Stiletto Peak — Monday, Sep. 21, 2015

I found myself with a Monday off from work so the Transporter and I headed up to do this trip that had been on my list for a long time, but for some reason I hadn't done. We parked at the Bridge Creek trailhead and picked up an unmarked trail on the other side of highway 20 that led to the PCT and the start of the Stiletto Spur trail, our route. There are several junctions to arrive at the actual trail to the lookout site, but there is good signage for the turns that need to be made, still a map is recommended. The last junction simply reads "Stiletto Peak" which will take you to the lookout site. The quality of the trail is something else again and because of the rain the night before was very wet. I was soaked through to my socks, but on the trip down it had dried so much that I hardly noticed the brush. There are a couple of stream crossings that might be a bear in high water with the slippery rocks and logs, but were fine today. There are also some muddy sections that have the additional excitement of Devil's Club or as an old friend used to call it: El Diablo. These sections are few, but the spiny, nasty devils are right over the trail so you have to bust through them. This entire lower section until after the last junction to Stiletto Peak trail at 4300' is either flat or downhill. You finally begin gaining elevation once you start on the last section of trail. The tread here becomes narrow with small firs growing in the middle of the trail at times and drops offs on the side so you need to pay attention here. There are also a couple of logs to clamber over, but without difficulty. The trail also switchbacks up, steeply at times. The total elevation gain for this trip is only 3100', but it's all in the last three miles. At about 6100' the trail becomes sketchy, but there are cairns to follow and it's never difficult to find the route. This is also where the trail ends on the Green Trails map, but it actually continues to about 7400' and the old lookout site. There is only the fire finder pole left and lots of melted glass. Oh, and there's also the views! I honestly don't know why this trail isn't maintained by somebody and used by more. This is North Cascadia at it's best. All around were Black Peak, Frisco Peak, Whistler, Cutthroat, Golden Horn, Tower, Rennie, Reynolds, further away was Snowking, Glacier Peak, Mt. Baker and lots and lots more. The larch were at my favorite stage.......gold with still a hint of green. The route to summit Stiletto Peak proper would be a few hundred feet down and then several hundred feet up again with some scrambling on the ridge that looked straight forward enough. Still, it was getting late, we were pretty happy with the trip as it was and there was a beer and burger waiting for us at the Birdsview with our names on them! This trail deserves to be maintained and used. It's primo and wouldn't take that much to brush out and restore the tread. I'm afraid it will be lost if folks don't hike it and advocate for it's maintenance so check it out!