KUOW Hike of the Week- Easton Ridge- Contest

Updated: Friday October 14, 2011
With snow on the ground close to 5000 feet in many locations this hike is great as it is snowfree. This hike is located about 16 miles east of Snoqualmie Pass near Lake Easton. This weekend will bring some clouds and slight chance of a few showers but if any showers should be light. Bonus hike, Rachel Lake, scroll to the end
Photo below is typical fall colors, photo by Alan Bauer
Photo below is hikers going up small knob, photo by Alan Bauer

Photo below is view of Easton Lake, Photo by Karen Sykes

Photo below is summit meeting on top of Easton Ridge, photo by Karen Sykes



Driving Directions:
From Seattle drive I-90 east and get off at Exit 70. Proceed over the freeway and turn left onto frontage road (signed Kachess Dam Road), continue to Forest Service Road No. 4818 and turn right. Stay on Road No. 4818 to an unsigned road junction, turn right, continue to the trailhead, elevation 2,400 feet (it is also the trailhead for Kachess Ridge). For Easton Ridge turn right on a path to Silver Creek, a few paces upstream you’ll find the bridge. A Northwest Forest Pass is required.

Trail stats: From the trailhead to the rocky outcroppings on the ridge crest it is approximately 7 miles round-trip with about 1,700-1,900 feet elevation gain. High point is at about 4500 feet.
Driving directions and trail stats by Karen Sykes
Remember this information is our best estimation so you should have a current map and or GPS to assist you.

CONTEST

Question How much snow will be on the ground at Paradise Ranger Station on 12-1-2011 at 1 am.
Rules: 1 Winner is the first person who has entered with the correct guess or closest guess, 2. In the event of a tie the winner is first who has entered with the correct guess or closest guess, 3. One guess per family, 4. Guesses must be in by November 7, 2011 by 1 am and email them to
enter guess here
First place prize: New waterproof, lightweight Platypus Origin 5 hydration pack designed to keep you comfortably hydrated on half- or ultralight full-day excursions. Features a 2L Platypus Big Zip SL reservoir plus 5L of gear storage http://cascadedesigns.com/platypus/hydration-packs/origin-5/product

Second place prize. Backpacking Washington, By Craig Romano
http://www.amazon.com/Backpacking-Washington-Overnight-Multi-Day-Routes/dp/1594851107/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318184187&sr=1-1" />
MORE HIKES

Rachel Lake
Photo below is just one example of all the colors, photo by Michael Fagin
Photo below is view of Hibox Mounatain (6500 feet), notice new snow at about 5000 feet and above, photo by Michael Fagin
Photo below shows more fall colors at their peak, photo by Maria Lamarca Anderson

Driving Directions
From Seattle take I-90 east to exit 62 (signed "Kachess Lake"). Turn left from the exit ramp and drive northeast and follow the signs to Lake Kachess Campground. Turn left on FR 4930, which goes about 4 miles to a large parking lot and the trailhead at the road's end.

Trail stats
Roundtrip 8.0 miles
Elevation Gain 1600 feet
Highest Point 4600 feet