Hikeoftheweek.com

Hike of the Week for Friday, September 17, 2010

Evergreen Mountain

Wild Sky Lookout a challenge to get to - but well worth it

Article and photo by Craig Romano

Enjoy verdant meadows on Evergreen Mountain.

Quick Facts

Location: Wild Sky Wilderness near Skykomish River Valley

Land Agency: National Forest Service

Roundtrip: 3.0 miles (with a 17.0 mile roundtrip mountain bike ride)

Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet

Access: From Everett head east on US 2 for 50 miles (just past Skykomish) turning left onto Beckler River Road (FR 65). Continue 12.6 miles to a five-way junction at Jack Pass. Take the road to your immediate right (FR 6550) for .9 mile to a junction. Park here and bike past gate up closed FR 6554 for 8.7 miles scenic miles to trailhead at its end.

Note: Road to lookout has been washed out for several years. While it’s closed to vehicles, mountain bikes are allowed. The two washouts are easy to get around on bike and the road is in decent shape making for a great bike-to-hike adventure.

Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest (360) 677-2414; www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs

Green Trails Map: Monte Cristo, WA-No. 143

The short hike to the restored Evergreen Mountain Lookout has been off the radar screen for area hikers because of a washed out road permitting access. And while many a hiker grows frustrated waiting for the Forest Service to receive funding to fix the road—if you’re in halfway decent shape, own a mountain bike, and are looking for a little exercise and adventure—there’s no need to wait for the road to reopen. Head out now and enjoy in solitude what was once a fairly popular hike.

After cycling 8.7 miles of mostly continuous uphill road (think of the long downhill ride on the return), locate the trail beginning in an old burn surrounded by old cuts. The way starts out steeply climbing. Between switchbacks, take in sweeping views south of the broad U-shaped Beckler River Valley.

At 0.6 mile enter the Wild Sky Wilderness leaving young regenerating forest for groves of old-growth mountain hemlock. Now on a gentler grade, traverse ridge reaching a small gap. Then continue along ridge crest leaving forest for meadows. Swing around the north side of the mountain and after one final push reach the 5,587-foot summit with its restored fire lookout.

Look south to Mounts Stuart and Daniel, the Snoqualmie Pass peaks and big beautiful Mount Rainier hovering above them all. Look north to the Monte Cristo Peaks and east to the high alpine meadow country of the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness. Of course take time to appreciate the 1935 lookout, too. Revived by the Seattle Explorer Search and Rescue in the 1990s, it stands now as a sentinel in Washington’s newest wilderness area, the Wild Sky.

For information on lodging and other attractions near Headlee Pass visit www.snohomish.org.