Pleasant 3.9 mile loop trail along the Icicle river. Mild temperatures and no rain early in the evening. Fields of Penstemons. However, highlight of the day, a dozen turkey vultures soaring high above the canyon. The ubiquitous American Dippers along the river.

Very easy, and dry hike to do with the kids on a day when it was raining in Seattle. Camped at the Chatter Creek Campground. Mosquitos starting to come out but kept at bay by cool breezy weather. This is a good geology hike, with interesting rocks and rock formations along the creek and a few sites with lots of tiny garnets (just past the bridge across from Chatter Creek campground, at trail overlook). Plenty of flowers blooming---lupine, candystick, queen cup, shooting star, honeysuckle, paintbrush.

From the Chatter Creek Guard Station cross the bridge over Icicle Creek and start on trail 1596 (Icicle Gorge Trail Nature Trail), which I came to find out, connects the Chatter Creek, Rock Island, and Black Pines Campgrounds. At about a quarter mile the old Trout Creek Trail, 1555, splits left. If you get to a bridge over a branch of Trout Creek you have gone to far. Turn back, and look on your now left for an old campsite. As soon as you pass this on an uphill bend of the trail, the old trail can be found looking about 15 feet into the woods. The old trail has many blowdowns but is clearly evident. At about a mile meet the old junction with the trail that used to come over from the Jack Creek drainage. I explored this to where the bridge over Trout Creek was to be, as this was my planned return. The bridge was absolutely gone, and a yawning gap about 30 feet with the rushing waters of the creek about 15 feet down. Fording was possible a little ways up creek without too much difficultly, save wet feet. Back at the junction, I continued up the trail. The trail moderates to some extent, and eventually leads to the first thin described in the “100 Hikes”. I followed the trail about a hundred yards, but it seemed that as much logging debris had been placed here as possible, consequently I choose to hop to the road. I followed the road about a ¼ mile which quickly turned back to Trout Creek and to the old landing and an old bridge that allowed the loggers to access the other side for cutting. I backtracked to figure out what went wrong, as the instructions said at the junctions go left, left, right. Under better eyes I saw where that first junction was to be, but the road had been fairly well obliterated, and completely treed. I walked back to the landing, the spring that shows on the map confirmed the location, and proceeded as best as possible up valley fighting ankle twisting debris obscured by thimbleberry, fireweed, and thorny rosebushes keeping the large stand of trees about 3/4th of a mile upvalley in mind, where I had hopes of regaining the trail. I labored like this under the hot sun, occasionally stopping to see the glory of Grindstone Mountain back across the way, and the new Trout Creek Trail, 1555, high above skirting the upper clearcuts of Jack Ridge. Well when I did get to those trees I did find the trail, but the stand of trees was only 80 feet deep, and consequently so was the trail. Again I proceeded through the next clearcut. Nothing better then being scraped by spruce trees. I passed another landing near two outcroppings of rocks. Beyond here the way became more open and footing better. At times I even found a little bit of trail. Eventually I came to a small segment of road, which then allowed me to see another section of road a few feet away, which I hopped up to. This then immediately became a footpath, and then I was in the woods and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. At this time the trail was a small blessing, and rewarded me with its fine tread, and few blowdowns. Occasional pink flagging correctly marked more confusing areas, and at the crossing of Trout Creek where the bridge is missing, an easy footlog is available a few feet away. Right after the crossing the trail is more obscure but never in doubt, and intercetpts the new 1555 trail. From here hiked and camped at Trout Lake. Mosquitoes- Yes! Other people- No! And I saw nobody the whole weekend. Views of Eightmile Mountain and the ridge with its north cirque directly viewed from the lake are fantastic. Slept well, and missed most of the lightning (no thunder). The next morning, after coffee, hiked the 900 feet up to the Jack Ridge Trail, 1557. A few hundred feet below the pass, views start across the way towards Windy Pass, parkland, waterfalls, and Eightmile Mountain. Here is where the only snow was found about the size of a frying pan. The trail went down steadily swithcbacking at times slightly crowded by yew. Only one point affords views up valley toward Harding and the Cradle. Much snow over there. Bootjack’s burned trees providing thought for future plans while descending the many switchbacks. Finally met the Jack Creek trail, 1558, and walked down valley through these quiet woods, and at about two miles(') from the trailhead meet the new 1555 that turned back on lower Jack Ridge back to Trout Lake that oversaw my efforts along Trout Creek the previous day. I explored this a few hundred yards thinking that this was actually the start of the old trail and that the USFS had used it for the new 1555, and that I would find where my old trail would turn off. But I did not find the trail here, or anywhere back on 1558. Consequently, I walked all the way down to the Jack Creek Trailhead (nice bridge). On the downside of the parking lot I found the Icicle Gorge Trail which was quite pleasant, and took me back to the start. On that trail there was an old diamond tag on a tree “Pacific Crest Trail System”. Does anyone know why that was there'

The loop, not quite four miles, was a great hike/walk. The scenery is not a perfect 10 (more like a 5) but there were only a handful of people on the trail. Peace and quite. I wish I would have remebered my bug repelant, there are plenty of mosquitos. The trail was almost completely dry but there's potential for muddy spots. There's almost no elevation change (about 200ft) so this would be a great hike for kids.