We checked out the pedestrian underpass, which is the first time we'd seen it since it was completed.
I really adore this hike in spring. The forest is just so insanely green and lush. And we hit the peak of the larkspur bloom this year. Hooray!
Some of the larkspur had leaves that looked yellowish. It's like how leaves look in the fall. Very weird. I've never seen this in May before.
We saw SEVEN snails!
We passed a section where the trail had been slightly re-routed. It seems like every time we come here there's a new section of trail that's been re-routed.
When we neared the Pioneer Point viewpoint we discovered that the trail was covered with brush.
Here's what it looks like from the other side. There were signs indicating that it was private property and also that it was for sale.
Later we found this thread from Ryan Ojerio.
The backstory here is that the parcel of land was being considered for purchase and subsequent addition to the Forest Service. It now appears that the land will not be purchased so the owners are taking precautions to protect themselves from liability.
Very uncool. The land is for sale, so I don't understand why the Forest Service isn't purchasing it. Also, why were hikers allowed to hike on this private section all these years, but now all the sudden they can't? I guess I'm ignorant about the intricacies of buying land, but why would anyone buy this parcel of land when it's surrounded on all sides by public land?
At least there is still the very nice Nancy Russell overlook further along the trail.
We didn't want to be TOO late to the Meet N Deet at Wahkeena Falls and it was already 11:00 so we satisfied ourselves with a view at one of the other nearby viewpoints and then headed back.