Fret Creek and Fifteenmile Creek

Saturday, June 8, 2024

Today I set off to hike to Flag Point, but things didn’t go as planned.

I parked at the Fret Creek Trailhead on Road 2730 and set off up the trail.

Fret Creek Trail

Fret Creek Trail

Fret Creek Trail

Pretty quickly the trail crosses into the Badger Creek Wilderness:

Fret Creek Trail

It was not a good sign to be seeing Trillium so soon in the hike. Trillium bloom right after the snow melts:

Fret Creek Trail

Fret Creek Trail

Fret Creek Trail

Crossing Fret Creek on a footbridge:

Fret Creek Trail

Fret Creek Trail

More trillium:

Fret Creek Trail

First snow sighting:

Fret Creek Trail

Looking down on the creek from the trail:

Fret Creek Trail

Lovely moss:

Fret Creek Trail

Crossing back over Fret Creek and encountering more snow:

Fret Creek Trail

Fret Creek Trail

Fret Creek Trail

This old trail hasn’t burned and the trees still have blazes on them from way back in the day when trails were marked with tree blazes:

Fret Creek Trail

Fret Creek Trail

Yet another creek crossing, this time without a bridge:

Fret Creek Trail

Then the snow started getting deep:

Fret Creek Trail

I reached Oval Lake:

Fret Creek Trail

Fret Creek Trail

Shortly after the lake I reached the junction with the Divide Trail:

Fret Creek Trail

Not looking good:

Fret Creek Trail

Fret Creek Trail

I decided to make that my turnaround point. Following the Divide Trail up to the top of the ridge seemed like a bad idea with so much snow on the ground, especially since I didn’t have any traction with me. I tried to go too high too early in the season!

Back at the trailhead it was too early to call it a day, so I decided to explore the Fifteenmile Trail which started at the nearby Fifteenmile Campground:

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

I quickly reached a junction and stayed straight:

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Signs of recent trail maintenance:

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

I reached the junction with the Cedar Creek Trail and briefly detoured down to the creek crossing:

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Back on the Fifteenmile Trail I continued until I reached this pleasant rocky meadow area:

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

This was a good turnaround point so I headed back, enjoying the lush forest as I hiked back to the car:

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

Fifteenmile Creek

All in all a pleasant day, despite the snow mishap!