Post
by squidvicious » May 19th, 2017, 3:03 pm
Was up there today. The snow is gone now. I put a couple footsteps in one little bit of snow on the trail down by the stockgate, where there were also patches off the trail, but apart from that and some patches well off trail in a few areas it's clear.
I was a little irked originally when the FS put permanent signs back at the bottom of the loop and directed people to go counter-clockwise. Going up that side had been my preference, partly because it had less people but partly because it's not very interesting, and I could motor through and try to get to the falls ahead of everyone who pulled in when I did. Which usually worked pretty well. But it dawned on me that this meant I might have the nicer creek side to myself, which is exactly how it worked today. Apart from a couple hikers at a distance as I looked back on the crossing, I didn't see anyone at all between the permit box and the falls. Nice!
The return worked out pretty well too, until I hit the crossing area. From that point it was all unleashed dogs and bluetooth speakers. And people who, from the opposite bank, wave you on to cross the river and then, while you're distracted working your way onto the log, decide to cross halfway and then just stand there blocking you.
The road was actually the best I remember it being. Sometime since I was there last it seemed like someone had come alone and filled most of the holes. I only had to steer around a couple of them.
