I've not offered many trip reports since I had my knee replaced last July. While it is nearly a year I'm carefully and slowly getting out there again. A few weeks back I did Heybrook Lookout and today, Garfield Ledges both somewhat shortish hikes but with steeper grades.
I had not been up the Middle Fork Road in eons and it was a potholey holy mess back then. It was pleasant although longer than I remembered. About 12 miles for those interested in some details.
Also I will admit to having trouble finding the actual trailhead today. Unless I missed it the trail info does not indicate the start. After parking in the lot, head up the Dingford Creek road for probably less then 100 feet and turn left behind the restroom. There's the trail with a sign visible up the hill.
After that is was a pleasant hike although the new knee got its workout on the series of wooden steps. UP was a regular alternating right/left. Down was "good leg goes to heaven, BAD leg goes to hell" meaning the new knee leads on all those down wooden staircases. Left down, right joins, left down, right joins. DOWN slopes which the bad knee could not navigate pre-surgery was fine.
There were quite a few nurse logs and the remnants of humongous trees. The sign at the ledge shows the fact that almost everything you drive and hike through was clearcut decades ago. The forest has done a remarkable job of coming back.
It was a nice day. Only a few other hikers, although a woman I need said she started on the hike to Otter Falls, saw a bear and decided against proceeding and switched to the Ledges. Reading about the attack on Mt Si, today, I'd say she made the right choice.
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