Putrid Pete via Ira Springs TH is steep but stunning, parking is a mess. Thank you again to the Volunteer Ranger we saw out on the trail! Poles and GPS highly highly recommended making a loop, not coming down the steep section, like we did.
Road/Parking: Road isn't terrible but it is getting worse again and a few pot holes are unavoidable. Most vehicles should be fine if you go slow. Parking is a mess, completely full by 7:30 and cars park way down the road, making getting out a mess with two way traffic. Pit toilet was open and had a line, we didn't investigate.
Trail: We planned to do the loop, but we had to go down the way we came instead due to a medical incident. It is doable, but I 100% don't recommend! Going up is steep and slick, but on the way down gravity is trying to accelerate you off the cliff instead of just slow you down. The last 500-1000 ft are stunning with views and flowers everywhere! The beargrass is staring :-D
The trail starts out pretty chill, then picks it up a notch (feels something like the old mailbox trail), then picks up some more and starts mild scrambling up a rocky sandy slope. There are a few places where there seem to be multiple trails in the wooded old mailbox section, but not all paths are equal, so I recommend checking a GPS track to make sure you are on the right one.
The ranger we saw said they were doing the once a year check of this trail and had a hand saw to clear obstructions.
Stats: None today because we didn't actually make it :-/
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