This is an option of hike number 9 in 100 hikes. I planned either a long day hike or overnight...depending on pace and water availability. I started early up the south fork of Silver Creek trail 123. It’s 7.3 miles up to Gunsight pass, but if you’re planning this loop, you cut off up the ridge at about 7. The south fork trail is pretty good condition but there are about 12-15 trees across the trail on the last 2-3 miles - the lower section has been cleared. No major blocks, they just require a little climbing and squeezing through.
The off trail portion of this loop connects the south fork trail with the Abercrombie Mountain trail 117. It requires off-trail hiking along the ridge to the north. There are some faint old trails and game trails and plenty of open country to make your way approximately 4 miles to the Mountain trail. It’s pretty easy off trail travel - I wore shorts and trail runners and my shins aren’t too banged up. Once you reach the Abercrombie trail 117, you can head up top. The trail up is in good shape - little rocky but the whole hill is rocky, so... Once on top, I looked to see if any snow was hanging on for water refill (south fork trail had water all the way up, multiple crossings still flowing, but once your on the ridge there is no water). There are a couple small drifts lingering - maybe two weeks worth, maybe less. I dropped back down the trail and headed north on trail 502 and stopped and melted some snow to refill. This was the only place where snow was actually still covering trail tread. After refilling, I continued north, left the trail, and headed for Hooknose mountain. This scramble is easy for about a mile, then it drops steeply down to a saddle before slowly making elevation back up to Hooknose. Peek over the edge to Hooknose lake...and wish you could scale the sheer rock to take a dip.
I thought about camping on the ridge on the way back to Abercrombie - there are multiple spots - but it was still early, so I decided to make it a day hike. I headed back down Abercrombie trail to the north fork Silver Creek trail 119 and made my way down the looooong 5.9 mile (?) descent to the trailhead. The north fork trail is completely cleared out and in great shape. There are only two water spots on this entire drop, so, plan accordingly. Or just look forward to the cold can of LaCroix you stashed by your rig at the parking lot. The Silver Creek trailhead is actually a small campground with toilet.
There was not a single other person on any of the trails I hiked. I estimate the total loop to be somewhere around 22 miles and probably 5000’+ total gain (there are a lot of ups and downs on the off trail sections). Mosquitos were pretty bad at the bottom, especially the trailhead, and face diving gnats/flies and horse flies were hanging out on the ridge - keep in the breeze to blow the little pests away when possible. Not a lot of flower action - after last years epic bear grass show, there were only about 6 total blooming this year! A few Indian paint brushes, a neat, dark green leaved bush with white flowers, some buckwheat, and a couple Columbian lilies hanging on. Not much wildlife except quite a few grouse, which were more than willing to blast out of the bushes and get your heart pumping even faster.
Beautiful views all around and a very beautiful, warm day.
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