Kitsap County High Point Trip Report
Date: February 10, 2004
Author: Ken Russell
Excellent winter day for a hike with bright sun and temperatures reaching the
upper 40's. I took the road route. It looks clear that the watershed boundary
follows the right side of the road in its lower reaches. In my judgment, no one
would bother you for hiking or biking this section of the road. Just before the
road reaches the top of the ridge and the KCPQ TV spur, I noticed couple of
watershed boundary signs hanging from trees near the road, but no gate.
I'll leave it to your judgment whether it's OK to continue. A brush-picking crew
didn't seem to care so long as I wasn't poaching brush.
At the sharp curve in the road north-northeast of the "t" in "Lookout",
there is an electrical junction box on the left side. Opposite it, a cat track,
partially overgrown, climbs up to the easternmost antennae installation.
From there the access road connects to the main road as described in earlier reports.
This shortcut was good for about a quarter mile savings each way.
I did the same summit investigation as Duane Gilliland and Bob Bolton.
I sighted over to the western antennae complex at benchmark height and my level
was catching at roof level. That added more evidence that the benchmark is the
actual summit.
As I was finishing my lunch on the summit, a person with a dog appeared on the
road below. My first thought was another hiker but I couldn't see through the
trees very well. My second thought was watershed or communications company security.
When they moved to the west, I dropped down the hill and headed back
to the car.
Logging is continuing on the west side of the mountain, near the Gold Creek access.
I could hear the equipment horns and a loaded log truck passed me not
far below the hairpin road intersection. Caution is advised.