Green Mt, Seabeck, WA
Wildcat trailhead - Vista - Beaver Pond trail - Wildcat trailhead
(8-28-2010)---Estimated 10 miles with 1000 ft gain.
For continuous weekend hiking, I wanted to do
day hiking or an overnigher to the Olympics with the Kitsap Outdoors or the
Peninsula Wilderness Club (PWC) members. Both did not have a good schedule for
me. Also, I needed to do some chores around the house before the rainy season
starts. So, I thought about doing a short day hike, 3-5 hrs. After talking with
my co-worker, a young engineer, we decided to hike a local trail, Green Mt.
Green Mt is the second highest peak at 1639 ft
on the Kitsap Peninsula. Gold Mt is the highest at
1761 ft located at 1.5 miles southeast of the Green Mt.
If you Google the Green Mt trail, it is a popular trail that allows hiking,
biking, HORSE RIDING, and MOTORCYCLING. Basically, we used the Green Mt State
Forest Trail Map downloaded from the website (www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/eng_rms_green_08_full.pdf). You would cross the service roads a few
times and the trail could be confusing, but simply follow the trail sign. The
trail usually continued across the road. A loop of the Wildcat and Beaver Pond
trail is estimated at 10 miles with 1000 ft elevation gain. At the Vista (top)
and along the Wildcat trail, a view to the Puget Sound and Seattle was barely visible as the cloud was
not totally cleared yet. On the Beaver Pond side, not much view to the West,
maybe, a couple of snowy Olympic Mountain tops.
We hit the Wildcat trailhead at 0715. We were
the only people when we started but when we returned the lot was almost full.
My analog temp indicated 45 - 65, and was a beautiful sunny date. We completed
the hike in 4 hrs 15 min that included a couple of 10 min breaks. We purified
water below the bridge on the Beaver pond trail. We did not get sick so water
was ok. Also no bugs !!! WATCH OUT FOR THE LOW HANGING POWER LINES!!! On the
way back on the Beaver Pond trail, we saw 4 groups: 3 motorcyclists, 2 bikers,
1 hiker with a dog, and 2 hikers. It was sort of fun and I had decent exercise,
but I am looking forward to next weekend day-hiking to Tuck and Robin Lakes in
Snoqualmie (14 miler with 3700 elev gain!) with strong hikers from PWC and the
Kitsap Outdoors.
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