28.09.2020
High clearance, 4x4 needed. This road is ROUGH. There are dips caused by the wash out that truly demand some higher clearance. If not that then the rocky sections will definitely get a vehicle. In fact the first dip we missed, and taking it too fast caused a battery connection to come loose. It was a little concerning to have the car simply not want to start, but we learned and took the rest of the road at a snail pace. I would say that the latter stretch is quite difficult to pass another vehicle on, so go early rather than later.
Initially the trail crawls along the river until the lovely bridge. After the bridge the trail takes a steep climb upward and becomes quite muddy. I was actually quite happy that I had decided last minute to wear hiking boots instead of trail runners. My runners would have been massacred on the trip. Beyond the woodland grind, the trail levels out into a series of wide switch backs which are relatively wide. Since we were first on the trail that day, I had the lovely pleasure of being ambushed with every possible spider web linking bushes. Every now and then I would have to stop to take them off my glasses so I could see without stripes.
I believe the halfway point is the section with various information signs in regards to removing anything from the site, and the little clearing that forms the campground. I must say; personally it is not the best campground site I have seen out there. Shortly after the campsite there is a lovely view point with an information plague describing the significance of the memorial trail. Past the view point the trail continues to climb steadily on the wide switch backs until it is finally time to get onto the ridge that leads to the propeller cairn.
From this point the trail takes a steeper approach relative to the switchbacks that have been completed. My hiking buddy and I passed the time by looking at mushrooms and I would perpetually inquire if they were good or not. At the point where the trees became sparser I heard an unfamiliar sound. Me being the overly cautious person I am, I immediately grabbed the bear spray in preparation for a beast to emerge from the rustling bushes. After a moment of anticipation, a female grouse wandered out onto a rock and began eyeing us. I ended up laughing so much over my overreaction.
The views at the end of the trail are truly wonderful. Many people say that photos are not enough to depict the beauty, and they are right. It is incredible to see Rexford and Illusion from afar, but standing at the base of Slesse’s towering, jagged peaks is truly remarkable. I could not stop just staring up at the rough ridges in pure awe. It was hard to leave the beautiful place. I think we spent little over two hours just existing on a rock before heading back.
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