{"id":38439,"date":"2026-03-04T13:02:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T13:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goatbells.blog\/?p=38439"},"modified":"2026-03-04T13:05:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T13:05:04","slug":"three-layered-water-cake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goatbells.blog\/?p=38439","title":{"rendered":"Three-layered Water Cake"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Three hikes were considered within 1 hour drive, Alpine, Hardesty and King-Castle. Weather being same, key choice lever was Alpine’s south-facing hill – drier. A good choice as Alpine Trail<\/a> was a 3-layer water cake. Lower elevations were muddy, middle elevations between TH #2 and #3 dry, and above TH #3 very muddy from last week’s snow melt. Spring = south facing hills; summer = north facing hills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I left Covered Bridge TH<\/a> in Westfir about 6:30am as it was just light enough to see without a headlamp. Looking up the hill from TH, fog was in my morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Even before I reached the first bench (a 2 mile climb), 3 small deer appeared out of the mist and quickly headed down the hill (I didn’t see or hear them until then). Not far along on that first bench, off to the west of the trail is an area with deer fence with a well maintained road – weird. I can’t figure out purpose – & an expensive fence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An early break in the trees showed nothing changed wrt fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Not too far beyond TH#2 is a very steep meadow with clear views to west. When I passed thru the first time after the sun burnt off the fog, the nearest cascades came into view – first Diamond Pk and then South Sister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The second time at the meadow, a red-tail hawk soared above and perched atop a near-by tree, waiting. Song birds were out – wrens, kinglets and chickadees – along the entire way. Ravens and Steller Jays plentiful too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Route<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Started at the Covered Bridge TH and then up Alpine Trail past TH#3 to Windy Pass. Turned around came back down to Tire Mt junction and went about 1\/2 mile towards Tire. From there straight down to the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n