2025.7.20. Squire Creek Pass via Eight Mile Creek

Looking through WTA's recent trip reports for a day hike that is not strenuous and not crowded. Settled on Squire Creek Pass, a new one for me. The TH is on a road that doesn't exist on Google Map (exists on Open Street Map).

7/20, Sunday. From the town of Darrington, turn south on Mt Loop Hwy for ~3 miles to just before Clear Creek Campground. Turn right (south) onto Clear Creek Road (Google calls it Frog Creek Road). Drive ~5.2 miles. Take the right fork and drive another ~half mile. There's a pull out on your left for a few cars. We saw 2 there. Trail is on your right (west). Elevation ~1700'.

The first 3/4 mile is in the trees. The trail emerged to a talus field at the foot of 3 O'Clock Rock. I investigated the side track to the rock: too bushy and no view. Already had a bit of fall color. Good view over the valley, and Squire Slab.

The trail goes next the 3 O'Clock Rock and goes up, at times aggressively. Into trees again. The trail is quite rugged with roots and rocks. More and more onto large slabs of granite. Any indentation is now a pool of mosquito water. Eventually more views to the Ulalach Rock to the right, and High Squire to the left.

The trail gets gentle near the pass, almost flat. Pay attention to the cairn. A lot of huckleberry bushes, but a bit too early for ripe berries. Saw a girl running the trail. At the pass, large slab of granite, a lot of place to spread out. View of Whitehorse and Three Fingers dead in your face. Only 1 other party: a couple and their dog.

Had a quick lunch, while waiting for the clouds to lift. But too many mosquitoes, so we headed back. Saw a beautiful butterfly who didn't fly away when we walked by. Possibly a Rocky Mountain Apollo. At 3 O'Clock Rock, saw a girl half way up on the rock face.

Back in Seattle around 5pm, a short but good workout: 5.4 mile RT, 2350' EG.

2018.7.8. Cooper Spur from Tilly Jane Sno Park

7/8, Saturday. 9 of us + 3 dogs in 2 cars started at Tilly Jane Sno Park (instead of driving up ~9 miles of bad road to Cloud Cap C.G. like I did on 7/30 2017. From here to Tilly Jane cabin is the same as my snowshoe on 3/17. This is a hike I'd prefer no dogs, even though I really like them. In fact, we didn't see any other dogs. Well, at least on the way back, the dogs were tired enough that they didn't run back and forth to kick up never ending dust. It's about 13 miles RT and 4600' elevation gain. Susan said we need exercise!

The trail goes steadily up from the beginning, not too steep. The first mile is in the woods. I was dripping with sweat, had hard time breathing because of the dust. Here, common woodland flowers, but I found 2 Washington Lily (named after a person, not the state). Then, it breaks out to a burnt area, so views are better, and grade is easier. Now the flowers were in good shape. Could be better later. Some beargrass, not many blooming. Hood is dead ahead. Adams is behind. Rainier is half in the clouds. In about 2 miles from TH, we reached Tilly Jane A Frame, about 1900' above the car. We were now back in the woods. The Tilly Jane Creek is nearby to the right.

Continued up via the left most fork. In ~1.5 miles later, it's Cooper Spur Stone Shelter, just above Timberline Trail junction. After another regroup and rest, we headed to Cooper Spur.

Zigzag above the moraine by Elliot Glacier. Then, butterflies appeared in the thousands. They seemed to materialize in the ravine, and flew over and around us. It was amazing to see the endless wave of butterflies going in one direction. At the top of the moraine, a stone wall nicely laid out for a tent. People sat inside to block half of the wind. You can see Jefferson now.

Two of us decided to stop here and not going further. This is the kind of ridge walk I enjoy. Not steep, but you see both sides. Butterflies were a bit less. At the end of the trail, before climbing onto the glacier begins, we hurdled in another tent site in the half stone wall. A bit chilly. I lend my rain jacket to Gayle. Here are the 6 of them.

Return as we came. Going down the moraine is easy. You slide down the scree. Since the slope is gentle, it's a quick going down. The rest is the same, same dust. Back to the car by 6pm.