This fine Monday found me doing the Cold Creek to Twin Lakes to Mirror Lake to PCT to Mt Gardner trail to Silver Peak to Windy Pass to Mt Catherine to Cold Creek loop. I do this each year and I always enjoy it, especially on a weekday. There is no snow on the trail, very little mud, almost no bugs (where are they this year'), and the flowers are out on Silver Peak. I had the whole area to myself until 6PM when I encountered two parties as I approached Windy Pass. What a bummer to have to return to work today!

It's surprising that this trail (#1348) is not included in ""100 Hikes in the South Cascades and Olympics"" book, as it is one of the easiest and most accessible hikes that still has great views. The trailhead is on FS Road 9070 out of Hyak/Snoqualmie, just 1/3 of mile before the Windy Pass PCT trail crossing. Parking (for only about 3 cars) is on the opposite side of Road 9070 from the trailhead, the first 1/3 mile of which is on an old logging road/jeep track (the parking area is also the trailhead for the lower portion of Trail 1348 to Twin Lakes). At the end of the logging road, the true trail begins, and goes about 1/4 mile through a relatively recent clearcut. After that, it enters forest and remains mostly in the shade all the way to the top--which has no shade, as it is the site of a long-gone fire lookout. The summit has probably the best views of the Snoqualmie Pass area, and almost as spectacular all-round views of the region as nearby Silver Peak--and it is a considerably less strenuous hike than the latter. Altogether, the trail is only about 1 1/2 miles long, and gains about 1300 feet. Best of all, as it's not in the book, it's little-known, and not crowded.