First, I paid a brief visit to Weeks Falls in the Olallie State Park. The falls is made by the hydrolic project. There's a small concrete viewing platform. But you cannot get to the water. ~8 cars in the spacious picnic area, linked to the platform by a short walk/drive. I saw one car and one couple walking.
I parked at Zigzag Trail's TH, an obscured small pullout area, just opposite of the road from the picnic area. The flat gravel trail goes directly from here. 4 cars there. I was able to squeez in. There're other larger pullouts within 10 minute walk.
Being on the northern slope, the trail was in the shade. At the bottom of the Hall Creek Trestle, you start to go up. The trestle looks impressive with snow.
Cross the bridge, going up hill. Soon the trail bifurcates. I took the right fork on Hall Creek Trail (well marked). It offers 2 short side trails (not well marked, not on my GPS map) to the waterfront. Both are very nice, well worth the effort. Water was rushing, falling.
The trail continues with the creek not far, nor close. I saw an old couple sitting by the creek crossing. When they saw me and understood that I intended to go though where they were, they slowly got up. Picked up their large backpacks, and told me to go back farther to allow them more space to pass me. Here, 3 small sections of tree branches laid across rocks. I put on microspikes, gingerly crossed the first 2 on very slippery icy logs. The 3rd one, I was able to step over rocks. The trail will cross a tributory of Hall Creek shortly after. This time, I was able to cross over rocks, without using the slippery logs. After this 2nd creek crossing, the trail gets a little steeper, especially after the next junction.
Due to my late start, slow progress and low battery power (I initially wanted to go to Greenway Mountain, which may involve some off-trail), I picked the shortest loop. Turned right at road NFDR-9023. Here had the most accumulated snow. The road is flat, but couldn't go fast. A little bushy here and there. I could see footsteps, but they were just holes in up to 1' snow. I didn't put on snowshoes. The road passed Hall Creek again, but the creek was tiny at the side of the road.
At the end of the road, the bend on the ridge, a trail goes down. It's a narrow ridge, steep at time. Even though nothing risky, you need to be not afraid of height. Soon in to the woods, to J's Landing. Weather forecast is correct: more cloudy now.
Here, a flat trail connects to Change Creek Trail. The rest of the trail is familiar. I was here this past June, on the way back from Mt Washington and Change Peak. Yes, took the short spur to Hall Point - probably should be called Change Point. Already 3:30pm. I rushed downhill, only to realize that I forgot my spikes at the connection trail. Went back to look for them. Wasted at least half an hour.
Back to my car at 5pm. Aleady very dark. Still 3 more cars. Not sure where the passengers are. The old couple I met are the only people I saw on the trail today. Filled gas at Snoqualmie Casino. Drove back to town. Westlake Center had many people walking around the holiday lights. I walked by here 5 days ago.
Dropped my pack at home, changed to a clean T-shirt, picked up a bag of Christmas present, and headed to a Christmas dinner. Returned the car at 9:10pm, before going home.
