Sorry, its been a long time since I updated this blog. Haven’t done any REAL hiking for while, for various reasons- rain, garden projects, work, and of course just lazy.
Its been literally months since I last hiked up Rattlesnake Ledge, something I’ve done dozens, if not hundreds of times since I’ve lived in North Bend. But Rattlesnake Lake and Ledge are extremely popular and on nicer days like this are also extremely busy. And I really hate crowds. SO…
Forecast to be warm day – mid 80’s, I waited too long to get out for an “early morning” cool hike. I find it hard to get up and out by 6-7am like I used to, until I’ve had a couple cups of coffee and a good breakfast. Today I decided to try a new trail that I knew to be quiet and moderately easy but hadn’t been on before.
Driving 11 miles up the Middle Fork Rd, which is right here in North Bend, and newly paved the whole way, I parked at the main lot at the end of the main road, and walked across the street to the CCC trailhead. CCC stands for Civilain Conservation Corps which, in the 1930’s, built trails all over the country. This was one that benefited.
I started out right at noon, and easily followed a well groomed trail in beautiful forest, past the Middle Fork campground, winding like a snake left & right and eventually starting to climb. Because it was warm, I decided to just go an hour, break for lunch, then turn around and an hour back. But I found a dry creek bed that was a perfect place for lunch at the one hour point, and I estimated I was closer to the other end of the trailhead, so I continued on. Sure enough, it was only a quarter mile and I was back on the main road.
Rather than hike uphill back the way I came, I just walked along the road for 2 miles or so back to the parking lot. I don’t know if that was a good idea or not. I had to avoid cars, or, rather, they had to avoid me, and also I was in more sunshine most of the way, instead of shady woods. But it did save me considerable time and mileage.
Round trip I would estimate 5.5 miles. The trail was 3.4 so could have been 6.8 miles if I’d hiked the trail in return. All in all though, it was worth it. I was back to the truck around 2:30, and sat in the shady bed of the truck with a can of pop resting. I wasn’t worn out, but it still felt good to sit and rest.
Short YouTube video hiking thru the woods https://youtu.be/_R37Phl80KY
Once I got home it was another hour on the patio enjoying the breeze shade, then time to mow the lawn.