Trip Report
Day Hike - Garfield Ledges
Beautiful mossy haven with a great view over the clouds. Following our successful Otter and Big Creek Falls trip on 11/23 as a mentored lead, 3 of us continued our exploration up Garfield Ledges and got lucky with no rain as forecasted.
Courtenay Schurman
- Sat, Nov 23, 2024
- Garfield Ledges
- Day Hiking
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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As of Saturday 11/23, the Taylor River/Middle Fork road has mostly been cleared of obstructions, although it's evident where chainsaws have removed any big downed branches and trees (there were plenty). Thanks to whoever spent hours making all those trails accessible.
To celebrate the completion of my mentored lead hike with the Mountaineers Saturday morning (to Otter and Big Creek Falls), two hiking partners and I tacked on a brief celebratory 1-hour hike Saturday afternoon to the Ledges viewpoint.
This was a new-to-me trail with delightful mushrooms, rich moss-covered boulders, and a wonderful view of the Middle Fork and surrounding peaks. I am thankful for the camaraderie and weather - not a drop during our quick hike.
Not much in the way of birdsong, no mammals other than chipmunks, and the recent winds have pretty much knocked all the leaves down. Still, it had a stark wintry beauty I appreciated. Combining this hike with one at Oxbow Lake would make for a nice winter outing in the future for newer hikers.