Trail Abandoned

If you seek solitude in the mountains, sooner or later you’re going to end up on trails less traveled, sometimes one step up from a complete bushwhack, and sometimes in surprisingly good condition. They’re often described as unmaintained trails, abandoned trails, climbers’ trails, boot tracks, and such. So, what does it mean? Are abandoned trails really abandoned? Are unmaintained trails really unmaintained?

No. The official designations mean that they are crossed off the list for those that receive some sort of sanctioned trail maintenance. They’re left to suffer deterioration, overgrowth, and forest deadfall. But some were well constructed in the first place and despite the annual incremental encroachment of nature are still very worthy of hiking. And local hikers and climbers who choose these trails often engage in unsanctioned and informal trail maintenance.

One good example is a section of what used to be the old Cascade Crest Trail that departs from the Pacific Crest Trailhead near Exit 52 off I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass. The new PCT, Pacific Crest Trail, Section J: from Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass was built in 1978 and the old CCT was subsequently designated as abandoned. I have hiked the CCT several times as a way of accessing Kendall Peak and the famed Kendall Katwalk. It’s a shortcut that cuts around 8 tenths of a mile off the first section of the PCT from the trailhead parking lot at Snoqualmie Pass. After crossing Commonwealth Creek twice, the trail ascends switchbacks and at 1.6 miles it encounters a weathered wood sign that says ‘Abandoned.’ It once said ‘Trail Abandoned’ before the left half was broken off. You can either hook right, ascend a switchback and connect with the PCT to hike to the Katwalk, or continue up the old trail to Red Mountain and Red Pass.

This last Thursday we continued up the old Cascade Crest Trail along Commonwealth Creek and up towards Red Mountain. Once at the junction of the CCT with the spur that heads to the PCT the trail to Red Mountain crosses some boggy areas and another stream crossing with a large log. Not long after that, the hike ascends up some steep switchbacks and we gained elevation rapidly. Although the trail is unmaintained it is in great shape. Heading past the Red Mountain cutoff, we ascended narrow switchbacks and crossed a talus field as the trail ran towards a ridge crest to Red Pass.

We chose the hike because we wanted to look at Mt. Thomson. The vistas from the ridge crest near Red Pass far exceeded my expectations and we lingered for photos and lunch. Only two small things marred the day: one was the smoky haze that obscured the longer views and muted all the colors and the bugs that were persistent at the pass. We used Picaridin with some success. After the pass, steep switchbacks descend to the north and the continuation of the old CCT. While we did not expect to encounter anyone, we did see four other solo hikers. Our stats: Around 7.6 miles round trip with roughly 2,300 feet of elevation gain. A very satisfying short hike without the crowds of the more popular hikes and with vistas no less impressive.

I took two spherical panoramas along the ridge crest near the pass and one at a stream crossing through Commonwealth Creek. The 360s are hosted at 360cities.net 

Red Pass Ridge Vista with Trees: https://www.360cities.net/image/red-pass-vista-with-trees-alpine-lakes-wilderness-wa-state

Red Pass Ridge Vista with Peaks: https://www.360cities.net/image/red-pass-vista-with-peaks-alpine-lakes-wilderness-wa-state

Commonwealth Creek Crossing: https://www.360cities.net/image/commonwealth-creek-crossing-alpine-lakes-wilderness-wa-state