Mt Baldy 2016-08-10

7.69 miles and 3,316 feet of elevation gain.

A nice summer day for a hike and a good workout.  This hike has two steep sections.  The first is 1,017 feet of elevation gain in 1.2 miles to get you warmed up for the next section of 1,306 feet in 0.9 miles.  You do get a little break between them.  After Para Point it is a fairly easy hike.

Google Maps link

A little past the turn off for Easton Ridge is a sport with views of Little Kachess Lake and Kachess Ridge.

On top of Mt Baldy.

Just below Para Point on the way down.

Looking up towards Para Point.

Mount Baldy - Domerie Peak 2014-05-21

9.1 miles and 3,807 feet of elevation gain.

We drove over the pass late Tuesday evening and camped at the trail head.  Explored an old logging road from the trail head before it got dark.  Hit the trail at 6:30 in the morning.  It was a pleasant sunny day.

This is one of those trails that always seems steeper than you remember.  Definitely a workout for me, a day in the park for the boys. 

Did not hit snow until we were almost to Para Point.  Large portions of the ridge were covered in snow.

Google Maps link  Click Terrain for a better view.

 Silver Creek "falls".  Must still be fair amount of snow melting in the creek basis.

French Cabin Mountain, West Peak and on the left is the east end of Kachess Ridge.

 Stuart Range

 Fresh bear tracks.  The temperature has been consistently above freezing and you could still clearly see the claw holes in the snow.  The tracks were not always visible, I didn't try to track the bear.  The boys got very interested in one set of tracks, fortunately, they soon lost the scent.

 Pictures from the top of Mt Baldy

I don't think Sly likes sitting on the rocks.

Looking north, Cle Elum Lake is on the right.

 

 Mt Rainier with Easton Ridge in the foreground.

 

Pictures from the top of Domerie Peak.

 Blue's curly tongue and Mount Stuart.

On the way back to Mt Baldy.

Back at the waterfall near the trail head.

Flowers along the trail

Para Point, Mount Baldy, & Domerie Peak 5-28-2012

We went back to Easton to hike Mount Baldy and Domerie Peak.
I-90 East, exit 70.  Turn left at the "T."  Drive about 1 mile and turn right to Kachess Dam Road.  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 on the unmarked forest road to the trail head.

9.3 miles and 3822 ft elevation gain.  Mount Baldy 5107ft, Para Point 4942ft, Domerie Peak 4771ft.

Trail head: you can go left to Kachess Ridge Trail.  We went right to Easton Ridge/Domerie Divide trail.  This picture was taken on May 6, 2012, when I hiked with Boomer and Jilly Bean.  

We left the TH and crossed a wood bridge.  From here, the trail switchbacks up with 1100ft elevation gain in 0.8 mile. 

From here, you can go left (SE) to the Easton Ridge Trail #1212.  We went right (NE) to Domerie Divide Trail #1308.2.  We hiked ~1.4 miles gaining 1350' to the Para Point.  It was steep.  From Para Point, it is about 1.1 miles southeast along the ridge top to Mount Baldy.  

Mount Baldy.  The peak is bare, rocky, and very windy.  

From Mount Baldy:  Para Point on the left and Mount Thomas on the right.

We found a plaque at the top describing about 3 families.

That is Domerie Peak, our next destination.  It's only 0.5 mile from Mount Baldy but steep and grade 2 scramble.   

Getting close to Domerie Peak

Domerie Peak is the lowest of the 3 peaks we did today but has the grandest view.


 

Champ and Sly at Domerie Peak

Sly and view of Lake Cle Elum

View southeast from Domerie Peak

View south from Domerie Peak.  Can you see me?  I am a way down checking out the trail.

Champ and Lake Cle Elum

Wild flowers are blooming

Calypso Orchids

Pink

Glacier Lilies

Balsam root

Paint brush

Trillium ovatum