HeiBlog

Why do they call it Mount Aix, because that what it will cause after you are done with the hike. A 4,000 ft rise over about 5.5 miles is nothing to laugh at. This trail will give you a work out. The first half of the trail is mostly switch backs up the side of one mountain (the hard part). They you cross over to a ridge and take a more gradual climb up to Aix. The trail is pretty clear, but I could see how it might be harder to follow earlier in the season. The only time I got lost was right at the summit. The easiest (and most erosion friendly) way to attach the summit is to follow the trail along the south face of the mountain, cross around the east side of the summit and come back on the north side heading west. Don’t be tempted to ascend right up to the summit, the rock is loose and you’ll do more damage than good.

The views are wonderful heading up. The day I went up was quite cloudy and variable, so I couldn’t see everything all at once. With no clouds the view from the summit would have been amazing. The trail was deserted except for one father and his two sons. They were turning back because of some “bear p???” they’d seen on the trail. The father had a fairly heavy Chinese accent and I didn’t catch and I didn’t completely understand what he was saying. I just thanked him for the warning and said I’d keep my eyes open. At first I thought he meant to say “puma,” but about 30 minutes later realized he meant “poop” when part of the trail was heavily deposited with very fresh bear crap. Somebody had had too many berries for dinner the previous evening.

At about 50 miles past Naches, WA the trail head is easy to get to. Off of Route 410 turn on Bumping Lake Road. Follow the road for 12 miles until the split and take the gavel (not paved fork). At 2.3 miles the road will split again, follow FR 1808 to Deep Creek (the other road was closed). After about 2 miles you’ll see a sign for the trail head on the left (Trail 982), you can park by the trail or in the camping area on the right. If you cross over a steel bridge you’ve gone too far. The road is rock and dirt, but passable with caution by my vehicles.

For my first major hike of the summer season I headed to the southern Cascade Mountains. One web site that said this trail was difficult and not well maintained. They must be talking about a different trail because I found this trail to be of moderate difficulty and well maintained. The views are wonderful and the grade light through alpine meadows. Once you come to the base of the peak you have to make a medium grade accent on a path of sand and broken gravel. The trail got lost under some remaining snow, but you can pick it up again easily. The day I hiked there were several groups on the mountain and from the trail log I gathered it was fairly popular in the area. At 7.2 miles out and back with a 1,300 foot rise this is a good conditioning trail. Less time at the time enjoying the views it took me a little over 4 hours.

The trailhead is about 50 miles west of Yakima on route 12. The final road is dirt and has deep ruts. Take a high clearance vehicle, my little Scion xA barely made it (let’s hear it for manual transmission). From Rt. 12, about 8 miles east of White Pass, take Tieton road toward Clear Lake. The paved road goes around the the lake (a worthwhile visit on it’s own, just for a site seeing drive). At about 5.5 miles turn right onto Forest Service Road 1205. Ignore the turn off a 2.4 miles, but bare right at 2.6 miles after Forest Service Road 742. After another 2.1 miles turn left onto Forest Service Road 757. Continue on this road for 0.7 miles and bare right to another right turn on to Forest Service Road 1205 after another 1.4 miles. As you continue uphill for the last 2.5 miles the condition of the road will vary greatly and you can bottom out if you’re not careful. The trail head is at the end of the road near the parking area.

These directions are pretty close, most of the roads are not marked and I didn’t seen any signs, so you’ll have to go by milage and road numbers. I think the trail head is here (estimations will have to do until I buy a GPS). This a great trail if you get to it. Otherwise just enjoy my pictures.