Hiked up to Basalt Peak from the Basalt Ridge TH at Finner Creek. The first mile and a half were very mosquito heavy but just as we were getting some relief we entered a burn area with many blow-downs on the trail which forced us off-trail and to do a lot of climbing and a bit of dog lifting. Would not recommend this trail in it's current condition. Once we met-up with the Chiwawa creek trail, much less blow-downs but still some in the burnt over areas near the top of Basalt Peak.
Trail from the peak down to Basalt pass is in pretty good shape and we met a day hiker at the pass who told us about the alternative (and much higher TH). We decided to avoid the blowdown mess and looped back via Rock Creek trail. We encountered a number of blow-downs on this trail as well but they were more manageable though the trail could use some brushing. The mosquitoes descended upon us again below 4,000ft and we were running to our cars along the Chiwawa river road.
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