I started at the Upper Trailhead on the B-1000 road. I was surprised to so many vehicles already there, but I also saw the WTA Honda so there must have been a work party going on but I didn't run into them on the trails I took.
When I crossed the Hall Creek bridge the water was flowing well breaking off into several small falls. Going across the the upper crossing where there is no bridge required but it is an easy rock hopping.
What is Ruby's Spa? At about a little over two miles you pass a small pond. at the far end there is a new sign on a tree that says Ruby's Spa and it appears the name has been there for years because just above it is a much older worn sign. I looked it up but found nothing. I had not noticed it before but the lack of foliage and the new sign made it stand out.
Once on the ridge I went to Lily Lake and then the Lily-Lizard Connector for lunch at Lizard Lake. It was the only place the wind was coming through and it was a quite cold. From there I took the Alternate Incline Trail. Just a short way down there is a new spur going off to the right. It is very definite with colored ribbons on wires that seem to indicate old logging materials such as cables, rods and pipes. I hope this official digging and not some private person digging the area up. I say this because I noticed that several of the usual artifacts I have always seen along the trail are missing, especially the gears and what looked like some kind of manifold housing along with other parts. About a year ago I also saw a pit that had recently been excavated along the trail near Lizard Lake. It also has a ribbon marker.
At the end of the Alternate Incline I went right on the B-1000 road and back to the parking lot completing a 7 mile loop.
The trails are in good condition with some seasonal water running on the tread and mud.
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