Day Hike - Jester Mountain

 Tibbetts Park and Ride at 6:30AM so that we can get a lot of the climbing done before it gets too hot!  (and hope to get a parking spot!)  It's about 1 hour 40 mins to the TH from Tibbetts.    I will not be organizing carpools so please connect with one another if you want to ride together to Tibbetts.

Google map from P&R to trailhead:  https://goo.gl/maps/rBbNkbBUkN62

From WTA:

From I-90 take exit 85. Go left to cross the freeway, and make a right onto 970, passing the Twin Pines Drive-In. Hwy 970 veers left. 9.4 miles past the Twin Pines Drive-In, turn left onto Hwy 97 and continue for 9.9 miles. 

Turn left onto FR 9714 (start watching for it after Blewett Pass when the highway takes a fairly steep turn to the left) and drive for 2.7 miles to the road-end at the trailhead for Trail 1351. At the end of FR 9714 you will ford a stream just before you get to the trailhead. The last 200 yards of road is a bit dicey but you can park in several turnouts just before you get to the ford.

The Iron Creek trailhead is three miles from Hwy 97. No fee is required to park there, but there is no toilet available this trailhead.

I've chosen an out and back route which gives us a good dose of  ridge-walking along Teanaway Ridge.   We'll head off-trail for a short jaunt up Jester Peak if conditions allow.    Past trip reports suggest we'll see lots of flowers but past their peak.

Be prepared for  heat, rain and all possible weather in between.    No guaranteed water along the route (as we'll be mostly staying on the ridge) so carry plenty, 3L if it's going to be hot!!  Latest trip reports suggest that there are only small snow patches left near the top so microspikes aren't necessary....may want to throw in a pair of waterproof short gaiters if you want to wear your low-tops.  Bring plenty of sun protection.

This is not a beginner hike - participants should be in good condition with recent  hikes of at least 6-8 miles and 1500-2000' gain to tackle this hike.   We will maintain a moderate pace and stay together, so people who want to speed along up the trail at a pace faster than 2.5 mph may want to pick a different group!