8.5 miles of hiking • 2000' elevation gain •
The day did not start out very promising with overcast skies and a light rain falling. After arriving at the trail head we started out in a steady rain which soon gave way to just a mist. Creeks are running fast. Trail is in good shape. We started up the Park Butte trail, passing through Schreiber's Meadows. Views were limited, the surrounding mountains draped in clouds. Berries were ripe and abundant. Mushrooms of all shapes, sizes, and colors were popping up all over. After reaching the junction with the Scott Paul trail, two miles in, we traveled below the Railroad Grade through the Metcalfe Moraine below the Easton Glacier, which remained hidden from view. We soon crossed boisterous Ridley Creek on a suspension bridge and a small patch of blue sky made a promising appearance as we continued through the moraine before breaking into meadows and rock gardens. The blue sky was short lived and as we stopped for lunch above a challenging creek crossing, the rains resumed and the mists thickened round us like an aging wedding veil. We soon headed down to the creek and after scouting out the area we chose to cross where the trail stopped at the water's edge. The rushing waters were bone-chilling as we crossed, rather gracelessly, one at a time. All made it safely across and, after putting our boots back on, we left the moraine and headed through meadows filled with ripe, plump berries which warmed our souls, if not our feet. Soon we were back in forest, the descent easy on the knees as we returned to the trail head. The hoped-for views were absent today, but the trail is a good one and any day hiking beats most anything else. The sun was shining brightly as we headed home, but not before a stop at the Train Wreck in Burlington for a delicious post-hike repast.
