But not forgotten.

So of course Matt and I decided it would be a good effort for a Sunday stroll. We started bright and early and drove two cars to the end of the terrible Dingford Road. There are far worse roads, but this is one of the bad ones around here. We left a car and returned to pavement where HOS met us and drove us to the Pass. (He was working so couldn't accompany us.)

It's a familiar route from the PCT trailhead to Red Pass. Some steeps, a lot of flats, and then a bit of steepness at the end. We saw no one. Not that it was surprising. Nobody goes up toward Red Pass except to climb Red or Lundin Mountains. Or to do what we were planning.

Looking down from Red Pass it's pretty clear why this route was abandoned. It was steep with a series of tight switchbacks unlike any I'd seen since hiking in the Grand Canyon. And since it's north-facing it holds snow late into the year. But there was no snow so we dropped in. A number of the switchbacks had been blown out by falling rocks or trees so we did a little slipping and sliding, but go down to something closer to level ground.

Not that the trail didn't continue to drop steeply. Coming up would be brutal. For another mile we were above the trees, but then it was the usual Middle Fork forest. Thick trees and brush crowded the old trail, but the blueberry bushes made up for it. Big and juicy berries. Hurrah.

When we got to the Middle Fork itself, we turned downstream. I've hiked this section before and while lovely, after the effort earlier in the day it was a slog to get out to the cars.

The verdict? Probably a good thing this section of trail was abandoned. It's a great area to poke around in. And if you're like me and hate blank spots on your heatmap, it's definitely worth it.

📍On the lands of the Snoqualmie people.