Copper Creek

We started our adventure at 9:30am with a light drizzle and 45'. The overall trail was in good shape. The trail follows the creek for the first mile as you gain elevation, crossing over it 3 times with log made bridges that are in good shape and passing several waterfalls and the old copper mines. Then you start to really climb.

When you read the route report it sounds a lot like hiking Mt Rose, as far as feet per elevation per mile that you climb. Very close to the same, but where Mt Rose has a lot of switchbacks and a few manmade steps, Copper Creek, has a few switchbacks and a lot of man made steps. Mt Rose is the treadmill set at high incline, where Copper Creek is a stairmaster. Anyway, there are a number of old growth trees down across the trail, some easy to hike under, some have been notched out so you can go around or over them with a bit of caution. However there are a few new smaller trees that have come down recently that you will need to maneuver around.

At 1 1/2 miles up the trail you come to a junction where the trail goes straight for 1 mile or right to the top and ridge loop trail.At about 2 miles you come to the ridge loop trail, left takes you up quicker and steeper, where right is longer and more gradual incline. We took the left trail on the ridge loop since it was now raining harder and going down that side on our decent would of been slippery.

Once we got to the top it was raining harder and you could feel the temperature drop several degrees, top was in the clouds, could not see much. We had a very quick snack and made out way down. The trail was becoming muddy due to the amount of rain and even with rain gear on we were getting wet. However the trail was so beautiful and green that you totally forget about the rain and that you are wet and you just enjoy your surroundings with great friends.