[Stomp]

This trail will be trampled into a minor highway before long. Since there have already been at least two reports in the last month, I'll try to cover stuff that hasn't been as well beaten as the trail itself... I went by myself on my first trip, and met one other hiker on his way back down. The trail is indeed in good shape, with a new bridge over the first creek you come to. So new, in fact, that the ends of the [unnervingly small] planks still had fresh clean price tags. I wonder who's responsible? The last half of the trail was being heavily impinged upon by your standard small harmless plants, and the last 1/4 was mostly under thick lumps of snow. The only footprints were of the hiker I met. My sister came with me on the second trip, and we met no one else all day. Due, I imagine, to the cool temperatures and near-constant drizzle. No matter, that's what shivering is for. All the snow has disappeared from the trail, and the plants keep getting beaten back little by little. Someone had trimmed the hedges since I last cut down the less friendly vegetation, and I continued the job. It's either that or soaking wet legs. The tree-toppling taking place at the point where the trail fords the West fork (mentioned by Newbie Newt) is indeed new. I don't know what purpose it's supposed to serve, though, as the continuation of the trail was open and fairly obvious before. They also dropped a tree right into the creek just downstream of the trail. Now on to the interesting stuff... The main purpose of the second trip was to let my geology-studying sister go wild on the local mineralogy, and we did turn up some groovy stuff. Keep an eye open along the landslide for a large boulder around which the trail runs. Almost the entire trailside face is rife with tiny crystals and mineral deposits, ranging from quartz to galena to pyrite to sulphur and possibly some silver and a variety of other things. Careful, some of it is rather fragile, and dozens of probing hiker fingers could turn this into just another big rusty rock. As long as you're there, look down the steep rocky slope toward the creek to find a sign posted on the end of a fallen tree, which says something along the lines of "creek trail". I beg its pardon? As you trudge up and down the slide trail, keep your eyes at your feet to find freshly-exhumed (geologically speaking) samples of widely varied sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. Very convenient. The next mineralogical candyland is just above Mayflower falls (below the trail, natch) on the north side of the creek. A large expanse of quartz vein is exposed as a 45 degree slab, dotted with yet more crystals and mineral deposits. This one appears to have been picked at (and picked over), but there's still cool stuff to see. Also pay attention to the bits and pieces scattered over the ground around the vein, and down the slope toward the creek (carefully). Looking just above the trail you can follow the vein as it climbs the wall of rock, but it's tough to get to, especially when wet. Look closely at the face of the rocks below the vein, though, and you'll find tiny gold cubic crystals of something (pyrite?) nestled into the muddy brown rock. Careful of those old logging bridges. They look sturdy until you put your foot through their rotting timbers. Trust me. Observe the fresh hole in the north end of the mostly-intact bridge. That which does not kill me makes me more wary. The orange tape and neatly-arranged safety branches on the less intact-looking bridge are new additions. Ooh! I found a second cabin, too. Immediately South of the drippy shored-up mine adit observe a rough trail leading up the embankment. Follow its vagueness just a few dozen feet up into the woods and a cabin comes into view. I didn't investigate further, for fear of crotchety antisocial mountain hermits with firearms. Regardless of the fact that I aspire to become one some day. I also noticed a small (1.5"?) water-spewing black pipe jutting horizontally out of a nondescript wooded hillside about 200 feet above a nondescript section of trail before the slide. Curious. Who would install such a thing? If you want to see the falls in action, you'd best make it up there soon. There's little snow left to feed them. Personally, I can hardly wait for them to dry up, so that I can explore their gulches and safely ford the currently bloated West fork of Silver Creek. In the mean time, have some more pictures. # Stomp

[Newt]

Nice report Stomp. Was the 1.5" pipe before the big slide? I know that the bus had running water from black plactic as well as what looked to be a drain coming from the bus. Looked like they would just connect the water to a pipe that led into the bus for internal water. Also found pipe on the trail past the bus and figured it was bus related. When I was there, there were tents set up at the creek. I figured they were doing the cutting. Couldn't figure the fallen tree tho. The trail on the other side was very clear and didn't need any clearing. I'm hoping they may be resurrecting this abandoned trail to Monte Cristo. Someone has put a lot of work into it already. When the water is down.... Really a hike to take some time at and just look around. NN

[Stomp]

[Sawyer]

Bridge-building and tree-sawing is probably done by landowners in the area. They are keeping the path usable to the cabins and mines.

[Stomp]

[Roxann]

Stomp, Check out my trip report of mineral city. We actually met Tim and Judy who own the cabin that is visible from the trail. They will be there the month of August and would gladly like to have visitors and answer questions about the area. They could answer your questions about the bridges and trees and any other activities in the area. Tim has owned the property for about 16 years. For more information see trip report on Mineral City dated 7-5.

[Sore Feet]

I do love that trail. I guess you really have to hike it often to discover all the hidden oddities along it. I've done it twice (once about 1/4 mile beyond the West Fork, once to Lake Gulch), and I missed the pipe and the second cabin both times. Perhaps we should organize a NWH Silver Creek day. I wanna get all the way to Minnehaha Falls next time though. Maybe an overnight through hike to Monte Cristo? Anyone wanna join? ps - I feel special seeing that the names I gave the falls caught on...

[My Norr]

You ought to pick up a copy of the book "Discovering Washington's Historic Mines" at the ranger station. It has a chapter on the Silver Creek area. Fascinating stuff.

[Newt]

Seems like when we were headed back, just before reaching the car, there was what appeared to be an overgrown road or driveway on the right. Any one else notice this? As for the RV, it may be on private property. The trip report on WTA for Poodle Dog Pass indicated that the trail was fairly overgrown. I'm hoping the maintance folks up there are cleaning it up. Approx. 14 mi car to car. NN