Take Easton exit 70, turn left to go over the freeway and then left on to Sparks road. After about 1.2 miles, take a right on to Kachess Dam road. In about a mile, take a right onto a single lane road to the trail head.
We did the hike in a counter clockwise direction. This allowed us to get through the steep part at the beginning and to have afternoon shade with a easier on the knees slope for the last leg.
We have previously hiked to Thomas Mt so we were familiar with the trail to that point. After Thomas Mt, it was all new and the trail gets hard to follow at times. Even though this is primarily a ridge walk, the ridge has many ups and downs.
After hitting the intersection with the Silver Creek Tie trail, we hiked the short distance over to French Cabin South Peak just so we could say we were there. There is a little bit of a view from the ridge just past the "peak". This peak is hardly more that a bump on the ridge to French Cabin North Peak.
Originally I was considering hiking up to French Cabin West Peak but that would have made the hike way too long and I wasn't sure exactly what the path was to the peak.
This trail doesn't have any dog water until you reach Silver Creek at about the nine mile point. I brought extra water and gave them water by West Peak, I should have given them the water before we hit South Peak. I attached the wet dog water bowl to the outside of my pack with a REI carabiner and when we finished the hike, I discovered the carabiner had failed and the dog bowl was missing.
The map contains an identifier for the points where I took pictures and the picture description include the corresponding (Pn) identifier.
When we started the parking lot was empty and we never was anyone on the entire hike. I was shocked to see a couple of tents, a picnic table, BBQ grill, porta-potty and a parking lot full of cars when we got back to the trail head. It turns out that this is the Mile 95 check point for the Cascade Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run that was being held the next day. The course includes the five miles of the Kachess Ridge trail we had just hiked on. The winner finished in 18:44:44 and the last person finished in 33:59:15. Endurance just doesn't seem like a strong enough word for a 100 mile trail run with 21,550 feet of elevation gain. Here's the link to their webpage http://www.cascadecrest100.com/
Just prior to this sign look for a path to the right toward the creek.
Bridge over Silver Creek at the start of the trail.
On the trail up to the Easton Ridge trail. (P1)
At the intersection with the Easton Ridge trail (P2)
Looking at the east end of Kachess Ridge. (P2.5)
The east end of Silver Creek basin. The waterfall runs down the rock face in the center of the picture. (P2.5)
Looking down on Easton Ridge. (P3)
Looking up the trail to Para Point. (P3)
At the intersection with the Domerie Divide trail. (P4)
Thomas Mt to the left and Mt Baldy/Domerie Peak to the right. (P4)
Looking up at Thomas Mt. (P5)
Looking towards Salmon La Sac from Thomas Mt. (P6)
Taking a break on top of Thomas Mt. (P6)
This area looks like a lightning strike start a small forest fire. (P7)
Intersection with the Silver Creek Tie trail. (P8)
The boys are good at finding the trail. (P9)
Point 5560 Ft along the Silver Creek Tie trail. We didn't try to hike to the actual point. (P10)
Looking the other direction along this rock face. (P10)
French Cabin West Peak. (P11)
Silver Creek, water at last! (P12)
A nice new bridge across Silver Creek thanks to the Boy Scouts. (P13)
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