[ALW Hiker]

A few photos from Quartz Ridge yesterday - my first time up this trail. The views were pretty spectacular and it was cool to see some familiar peaks from a totally different vantage point. Garfield was quite impressive from this angle. I also enjoyed the view up Taylor River Valley, past Dream Lake to Malachite Peak - that was a surprising alignment! Up the Middle Fork direction, Chikamin looked like a totally different peak since it's hard to make out the normally obvious summit block. We ran into snow at about 2500', a bit below the sign for the vista. The views at the vista were underwhelming - too many big trees in the way. With the steep slopes around there and the snow, we didn't want to get too close to the edge. Perhaps without the snow, there is a better spot. Our high point was the big flat area just below 3400' - well worth the climb! The snow was maybe 3' deep at our high point, and very soft in the afternoon sun. Snowshoes would have helped for sure, I was postholing up to my knees pretty regularly, or to my waist when I hit a hole next to a log. I was amazed at how well constructed this trail is. Does anyone know the history of the trail and who built it? I imagine the lower part to the old lookout site was officially built, not sure about the upper part. I had thought it was a clandestine trail, but those usually forego the niceties like switchbacks.

Big leaf maples near the Middle Fork CG

Quartz Ridge Trail below snow line

Vista junction

About the best view I could coax out of the vista - looking toward Morpheus

Stopping for a snack break - a bit above the vista

Through the first saddle

Taylor River wide shot

Garfield plus Lemahs and Chikamin

Taylor River / Dream Lake zoom - Cascade Mountain and Malachite Peak in the back

Morpheus (center), Taylor River

Nice overview of Preacher, Pulpit, Stegosaurus

Treen and Garfield

Rooster (The Ark)

Action shot

Huge stump below the Nordrum Lookout

[puzzlr]

I first heard about this trail in November 2019 but didn't check it out until October, 2020. We ran into snow as well but made it to a minor summit at 3900'. I hope someday to follow either the ridge or just to the east all the way to the Quartz summit. I know the creator doesn't live in Washington anymore so they won't be doing more work on it.

[ALW Hiker]

Thanks puzzlr! We were debating whether one person could have built such an extensive trail - pretty impressive if so. I mean, it's not up to PCT standards or anything, but it's quite a bit better than most of the other unofficial trails in the area - Stegosaurus, Marten Lake, Rainy Lake, Old Mailbox, etc. I suppose the relative dryness of that hillside and openness of the (previously logged) forest helped with construction - it only crosses over a couple creeks, one of which is entirely dry. Looks to me like pretty much everyone who summits Quartz does it via the Bessequartz south ridge. That way looks shorter and easier, for sure. I suspect there may be some gnarly impassable stuff on that ridge east of Quartz - East.

[Fedor]

I suspect the same person or people who worked on some of the exit 38 trails (zig-zag, hall Creek, etc) was involved. Maybe whitebark who used to post here had something to do with it.

[fourteen410]

I always figured it was Whitebark. There's an open rocky ledge below the vista that I've been meaning to check out. I got close to it a month or so ago but got turned back by tree bombs.

[lopper]

Thanks for the report and pics. Glad to learn of another height-gaining trail in the MFK slot. BTW- Rainy Lake trail was a USFS numbered trail. Shows up on older agency maps. There was even a cable bridge to start... At Camp Brown. Not to be confused with the one at the Pratt confluence.

[ALW Hiker]

Thanks for the clarification on the Rainy Lake Trail, it has had an interesting history. I always figured it was just a fisherman's trail given the lack of "polish" through some of the tougher sections, but all the massive cut logs hint at a more official status in the past. Also, in Beckey's information about Preacher Mountain he says the trail to Rainy Lake "cannot be found", but that may have been written before the Gateway Bridge went in, and certainly before all the work on the Pratt Connector (aka Pratt River Trail). The Forest Service has recently been paying some attention to Rainy Lake, as there were some WTA work parties there last year. Hopefully that trend will continue. It still doesn't have an official entry on the USFS web site, but as you pointed out, is is on their maps as "Rainy Lake Trail 1252". Same deal with the Pratt River Trail #1035 - WTA has another long work party on that one this year, starting from the Pratt Lake side.