[daffish]

This was a hunt for the giant trees of the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River. Well, as it turned out, a hunt for a specific tree. It also turned out to be a quintessential hike thru classic temperate rainforest. A lot of water was everywhere; on the ground; in the creeks and streams; on the bushes; but thankfully not in the air until we drove home. Molly and Josh were crazy enough to trust me to take them hiking to someplace I had never been before so I figured we could easily find the Pratt Giant. To get to this tree, all we had to do was follow an abandoned trail from the 1930’s; follow that to an abandoned road from the same time period so that we could access an ‘official’ trail that had not been maintained since the late 1960’s and follow that up a desolate valley to the rumored tree. Easy. And fun.

crossing Rainy Creek

Actually, the route has been traveled enough so that a worn path exists with flagging and blazes on the trees to keep you on track. The moss was thick and green hanging from the trees and covered old logs, stumps and rocks. The trail was boot sucking muddy in places and the predominate wildlife were slugs cruising the wet ground. Although we also found elk tracks on the trail in one section.

forest floor denizen

carpet of Lily of the Valley on the forest floor

The new undergrowth was brilliant green with new leaves and all the ferns were still uncurling new fronds.

fiddleheads

This trip was a rainforest chronicle.

root wad

giant rotting stump hosts new growth

nurse log

temperate rainforest

We made it down river to the clearing near the mouth of the Pratt River Valley for well deserved snacks and a rest. From here we returned to the main path and followed flagging and tread up the middle of running watercourses and through blowdown tangles.

in the Pratt River Valley

hiking to the giant

Then just as we passed the Valley of Giant Root Wads, we came to the critical signage declaring the route to the ‘Big Trees’.

getting close

As we followed this side route down hill, the path got fainter and fainter until I was beginning to wonder if we had passed the tree. Suddenly, right next to the route is an absolutely humongous tree trunk. You can’t see it from a distance and then you are right on top of it. The tree is too large and the forest is too thick to appreciate it in its entirety. Just to stare upward along the trunk is a dizzyingly magnificent experience.

looking up the Pratt giant

Pratt giant dimensions

Molly at the Pratt giant

rainforest big tree

giant in the forest

After paying sufficient homage to the giant, we retraced our route back. But just to add variety to the trip, we decided to take an alternate path we found heading down the Pratt Valley. Although clearly the old trail, this route started getting more and more overgrown. Pushing though wet head high brush and seemingly wandering all over the place, we finely figured out the way we came in would be saner and much drier so we turned around and marched back to our original route. And from there, the long hike out ensued.

Pratt River Giant

For more detailed route descriptions see Bernardo's excellent report: https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7981911

[evergreenhiker]

Nice shots and that's sure a big tree! I'll have to go check it out, but I'm gonna wade the creek...no log crossings for me.

[Bernardo]

Nice trip and thanks for the report! I wasn't able to make it out this weekend so I appreciate the pictures and story. The "short-cut" trail directly to the meadow from the Pratt Valley trail is definitely massively overgrown. Given that it is easily circumvented, it may disappear forever into the undergrowth.

[phillyjon]

Good pic up thr Pratt Giant. Good Map. Excellent! More big trees!

[iron]