After a late breakfast at Lil Jon’s in Bellevue, my 19 and 15 year old boys, our female chocolate lab Ellie, and I made an afternoon run up the Middle Fork Road for a hike on the Middle Fork Trail from Dingford Creek to Wildcat Creek. We arrive at the trailhead at 1PM to mixed snow/rainand only two other cars at the trailhead.
I actually really enjoy driving the Middle Fork Road in the winter. Right now, it’s completely snow free all the way to the end. It’s actually in worse shape for the first 10 miles versus the last 8 miles (FYI- Dingford Creek trailhead is almost exactly 19 miles from I-90 exit 34).
The Middle Fork Trail is in good shape (next to no snow at all) but we encountered several areas of major blow downs. In places there were 5-7 large trees strewn across the trail which made getting around them quite time consuming. Our lab Ellie insisted on swimming and fetching a stick at every accessible river spot. As a result we didn’t make it that far, turning around at Wildcat Creek (about 2-3 miles from Dingford). An earlier start and some food/water would ensure a really fun day hike to Goldmyer Hot Springs- another day.
This is a great “lowland” hike with old growth forest and the sounds of the river to lift your spirits. A great day with the boys!
Nice pics and a great report. I love those lowland no snow hikes. I think Ill do that later in the week.
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
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"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
Nothing in the world is more yielding and gentle than water. Yet it has no equal for conquering the resistant and tough. The flexible can overcome the unbending; the soft can overcome the hard. - Lao Tse
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Nothing in the world is more yielding and gentle than water. Yet it has no equal for conquering the resistant and tough. The flexible can overcome the unbending; the soft can overcome the hard. - Lao Tse
Good to know the road is open further than it's been. I must have missed that bit of news. Not having been there, it's not clear to me where you crossed the Middle Fork to get to WildCat Creek. Did you use the bridge at the cross hairs on this map link? If so, then is the end of the road well before Dingford Creek or did you walk back to get to the bridge?
There is a bridge across the Mid Fork at Dingford Creek
Yes. There has been for many years. Now there is an new one at Goldmeyer as well.
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
0
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
This was from Dingford creek east, you started hiking from the first bridge around the 12 mile mark on the Middlefork. Nice pics.
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
0
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
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