[HikerJohn]

Been a while since I posted a trip report (I was trying to not add to the Instagram Effect), but decided to share on this forum-- a little less "me too" here!. Made a very long trail scouting trip yesterday for my weekly Forest Service gig. My boss Mary and I launched out from Naches Pass at 9:30, having dropped a car at Greenwater Trailhead first. The first miles of the PCT aren't super scenic, but merely peaceful. https://photos.app.goo.gl/hgfrXLX2UzQfDJLN8 The Norse Peak fire hit the crest pretty hard, but it's starting to come back https://photos.app.goo.gl/25YfzHd4ZCjRdFeT8 Check out this forest of lupines https://photos.app.goo.gl/vNmTEwcL8TZSjsSY7 BTW, saw about 10 PCT Through-hikers on the trail. We were both surprised at how many of the through-hikers were wearing earbuds and listening to tunes while hiking. Does anyone else think that's weird? All I could think was if a cougar approached, you'd be toast before you could do anything. Got to Airplane Meadows and turned onto the Arch Rock trail. Airplane Meadows was actually in better shape than what I had envisioned https://photos.app.goo.gl/zfLkDFWqLjwxdP9LA The trail up there was pretty faint-- I'm guessing only a few folks have even tried to go this way since the fire https://photos.app.goo.gl/TdmspNR4VYLRQHs9A In some places the tread has almost disappeared and we had to navigate using GPS. https://photos.app.goo.gl/1NzRwzXRXGHwQApX6 3 hours to go 3 miles later we broke out at Echo Lake to cross the burned out bridge across the river. No deck boards so it was careful footwork across the stringers. https://photos.app.goo.gl/TgxWDBUnNeudezw9A Finally onto the Greenwater Trail to hightail it back to the trailhead. We made good time, but in spite of that, we still didn't make it out to the trailhead until 7:30 pm-- a very long, 10 hour, 21 mile day... Is Arch Rock passable? yes, but only for hikers with good navigation skills and a GPS unit.

[olderthanIusedtobe]

[lookout bob]

Nice report John! As always, thanks for your patrols and work. Can't make it to you work party this weekend but I'll be thinking of you! Have a great time.

[fourteen410]

Thanks for the report. I need to get up to Airplane Meadows sometime.