This was a two-night backpack to visit Estes Butte Lookout Site, Estes Butte and follow the abandoned trail out to Old Gib Mtn. This trail eventually goes all the way to Carne Mtn. See previous reports for info on the section north of Old Gib.
I came equipped with a mountain bike to ride the 4-miles to the trailhead since the Chiwawa River Road was gated at the end of pavement and wouldn't be open for another week or two according to the person I spoke to at the ranger station a couple of days prior. After biking about 1.5 miles I saw a FS employee who told me that he was about to open the gate. I rode back and got my car and drove to the trailhead.
The trail to the lookout site is in pretty good shape after the winter and I didn't see any signs that someone had been up here this year yet. There is some blowdown that will prevent horse traffic but is passable for the hiker.
I got to the lookout site and it was late enough that I decided to camp at an established spot (hunter's camp?) a minute from the top. The wind was howling and this site is surrounded by low trees to give protection. The lookout site would be fine in fair weather. I found a small snow patch to provide me with enough water but it was all melted when I left.
In the morning I started off on the Old Gib Trail and was surprised how easy it was to follow despite being "abandoned." The 4840' low spot between the lookout site and Estes Butte proper has some dead timber and there is about 50 yards of pretty intense brush and jackstraw blowdown. Other than that, I found the trail in remarkably good shape the 4.5 miles or so I walked it to where it turns north to drop down the west side of Old Gib. Someone has been brushing sections and I spent some time clearing debris off the trail wishing I had brought my saw.
I followed the terrain straight up after leaving the trail to the top of a south trending ridge that gave me a view of Old Gib. I walked along this ridge, occasionally dropping off to the west to avoid rocky areas, until the final slope to the summit. It all looked too easy.
Just before the summit I ran into a solid mass of sandy, downsloping rock that narrowed to a fin and must be the remains of the plug of this volcanic neck. I then had to descend 50' to scoot below it and onto easier ground over to the top.
This is a splendid ridge walk but you have to endure some big ups and downs. It took me 6 hours from my camp on Estes Butte Lookout Site to the summit of Old Gib and about the same to return with a round trip total of 10.5 miles and 4300' of gain. I stopped numerous times for some trail work though and did a fair amount of relaxing.
18 miles and 7200' gain trip total.
Back at the car the following day, I drove up to see how far the road is open (June 15). Presently you can get to Atkinson Flat Campground where it is barricaded. There are some washouts that need repair further up the valley and the final portion of the road will open at some undetermined date.
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