Cape Horn Loop

I woke up this morning with the intention of hiking Silver Star via Grouse Vista Trail, but I couldn't see the summit because of cloud cover. I decided to go do the Cape Horn Loop. This is my first hike since I had recovered from a fractured bone spur on my heel. I have a group hike on St. Helen's scheduled in three weeks, so I need to get back into shape. This was the first time I have done this hike. I parked at a Park and RIde lot at Salmon Falls Rd. The trail starts across the road from the lot and quickly climbs up. I ran into a group of teens working on the trail about a mile into it. I later heard they where part of the Washington Trails Association. My first view point was about a mile into the hike. I could see The Gorge to the east and north to Silver Star, which now was clear. It appears that there is a new trailhead of sorts being constructed at the end of Strunk Rd. There are great views of The Gorge to the east. The trail drops pretty fast back to Hwy 14 where a new walking underpass is being built. I ran into the first and only other hikers there. The signs said the tunnel was closed for construction but it looked pretty much completed. The trail continued to drop and I had a couple more viewpoint of the river before coming to a waterfall that the trail took me under. It then started heading west and switch backed over a moss covered talus field. The trail soon ended at a paved road that I had to walk up 1.3 miles to my car. Another highway underpass is being built to get you back on the other side to the parking lot. It was a great moderate hike for getting back into it. I'm glad I didn't push my self to do anything harder because I was pretty sore at the end.