Dirty Harry's Museum and the women SVTC hikers

A matrix of logs and boulders ensnare Dirty Harry's abandoned logging truck.

Today I was out-hiked by members of the Snoqualmie Valley Trails Club, with most of the members in attendance  being women. True, I was hauling more than 28 pounds in my largest backpack, but I think I would have had difficulty staying ahead of them under any circumstances. But I acquitted myself well, regardless, ascending an estimated 2,070 feet and covering more than 7 miles enroute to Dirty Harry's Museum, situated on the north side of I-90 off exit 38. But at the end of the hike I was quite tired and would need an hour to recover before I headed off to a ballroom dance lesson.

Dirty Harry was a logger with a checkered reputation, and one of his trucks -- which composes the entire museum -- is lodged between rocks and logs high up in the hills. How it got there was related by Roxanne Eve, our trail guide, but I'm reluctant to tell the story third hand. It was something to do with the Forest Service changing the roads and making it impossible for Harry to remove his truck. I leave it to others to get the full and complete story.

The hike was steep and strenuous. Some of the trail was challenging, and other parts like a staircase. There were opportunities to twist an ankle, but the biggest challenge was just the steepness.
We met at North Bend at 9:30 a.m., carpooled to the trailhead, and were back to our cars by 2:30 p.m. I was home about 4 p.m.

The hike provided views of nearby mountains rising over I-90.

"Dirty Harry's Balcony" is an overlook of the I-90 corridor.

As we left Dirty Harry's Balcony, hikers spotted two large trillium by the trail.

Statistics for the day:
Distance:> 7 miles
Conditions: Clear skies, cool
Load: 28 pounds 
Elevation gain: 2,070 feet


Statistics, year to date:
Distance: 126.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 36,800 feet
Next Goal: 43,233 feet (third Rainier)