It’s a long way to the top if you want to walk and roll

The WTA trail description needs updating. I doesn’t appear that the USFS intends to repair the washouts across Thunder and Wildcat Creeks anytime soon. The crossings are makeshift, but suffice for the most post. You have to balance across unsteady narrow home-built bridges or logs that may be slippery if it’s wet. But kudos to the folks who are putting in time to try to make these crossings and approaches more passable. If you follow the directions to eventually get to the trailhead up the 1384 road, you’ll be walking for a long time. I was pedaling a MTB and pretty much ran out of steam about a mile before the classic trailhead at 5200’. The road is ‘easy’ to ride, but it’s just a long ways and steep for a bike. I’m in pretty good shape, but I was biting off a little more than I could chew. Since you have to walk or ride to the 5000’ trailhead any, I’d suggest forgoing the 1384 road, parking at the washout before Thunder Creek, walking to the #1111 trailhead and walking the trail to the 5000’ trailhead. I wouldn’t want to MTB up the #1111 trail, but walking would be fine. There are a few unmaintained and makeshift bridges, but MTB riders are doing a good job trying to maintain ways across the streams. Watch out for downhill MTB riders. The trail has many surprisingly scenic qualities. Once you’re at 5000’, the trail is awesome and beautiful. No one has cleared the trail this year, yet. There are many, many blowdowns, especially above 5200’. I turned around at 5400’ and up until that point, there was no snow. From other ridge tops, it appears that the entire ridge to Bootjack Rock is free of snow.