We got up late yesterday and still wanted to get in a hike. I live in Seattle and have the whole gamut of the Western Cascade range to choose from. There are many hikes in the I-90 corridor that can be reached without spending half the day on the car.
Forest Service trail 1003 follows the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River with an easy walk that sometimes follows an old overgrown railroad grade. Much of the trip it through a dim green jungle of ferns and mosses and second growth timber. There are several spectacular landslide areas from storms that hit several years ago. It makes for a good day hiking area about 50 miles from Seattle.
We had a good walk, going about 10 miles round trip. There was a near constant drizzle and it was 58-60F and the humidity was over 90%, so it made for a soggy trek, with the choice of wearing a rain shell and getting wet inside or going without and getting sweaty
At one point where the trail meets the river bank we found a campsite with a fire ring and excellent hammock potential (see the photos below). We stopped there for lunch and continued to the waterfall at Cripple Creek where we turned around to get back before dark.
The trail is at a fairly low elevation so it is accessible year round. I think I'm going to have a fall overnighter at that fire ring.
See http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/m...almie-upstream for more info and maps.
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