Mt Baker, and the Picket Range to the West. A perfect warm Indian Summer afternoon to take in all the scenery.

Look out was easy to find. Still several large patches of snow to cross. Ice Axe very helpful.