OK…we didn’t really “almost die”. We encounter a few sketchy moments though.
I have a strong stomach for risk and adventure. This hike weirded me out a couple of times though.
We decided to finally (it had been on my list for well over a year) hike to the Red Top Lookout. It’s a fire lookout in central Washington. It is still in use during the summer by the Forest Service.
Once we made the 9 mile drive up the dirt road I loaded up my camera and small backpack and we set out on the trail. Everything was going fine – the sun was out and we didn’t have a care in the world.
From the parking area there are two ways up to the tower. One way was a half mile straight up and the other was a little longer trail but gentler climb up the back of the ridge. We chose to hike up the back of the ridge on the way up.
We encountered thin patches of snow on the trail. This was not a big deal at all except they seemed to be placed exactly where the trail was narrow (sometimes only 6 inches wide) and the trail surface sloped to the downhill. Chester and Gretel were fine but I had visions of slipping off the trail every time I gingerly crossed one.
We took the first left, as the hand-written note on the sign instructed, and departed from the gently rolling trail for a moderate climb through a short patch of trees. After going through the trees we came out on the back side of a steep, bare slope. The trail headed straight up the side of the hill towards the tower.
It was pretty narrow and there was absolutely nothing to grab onto or stop you if you started to slide down the slope.
Part way up the trail Chester tripped on something and took a digger with his face in the dirt. Then while I was fiddling with my camera I hadn’t noticed they had stopped in the trail. When I looked up I almost tripped over them. I nearly missed taking a nasty tumble and/or squashing the dogs.
After that I started to get nervous because I realized I had broken my number one rule. I hadn’t told anyone exactly where I was going. There was no one up there. We were alone.
Once you got to the top of the ridge there was slippery mud everywhere but you couldn’t see it to avoid it. It looked like just regular dirt but when you stepped on in the fine soil liquefied and became slick.
The trail at the outcrop underneath the tower was on an uneven, jagged hunk of rock. I stumbled a few times up there. Of course, Gretel the Billy Goat had no problem.
Chester and Gretel were straining at the leash to look down the 400 foot rock face getting way too close to the edge for my liking. I tried to get some pictures but trying to juggle them, and the camera while being careful not to trip and fall off the rock was harrowing.
The views were amazing though so it was hard to leave.
We headed down after about 15 minutes. On the way back down took the shorter steeper route down the front side. It was super steep and Gretel and Chester were pulling me hard downhill. All the while I still had to contend with the slick mud and snow patches.
I was glad to make it back to the car so I could relax my nerves. It was a beautiful hike and probably one of the shortest trails I had ever climbed to get such a great view. I probably wouldn’t recommend it though if you are afraid of heights or have two dogs that will try and trip you up or pull you off of a cliff 🙂
Ok…so we didn’t really almost die….but if there was one time we hadn’t caught ourselves when we tripped we could have.
Kari says
Thats a steep climb!
Stop on by for a visit
Kari
dogisgodinreverse.com
Janis H. says
Love the picture of Gretel! I don’t think I’ve ever seen her ears “perked” up like that before. Adorable 🙂
AdventureJess says
It might have been the wind. Ha, ha.
Colleen Chamberin says
Jessica I hiked that trail in the summer many years back. It was nothing like your experience, thankfully, & I did have Ewok & Chewy with me. I remember the views so thank-you for sharing them. It’s amazingly beautiful up there. Wasn’t Shawn with you? You be careful Sissy!
AdventureJess says
Shawn was at work. It was just a me and the dogs day 🙂 It was beautiful. The view to the south was way better than the north.
Dachshund Nola says
Wow that is STEEP! Congrats on not dying lol. Love the picture of Gretel so cute
Love,
Dachshund Nola
Tammy says
Wow! Those photos are simply amazing! Glad you wound up making it safely up and back down. I imagine your nerves were pretty frayed!
Mary and Roxy says
Good grief, sounds scary. Worrying about yourself and the dogs….sheesh. Great pictures though, looks beautiful.
AdventureJess says
Thanks. We were fine. I may have sensationalized the story a bit 🙂 However, realizing I hadn’t told anyone made it feel more risky.
MaryJane says
It was irresponsible of you to take your Doxies on this hike; you endangered them and yourself – and no one knew where you were going! I’m glad you all made it okay and without injury.
AdventureJess says
Thank you for your opinion. I have been hiking for over 20 years and am very skilled. The statement that we “almost died” was intended to infuse a little humor and I admit to sensationalizing what happened a bit for entertainment purposes. I do admit to breaking my rule about not telling someone exactly where I was going thpugh and in that you are right about that being “irresponsibile”. It’s the one time you forget when bad things happen.
snoopy@snoopysdogblog says
Hi Jessica and the gang,
I really appreciate you all making the effort to hike up there to get those awesome pics to share with us – but I’m soooooo happy you all got back safely – phew!!
Wags to all,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
2browndawgs says
Those views look spectacular, but I could never do that hike as I am afraid of heights. The pictures you got are really gorgeous. Just love the pups little hiking jackets.
AdventureJess says
Yeah…this hike was not for the faint of heart 🙂
Amy says
Wow, fantastic photos! I’m sorry your hike wasn’t more relaxing, but it looks like the dogs had a great time. 😀
AdventureJess says
It was certainly thrilling 🙂
Kas says
Goodness gracious that’s steep!! There is one hike around here that is like that .. you can take the 4 mile way up or the 1.5 mile way up, however they neglected to tell us that they shorter way up was a CLIFF lol. And Gretel is adorable in her jacket <3
AdventureJess says
Actually, for this one I thought our only option WAS straight up the steep ass hill. When we got there someone had used a Sharpie to draw in an arrow showing the less-steep alternate up the back side.
Kas says
Haha that is too funny. And btw, you have the awesomest, kickass little dogs ever. I’m not sure our entire gang could have made it up there …
AdventureJess says
Ha, ha. They DO kick ass 🙂 I am so proud of them.
The Daily Toki says
: ) I know what you mean by the “I almost died” humor. Sometimes when I’m hiking or exploring in the outdoors – especially alone – I start getting more and more paranoid about small incidents. Not that anything really major happens, but I let my imagination run away with me. And yes, it always helps when I remember that I told someone where I was going!
Happy Trails.
Kootenai's Summit Post says
I love your hiking photos! They are so pretty! Hiking is my favorite thing to do. We will be checking out your blog a ton!
AdventureJess says
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Jan says
Fantastic photos, but I got dizzy looking at them. I will just enjoy the mountains from looking at your pictures.
AdventureJess says
I am usually fine with heights but I was getting a little dizzy too 🙂
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AdventureJess says
They’re very cute 🙂