Beckler Peak's Fantastic Vistas

  The Forest Service Road (6066) to the Beckler Peak trailhead is rutted and rugged.  Chunks of granite brought in by the Forest Service to patch the holes sometimes rudely announced their resistance to traffic by thumping against the underside of the sedan I was riding in.  Clearance is everything on this road.  It's over six miles of single lane, slow going from Hwy 2 to the start of the trail. With reports of late winter blow downs blocking the road (though cleared some weeks earlier) and heavy snow on the trail (perhaps a bit overstated), the parking lot was almost empty--one other car when we arrived on the last morning of June.   Apparently, solitude here should be cherished--the new trail to Beckler Peak was only opened a few years ago, but the word has gotten out that the vistas are well worth the effort.

The trail to the summit is a bit more than 3 1/2 miles.  It begins on a converted longing road, at the edge of "working forest," but the cool shadow of hemlock disguise the fact well.  Lupine and tiger lilies adorn the trail.  When we were on the trail, the fireweed was a week or two from blooming into profusion.  The way up the first part is un-apologetically steep. Our minds were distracted by discussions of botany and potential herbal remedies, but our calves were not.  The ascent can get your heart pumping to a beat your feet can't keep pace with.  Fortunately, the road relinquishes the way to a carpet-like trail that sashays towards the west and ridge where the Beckler finally made his point at 5062 feet.

We encountered patches of snow, four feet deep in places, but trail was well trampled.  Like many middle-aged hikers, I am a convert to trekking poles.  On snow, they help you keep your footing and spread the load a bit.  If you should post hole down, poles can keep you from twisting a knee or breaking an ankle.  They also help you burn a few more calories as your arms become more involved in your life.  For me the biggest pay off is the stress they take off the knees especially on the down hill.


Once you're in the second growth forest below the summit, the incline has been nicely mitigated by a few strategic switchbacks.  Well placed rock steps keep the trail from spreading into a quagmire during the melt out.  After nearly two hours of work, summit came suddenly.  It seemed as if we were in the rocks and spruce one moment, and in the next, on top of the world. Leonardo diCaprio, however, was no where to be seen.  Mind your step when you reach the top.  Between you and Glacier Peak to the north is a unbridgeable chasm.  The views here are 180° of peaks,  valleys and the little of town of Skykomish clinging to its namesake river.

Beckler Peak compares favorably to other vista hikes in the Central Cascades.  It is a little stepper and longer than Mt. Pilchuck, but the trail is nicer, and there are far fewer people on a weekday.  On Beckler, we met a retired couple coming down the hill.  After spending a hour or so on top, we headed down, and met a couple of college kids heading up.  A half day on the trail, and we encountered a total of four people.   Compared to last week's hike on Pilchuck, on a misty day, when we crossed paths with scores of other hikers, this was solitude.

Mt. Pilchuck is a favorite hike of mine.  Coming from Snohomish, it's easy to get to.  It also has an historic lookout and plenty of room for everyone at the summit.  Beckler, on the other hand, has no look out, and only room for six or eight hikers on top.  That being said, the view from Beckler is unrivaled. It is definitely worth the effort.

To get to the Beckler Peak Trailhead, take Hwy 2 East (about an hour out of Everett).  Approximately, two miles past the Skykomish Ranger Station, you'll see the sign for FR 6066 on the left.  It is an abrupt turn off the highway, so use caution.  Stay right at the Y 1.8 miles up the road, and head up hill.  The trailhead is just under 4 miles of rough road away.  Unless you are in a Range Rover, it will take at least a half-an-hour of dodging and weaving potholes and rocks to get there.  On the day we were there, much to the irritation of the ladies,  the privy was inexplicably locked the entire time

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