John Guilford's Hikes
Perry Creek on 2021-09-10
Date: 2021-09-10
People: (including myself): Pam
Alt. Miles
Trailhead: 10:30 2000 0
Old Trailhead: 11:00 2000 1
Perry Creek Falls: 12:15 3250 3
Lunch: 1:10 4300 4
(Meadows) (5000) (5.3)
Head down: 1:30
Falls: 2:00 3250 5
Old Trailhead; 3:10 2000 7
Trailhead: 3:45 2000 8
The weather wasn't stellar. In the morning we had some showers
and we had to use the windshield wipers on the drive to the trail.
However, we lucked out during the hike as it stayed dry for us.
The cloud deck was only a couple hundred feet over our heads as we
climbed the valley, so the views weren't the best, but it was still
a decent autumn day.
The trail starts at the same trailhead as the Mt. Dickerman trail.
Initially the trail parallels the road before turning to the northeast.
It follows above a dirt forest service road. About a mile in, you
reach a short stretch of the old forest service road where the old
trailhead was. This part of the trail is a nice level hike through
old growth forest.
After the old trailhead the trail ascends the valley. The trail
crosses a number of old rock slides. The trail climbs steadily
up above Perry Creek. Across the valley one can see numerous little
waterfalls coming down Stillaguamish Peak.
We heard pikas numerous times, and one time we got to see a pika not
too far off the trail. This may be the closest I've gotten to a pika before.
At 3 miles you reach Perry Creek Falls. There are steep drop offs from
the trail area down to Perry Creek and the falls. Be careful near the
edge.
A short ways past the falls, the trail crosses Perry Creek and starts a
long switchback up to Mt. Forgotten meadows. The trail steepens here.
About half way up to the meadows we got to the bottom of the cloud deck.
We decided to stop for lunch there and then head down. With the clouds/fog
there wouldn't be much of a view at the meadows anyway.
It was a very quiet hike. Despite our not so early start, we were the
first ones up the trail that day (based on how many spider webs we had to
go through). We only saw 4 other hikers all day. On the way up we got
passed by a gal going faster than us. She bailed a bit beyond the falls
after getting socked in by the clouds. After we turned around and headed
back down we passed one lone hiker and later two more heading up.
I expect the colors in the valley will be better in a few weeks, especially
if one goes when the sun is out.
Please send comments or corrections to
john_guilford@keysight.com
Last updated on: Fri, Sep 17, 2021 11:05:42 AM
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