No cars at the trailhead when we arrived at 9:30 to hike with some friends. A cooler day than last week, still slightly cloudy overhead ... perfect. The trail is in great shape, lots of wildflowers, only saw 2 other parties all day. We headed up to Bark Shanty area and a little beyond, then returned there to lunch.
About 1/2 mile after Bark Shanty the trail divides. To the left is the old trail which runs close by the river and which will eventually be taken by the river. To the right is a bypass trail built several years ago by the Grey Wolf trail team and one section (I think) by WCC.
The old trail is still passable, but you can see where it's going to disappear. It is not maintained, very muddy in a few places, and in another month or two the thimbleberries (?), nettles, etc and a little devil's club will be completely blocking the trail in places. Nonetheless it is easier and prettier than the newer upper trail.
The upper trail shows signs of erosion. Some of the switchback corners are very steep, gravelly, and hard to keep your footing if going downhill without hiking sticks. I didn't notice water bars that would have kept the general tread cleaner, but then, wasn't really paying attention. I did notice that sections of trail were very gravelly or small rock covered indicating that the fines had washed away.
But a ton of work went into that trail which is now only 4 years old. I think that by the time the river claims the lower trail it'll be a lot prettier.
Lots of wild flowers. Starflower (lysimachia latifolia), Queen's cup, wild orange honeysuckle, scarlet gillia, columbine, herb Robin (stinky bob), Saskatoon serviceberry, rhodies, ranunculus (Western buttercup), coltsfoot, large solomon's seal, bunchberry (Canadian dogwood), raspberry, salal, bleeding heart, false lily of the valley (leaves look like gingerroot, but with white spire), pink wintergreen (liverleaf wintergreen), coralroot (similar to wintergreen but no leaves), aruncus (goat's beard), and cow parsley.
Vanilla leaf not blooming yet. Trilliums, wild ginger are done.
By the way ... there's no longer a shanty at bark shanty; only a small collapsed pile of branchs that had fallen on the roof remain next to the bark shanty sign within the clearing. Perhaps some enterprising group will rebuild a shelter there some day for winter shelter - as this is a great trail for all year hiking.
The river was in good form, trail dry but not too dusty, weather perfect, trees lofty, flowers intriguing ... a great day. Back to the car tired but well content, covered about 7-7.5 miles.
Comments