We started from the Buck Creek end of Suntop, but skipped the first 0.4 miles. Instead, we drove up 7160 about 2 miles and onto 7160-310. We only drove up 1/5 of the way as the branches were getting too narrow and I like the paint on my car. Did a multi-point turnaround and parked in a wide spot in case someone was parked above.
Walked about .45 miles just past the fire ring and went right onto Suntop. There was no one parked at the end of the road there. The trail was in good shape - its usual rutted form, but slightly damp so the dust was tamped down well. We were surprised to hear no motorcycles or guns. Very fine day indeed! On the way up a trail runner and dog caught us off guard as we rarely see people here. The another couple with dog and later a group of three and dog. That was more than we counted all the times we've been out here.
We took the side trip to Doe Falls and crossed over the creek and turned back. There's really not a great unobstructed view, but you can peer between branches. Not a waste of a side trip, but I wouldn't make it my destination.
Crossed over a dry 7160, but as we headed up the trail, we looked down around the hairpin turn and saw a lot of white. The trail remained dry until about 4900 feet. Patches of hard snow turned to continuous snow for about 0.15 miles to Buck Creek. It was all fine to walk on. We followed a faint bootpath which croosed the creek over a snowbridge. I jumped down into an exposed part of the creek and got some water. I was able to stand in the middle of the creek on a gravel bar as the water was not high at all. This was our turnaround. Went the whole day and saw only 2 motorcycles right near our car. A couple views of Ranger Creek Trail, Noble Knob, I believe, and Noble Knob Trail.
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