By Jessi Loerch
“Did not mean to climb it, but got excited and was soon on top.”
John Muir said many wonderful, inspirational things, but this quote has always been my favorite. He wrote it in a letter to his wife after climbing Mount Rainier. I have such a vivid mental image of Muir, transcendent with the beauty of the mountain, scrambling upward in delight.
I felt somehow the same way — although on a much, much smaller scale — when I found myself standing on top of Benchmark Mountain.
I’m doing a story soon about the hiking options from the trailhead at the N. Fork of the Skykomish River, which is a really fantastic spot.
For research, I hiked the N. Fork Skykomish trail recently. When I got a mostly clear day, I headed out there. My plan was just to hike a little ways. I figured I would get up above most of the trees, check out the views, and turn around. Then I’d take a quick jaunt down a third trail that leaves from the same area and head home.
Instead, I kept going. One more turn, one more climb. Eventually, I realized I was less than a mile from Benchmark Mountain. I did some math. If I kept going, and didn’t linger too long, I could make it back to the car before dark. And even if it did get dark, I had a headlamp and warm clothes. I could hike in the dark for awhile.
So, before I knew it, I was on top.
West Cady Ridge, which leads up to Benchmark Mountain, is full of mountainous views and meadows of red huckleberry bushes so bright they seem to glow.
Benchmark Mountain itself has a front-row view of Glacier Peak. Even with some smoke in the air, I could also see Mount Baker and Mount Rainier. There were peaks all around and wide views down into the valleys.
I could see huge smoke clouds from the fires on the east sides of the mountain. They were a mix of fascinating and terrifying. While I was there, something in the wind or weather must have changed because the clouds grew dramatically while I watched. One even formed its own little lenticular cloud, which was soon swallowed up by the growing mass.
I signed the summit register, watched the ravens playing and hawks soaring above me and took a ton of photos.
On the way down I ran into a group of three men out bear hunting. They had just gotten some water from a spring below the summit and were cooking dinner. They were the only people I saw all day.
I hustled on the way down. Over and over, I flushed out ptarmigan that were sitting near the trail. Most of them shook dust everywhere as they flew away. I think they had been taking dust baths in the trail.
I really can’t recommend this trail enough. It’s amazing right now.
And check back later this week. I’ll have a story with more details about this hike and others in the area. I think I’m going to be spending a lot of time out there.
To get there
Head east on U.S. 2. Just past the town of Skykomish, turn left on Beckler River Road. After 15 miles, turn right on to Forest Road 63 and drive to the end of the road. The road is mostly dirt, but in decent condition. You’ll be fine in passenger car.
The trail to Benchmark Mountain is 14.5 miles roundtrip, with 3,700 feet of gain. The trail is pretty mellow, though, and you’ll feel like it’s less than that.
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