Stan’s Overlook, 2018

Sign at the trail head

Stan’s Overlook on the Rattlesnake Mountain trail is approximately a 5-mile round-trip hike with 1050 feet elevation gain.  Note:  the sign at the trail head says 1.9 miles to the overlook but the Green Trail map says 2.5 miles.  We calculated the round trip to be closer to 5 miles than 4.  On a clear day there is a nice view between the trees of the valley below but it was not a clear day when we went this time so we were amid the clouds and had no panorama view.  

 Sorry, no panorama view today, we're in the clouds . . .

a little down from Stan's in the power line, still in the clouds

Parallel bike trails cross the hiking trail in a few places near the gates.  We met and talked with a couple of mountain bikers.  Bikes are not allowed on the hiking trail.  There are also separate trails for horses.  New bike trails are being added and should open around the 19th of May.  When we were there a trail crew of 6 guys were building a kiosk at the junction turn off to Stan’s.  If one were to continue two miles upward from the junction to Grand Prospect, this would be a 9-mile round trip hike.  The bike trails are not as steep as the hiking trail and offer a longer trip down.  From Stan’s we could see that the crew had also put in some bumps for trick riding.

Salmonberry

 Trillium--drenched with rainwater the petals are almost transparent

 This trillium was large and spectacular!

Bleeding heart

 Dozens of these large and smaller currant bushes

 Closer look at the currant blossoms

 Fringe cup

Devil's club just beginning to leaf out

Oregon grape

Yellow stream violet

The usual early flowers were out, trillium, fringe cup, salmonberry, red currant, elderberry, Oregon grape, bleeding heart, and yellow stream violets with promise of lily of the valley; vanilla leaf, Solomon seal, devil’s club and fireweed just leafing out but not in flower yet.    

Bob standing by a giant tree stump

This area had been logged once upon a time and there are some giant old stumps to be found here and there.  

general trail condition

 There are stairs like these in a couple of places

 Gates like this one can be found in several places.  They are designed to deter bikes and horses from the trails designated for hikers only.

Wider section of the trail

 Moss covered branches

The trail condition was good, only one log to climb over, and even though it has been raining a lot there only a few muddy areas.  It is wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side in places but more narrow in others with some fairly steep sections.

Stats:  3 hikers, 3 mountain bikers, 6 trail crew members and one huge, black lab trail crew dog wearing a day-glow orange jacket just like the rest of the crew.