Do this hike and count how many times you say to yourself, «I wish I’d never been born.» I guarantee you it will be more times than there are cars in the parking lot. Start off on a deceptively easy walk through a typical Pacific NW forest of old and second growth. After about 1.2 miles(GPS) you come to the old parking lot for the trail. The trail becomes moderate here, with some loose rocks and tree roots. The trail is also nice in that it alternates from incline to a small period of relatively level ground. The trail also switches from forested cover to full on sun. Once you get climbing, you’ll see Mount Dickerman to one side and chortle at the poor souls who are agonizing their way to the top. But don’t get too happy. After the waterfall which will lull you into a stupor, the climb gets interesting. On a dry August day the hike is not as challenging, but earlier in the season I can imagine all kinds of mud, wet tree roots, slippery rocks — which all make for an interesting hike. Even on this dry happy day navigating the path can be difficult. And the path climbs. More. The hike says 3000 feet gain and the majority of it comes in the last… oh…2.5−3.0 miles. Not switchbacks per se, but just endless trudging up narrow paths that are determined to trip you up. The path is nicely cleared of vegetation just recently, but there are BUGS galore. My hiking buddies only had the bugs swarming around them, but the bugs sure loved me. One drew blood that ran down my legs which attracted more bugs. Bring spray. Oh, but spray didn’t work in my case. If you saw a petite Asian woman waving a stick around and shouting GOAWAY! LEAVEMEALONE! all the way up on the Perry Creek trail 8÷7÷2013, that was me talking to the bugs. The part after the creek crossing with a big log bridge is the final homestretch. It is an endless upward climb — not steep — but just full of roots and rocks. Just when you wish you were never born, you reach the top. From there it’s another little bit to the meadow… which unfortunately at this time of year has already past its bloom. But I can imagine in full bloom it would be beautiful. No blooms, no problem. The view of the surround big four mountains is also pretty awesome. The elevation at the top was 5300 feet. The spot’s great for camping(there was a fire pit and cleared areas for tents). We saw animal tracks in the mud of the rapidly shrinking lake/pond. Huckleberries still have a few weeks to go before they’re ripe. I’ve never used a stick on any hike but am glad I found one on the trail. It helped a lot coming down. Would go back again, but probably earlier in the season to catch the flowers.
