Kautz Creek to Indian Henry's Hunting Ground — Friday, Jul. 25, 2025

Beautiful day for a hike to meadows away from the crowds. This trail starts up through open forest at easy grade on a wide trail (abandoned road?).  After crossing the creek it rises into huge trees in dark old-growth forest, climbing up and up and up, and eventually into meadows at the absolute peak of colorful wildflower bloom. Mosquitos are out but not much bother while hiking and with a light breeze. Lots of butterflies and bees. Several kinds of saprophytes in the forest. Trail is in good shape except approximately a mile length about half a mile from the top. In that section, the trail bed is rooting or has steps that are washed out and undercut -- probably the last area to melt out. Bring water. I met only 5 people, all bunched in the last mile before Indian Henry's. Stopped at the cabin for lunch imaging what it was like to be a patrol ranger. Heading back down I met a frog on the trail and a little snake off to the side. I began at 10am and was back at ~5:15pm.