Packer Paul Packs the crew into Lucky Pass
Report written and compiled by
Alex Mason, FS Trail Crew Lead This August, the gift from the Dianne and Joe Hofbeck Pasayten Trails trust supported a trail crew of 8 on Hidden Lakes Trail #477, following up on our 2023 hitch. Unanimously deemed the “friendship” hitch, this trail crew of 8 headed into the Pasayten with enthusiasm and optimism abound. Would we finally be able to clear the trail all the way in to Hidden Lakes? We didn’t know, but we were going to try our darndest, and we were going to have fun doing it. The damage from the Diamond Creek fire of 2017 had thwarted many trail clearing missions from Forest Service and partner groups alike over the past three years. Nearly 600 trees later, in an incredible act of redemption, we were finally able to open the trail all the way to the junction with Tatoosh Buttes Trail #485, 16 miles from the trailhead! The hitch started with a boost up to Lucky pass from our fantastic packer Paul and his trusty steeds. At the pass we bid Paul and Co. adieu and backpacked the last mile plus to Hoot Owl camp where the water source was just big enough for us to use mugs to scoop water into our filters. The weather was extremely hot the first few days, but the smoke stayed away. Crew morale started high and, if possible, only became higher. We woke up the following morning and made a sweaty push straight to Deception Creek where we learned why it was given that name. We set up camp and continued logging out for another mile or so before turning in for the night. The following day we packed up again and bumped our camp to Cougar Lake, the first lake! Boy, was it a sight for sore eyes and sore bodies. The end of the day found us all immediately in the water. The lake provided necessary revival and a surprisingly excellent loon viewing. On the fourth day we worked backwards from Cougar Lake and finished clearing the section of trail that is probably in the worst condition as far as tread and brush goes. There are washouts and burnt out root holes that can and did swallow a human whole. Looking forward, we will spend more time improving this section. 
Before
After!
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Where could the trail have gone?
Found it!
Day 5 started with a full crew to clear a large tree on the scree field just beyond Cougar Lake. The afternoon became hot, and energy was low, but the sight of the Stubb Creek cabin in the distance kept us going. We camped at the cabin that evening!
There was a ton of moose activity, including a moose in camp at night, and the low lake water provided excellent tracking opportunities for other wildlife. While camped at the cabin we woke up to smoky air and ash falling on our tents from the Calcite fire which was just crossing the border from Canada. The morning of the sixth day we successfully reestablished the trails to the hitch rail and toilet as well as completed logout to the junction with Tatoosh Buttes. Elated, we bumped back to Hoot Owl camp the next day with the feeling of accomplishment enveloping us all. Our last day allowed us some time to improve some of the tread surface. Looking forward we will work on continuing tread improvement to make stock access safe throughout. 
Friends work together to move a log off the trail
An improved section of tread
Liam loves using a crosscut saw
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A celebration of the accomplishment at Lucky Pass
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While the Pasayten Trails Trust mainly supported this trip out to Hidden Lakes, funds were also utilized for other projects and trail clearing missions throughout the season. With assistance from these funds we also spent two 8 day hitches removing and rebuilding a failing stock bridge on Andrew’s Creek trail #504, falling trees ourselves for the stringers and sills. The funds also assisted in clearing the trails to Holman Pass via the West Fork Pasayten and the trail to Doris Lake.
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Thank you to all FS partner groups and thank you
Joe and Dianne |