This is just to add to the recent literature on different approaches to the Kings Mountain summit. My ascent route last Sunday took in only about 0.15 miles of the regular Kings Mountain Trail. The off-trail portion was less than two miles, but I suppose that justifies a posting on this forum.
I headed up the Kings Mountain Trail and took a left onto the Wilson River Trail. Shortly, I crossed the old logging track that was the approach to Kings Mountain Jr. before the Wilson River Trail was built. I declined to take it this time as it has degenerated into an alder obstacle course. This is what it looked like the last time I was there, in March 2010:
The Wilson River Trail rises under Douglas-fir, red alder, and big-leaf maple to meet another logging track at the same spot as the original Kings Jr. route. About 150 yards along this track, just as it drops slightly around the nose of a ridge, and after you pass between a couple of alders, the unmarked Kings Mt. Jr. Trail rises steeply up.
Soon, you arrive at an exposed ridge with views south and west, as well as north to the West Ridge of Kings and then its summit.
The Kings Jr. Trail has become well-worn over the years as it climbs to a couple of high points on the ridge and then descends to join the main Kings Mountain Trail. From this junction, I headed steeply uphill about 200 yards to where the trail levels off again.
Off to the right is an overgrown logging track which marks the beginning of the Coxcomb route (If you reach the 2,500’ marker, you’ve gone too far). I used the directions in my
50 Hikes in the Tillamook State Forest (Sierra Club) to follow this route. Mandrake also linked to this write-up in the thread to his recent report on the Southeast Ridge:
http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/vie ... 10&t=10127 , and mayhem via Eric Peterson also posted the Mazama map of the routes in that area on mandrake’s thread.
The route proceeds along this track, now colonized by young Douglas-firs:
The track deteriorates as you squirm through copses of Douglas-firs and then disappears altogether. It’s important to keep on a level contour as old road tracks plunge down the slope and you don’t want to go down. There are also innumerable elk tracks in this area. You scramble across a steep slope with some views to the Wilson River Valley and then cross the Southeast Ridge. From here, you cross two small drainages. The first is a stumbling slog through thigh-high salal with numerous rotten logs tossed about to add to the sport. The second drainage is a more diverse mixture of bear-grass, Oregon grape, sword fern and salal and is easier to negotiate. You can see Coxcomb Ridge ahead before you cross a dry creek bed and then it’s a matter of scrambling up to begin the ascent.
The views are magnificent across a sheer-sided ravine to the south wall of the East Ridge and then across a forested bowl to Elk Mountain.
An unkindness of ravens (always wanted to write that) wheeled overhead and a red-tailed hawk screamed its disapproval of my invasion. The rough, crumbly sea-floor basalt is padded with moss and clumps of phlox, penstemon, and stonecrop. There are plenty of good hand and foot holds on the ridge, making the ascent the highlight of this hike. My only complaint would be that it was far too short on such a gloriously sunny day - only about 100 yards, and then, after negotiating a small notch, you’re back in the woods. From here, you angle up to the right to meet the crest of the East Ridge. There are elk trails criss-crossing the entire slope and fresh elk droppings everywhere. Soon, I passed a TP flower and then a campfire circle and arrived at the top - no snow and a crust of frost only in the shadows. From the summit meadow, there was a clear view of Mt. Hood on Sunday, and also of Mt. Adams through the trees.
From my lunch spot, on a carpet of kinnikinnick overlooking the Lester Creek valley, I looked down over Coronary Ridge, the Lester Creek pinnacles, the alder-shaded road that is the Wilson River Trail, and the North Fork Wilson. In due course, I headed down the main trail to return to the parking lot. I don’t use a GPS, so see mandrake’s thread for the maps.
The Kings Jr is Marked on the wilson river trail it is just faded. EP Was going to beat me up after arguing with me about it. I made a video but he still did not believe me. He went out & looked very carefully & sure enough a beat down was avoided for the umpteenth time!
