Went higher up Herman Creek than I have before, but just barely. A little north of the Casey Creek trail junction I followed an enticing ridge up through a grassy oak band and continued up towards an expected bare spot around 2400', then kept going until the Casey Creek trail crosses over the ridge (but I didn't see it) and continued until I met the ridge that runs parallel to Camp Creek on the south side.
At Eaton ridge I headed up the crest until it ended at Gorton Creek Trail, which I followed up to the junction at 4240'. I was here a few weeks ago, and it's still impossible to follow trails past this point. I figured by now there would be a good boot track through the snow, but nope. Even down on Eaton there really wasn't any sign of traffic, maybe a very faint footprint on occasion.
I headed east and then followed the edge of the plateau, above North Lake, until I saw a good place to drop in. Steep but not scary steep. Well, that took me to a bench, and below that it plunged down a steeper brushy slope. No thanks. Traversing south didn't look promising. Maybe could have traversed north to a gentler gully, but I wondered if I'd be able to follow the trail from North Lake to Wyeth. I've only done it once, in summer. Wasn't thrilled at the prospect of finding some longer way to the lake, only to have to climb back out later. Defeated, I climbed back to the plateau and followed the rim south, to a high point at 4640, with a partial view of Rainy Lake, I presume.
On the way back down, I continued north past the point where I reached the rim, following the approximate alignment of Trail 418, in hopes of reaching Wyeth Trail. But the ridge faded, and things got brushy, and still no sign of the trail, so turned back. I had to be close to the trail I would have tried to take down if I had made it to North Lake.
Okay, so back down Gorton Creek trail to the Eaton junction, where I decided to take a shot at descending Gorton instead of retracing my steps on Eaton. Immediately, I spotted footprints on Gorton, one set, ascending. The fact that they went straight to the Eaton junction made me think they were GPSing. Sadly, when the footprints hit a big bare spot, there was no trail. I wasn't going to follow off-trail footprints, so went looking for my own route. Gave up, struggled to find my way back, got confused, running in circles. With enough patient analysis, I figured it out and got back to Eaton.
Followed Eaton back to where I gained the crest at 4000', and then veered right to stay on trail. The trail is melted out now, but what a mess. It's obliterated almost down to the Deadwood junction. Because it essentially follows a ridgecrest, you can't really get lost, but this can't be considered a trail hike at this point.
Departing Eaton, I took the ridge cutoff trail to take me back to Gorton trail, now much lower and bare, meeting it right about at the Indian Point trail. I've always hated descending Gorton from IP, but today wasn't so bad. Great weather, flowers, new views thanks to the fire. Still, I eventually tired of it and dropped north until I hit the 400 trail, which I took back east.
Did you follow all that?
Other parties: None!
Weather: Started out misty/cloudy/drippy, but I never got more than a little soggy. Finally, as predicted, things cleared up, maybe mid afternoon.
