Cloudy day but no rain and unusually warm at 50° F. The Saddle was crowded with cars so I headed down to the next turnout at Forest Rd 800. Even when tons of people are up at the Saddle, this road is usually quiet. That was true today as well--we met one lone hiker and that was it.
There are a lot of routes to choose from at this starting point. I wanted a relatively short walk today, though, so we did an out and back up the hill. The route (link here) follows 800 all the way from the gate until the road peters out into a trail. A couple of features on this walk make it especially nice. Baker Creek is a lovely spot especially with the beaver ponds and lots of running snow melt. This road also goes through a patch of big trees which are stately and awe inspiring. Finally, the road climbs 240 feet in elevation over a mile which can get the heart rate up some.
The mileage on this route is approximate. I drew it out using the satellite image and referring to the map and memory. The end point is what I'm least certain of--the road narrows and is blocked off becoming a trail at the top of the climb. There's a stand of big trees (mostly on the left) as you go out and you end facing a 20 or so year old clear cut stand. If the mileage is off, it's not by too much and it's a nice walk on a winter afternoon.
As far as the dogs are concerned, this is always a good walk. There are two creeks to soak in, lots of deer trails to investigate, and today a little snow remained up toward the top. The Puppy was in the mood to pick up sticks and carry them around between wrestling bouts with the Big Dog. The Big Dog enjoyed some bites of snow and chasing the Puppy. Truth be told, though, any day that includes a walk is a good day for dogs.
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