Domerie Divide Ridge 5-6-2012

I have special hiking buddies today, Princess Jilly Bean, Boomer the hunter, and their humans.  We headed to Easton on this sunny day to hike Domerie Divide trail.  I-90 east, exit 70.  Go under the freeway and turn left at the "T."  Drive about 1 mile to Kachess Dam Road.  Turn right.  Drive 0.8 miles to an unmarked forest road.  You will see a tiny National Forest sign nailed to a tree, but it's hard to see.  Turn right and drive 1 mile to the trail head.  We did easy 6.8 miles and 2985ft of elevation gain.  

Jilly Bean and Boomer at the trail head.  Here, you can go left to Kachess Ridge.  We went right towards Easton Ridge and Domerie Divide.  I know, there is no sign for the Domerie Divide.  You just have to know it.

 We crossed a small wood bridge.  From here, the trail gains 1100ft in first 0.8 mile to the junction of Domerie Divide and Easton Ridge.  And another 1350ft next 1.4 miles to Para Point.  It is steep.

 Kachess Lake and view southwest.

At the Para Point: it is a T.  Mt. Thomas to the right and Mt. Baldy and Domerie Peak to the left.   The trails are snow covered and are not obvious.  

From Domerie Ridge: Lake Cle Elum, Mt. Stuart, and view east

Mount Baldy:  we didn't make it today.  I will come back when cornices are melted

Cool lunch spot with a view of Lake Easton and Mt. Rainier poking out of south cascade

 I especially enjoyed my buddies.  Jilly likes me.  I hope she and her gang join me for another hike.  I will come back here to do Mt. Baldy, Domerie Peak, and Thomas Mountain.