Why You Might Not Want To Wear A Skirt Even When Recreating Responsibly

Editor’s note: there are quite a few people landing here on my story about wearing a hiking skirt while recreating responsibly (got to love Google) and if that is you, you will find information about what I wear at the end of the post!

The Friday before last I ventured out for a hike about an hour from my house, doing my best to stay local-ish and not be on a city sidewalk or a park I’ve done a bazillion times since the middle of March. I had the top of the Index Town Wall to myself for about an hour, basking in the sunshine. It was glorious!

I only had to pass about 11 people on the way down its narrow steep trail when I usually see nobody. While I was up top, I had gazed over at Heybrook Ridge on the other side of the Skykomish River and watched cars pull into the county parking lot that begins the newish Heybrook Ridge Trail. So many cars. I thought about how the trailhead to the Heybrook Lookout on the other side of the ridge is still officially closed (as is the lookout) but that people are still hiking it, too.

Then I got to thinking about the ridge itself. I’ve really only ever spent time on the clear cut swath when it is covered in snow, it makes for a decent snowshoe if you don’t mind a few powerlines. I knew there was a service road that lead from the back of the lookout down to the Index-Galena Road, I’ve wandered down it a few times part way.

Gauging the distance in my head, I wondered if it would be possible to make a loop by going up the Heybrook Ridge Trail, across the ridge to the lookout, down that service road and then walk Index-Galena back to the county parking lot. I knew there was not a trail across the whole ridge but there had to be an old service road, right?

If I got there early enough to avoid crowds on the ridge trail, I could spend a few good hours on the rest of the loop with no people. Most folks target the lookout and the viewpoint on the south end then go home leaving me plenty of space to explore. Social distancing and all.

All this is to say, I got up at 3:30 am this last Friday to be at the Index Town Wall trailhead by 5:30am so I could have the whole thing to myself both up and down. I don’t know exactly what prompted me to put on a skirt that morning but I didn’t feel like more confining pants. Must be all this time at home not having to wear “real” clothes to work. Or maybe too many trips to the refrigerator.

But seriously, I do love hiking in a skirt more these days. I wore one for my whole Camino Primitivo trip. If it weren’t for mosquitos, it might always be a thing. Mentally doing the hike in my head, I figured it was mundane enough to warrant a skirt. Best thought out plans…

The weather was much more dreary than last Friday but just as beautiful. Raindrops on fern fronds and delicate moss sprouting from thin pine trees lined the trail and swirls of low clouds floated in the valley below. I saw no one but there were two cars in the parking lot when I left. Perfect.

Then, I drove back through the small town of Index and turned left on Index-Galena away from the county parking lot. At about 1.8 miles, the forest road I wanted was on the right just after Lewis Creek. I pulled in and turned around to park. One other car with Oregon plates was there and I guessed from its fogged up windows someone had literally car camped for the night.

I decided to start my loop here with the road walk because I just knew I didn’t want to end with one. So, I took off back down the road towards the official trailhead. Last Friday there had been groups of people walking it with strollers and trailrunners. Today I had it all to myself.

The walk was actually pretty nice (except for the pavement part). Lewis Creek was overflowing and the Skykomish River was raging. Very few cars passed by and it was interesting to see the small homes and cabins along the way. The sun was breaking up the clouds and the day appeared as if it would be affording better views on my second hike.

I got to the trailhead parking lot about 9:10am and it held about 11 cars. Less than this time last week when cars were literally circling for spots but more than I had hoped for. But there was no way I would have been able to get up before 3:30am to make that happen.

I quickly walked through the parking lot and headed up the trail. It starts out wide and gradual, much different than the Index Town Wall which is basically a climber’s route up the cliff wall. This one is well built and easy on the knees which translates to mean there are actual switchbacks.

There were three women ahead of me for most of the hike until I passed them when they stopped briefly on the trail. I passed 4 more people that were headed down. I was calculating in my head how many people might be up at the viewpoint and whether I wanted to bother stopping as it is much like the one from the top of the wall. But now with clearer skies.

The trail breaks out from the trees shortly before the viewpoint where the powerlines run along the ridge and I could see the mountain peaks I had missed earlier on the wall. Approaching the end of the trail there were two hikers sitting on a rock enjoying a snack. I thought, how nice they are giving space. The viewpoint must have people on it.

One of the hikers cautioned me as I walked past, “There’s a wedding.”

What?

Yep, a wedding of about 8 people at the viewpoint. Of course there was. It’s a beautiful spot. And nothing else is open right now.

So, I promptly turned and took the boot path that led up the ridge under the powerlines. Let’s see where this goes? Maybe there would be another less crowded clearing further up.

The vegetation here is mostly low level salal, grass and rock, the swath down the ridge allows for good views of the surrounding mountains peeking over the bristly pine trees that line it. You just have to photoshop out the powerlines in your mind.

The path soon fizzled out and met the service road I was sure would be here. It was pretty chewed up with tire tracks and mucky, but better than nothing.

In a quarter mile I passed another tower and the road was lined with straw. How nice someone was trying to keep the mud at bay! Then I noticed a clearing to the right side. I wandered over and discovered a new viewpoint had been built.

Stone stairs led up to a circular platform lined with more stones perfect for taking in the Skykomish River and Canyon Falls below. It was breathtaking. And I had it all to myself!

For about 9 minutes, then the three ladies I had passed earlier arrived and climbed up on the platform behind. So much for solitude. Or social distancing. They didn’t seem to get the hint when I put on my mask, either.

Then, a minute later, three more women arrived. Luckily they didn’t climb up to where we were but it was six other people too many for me so I was out of there. No one had masks on and clearly all from different households, six feet was not enough for me. And that would have been before a pandemic. I like my solitude.

At least I know it is there for another day.

Continuing up the ridge, the service road gradually became less defined. More of an idea of a road that a vehicle may have once traveled a long time ago. Two narrow tracks petered down into one and in about another .75 miles there was nothing.

I could see my destination off in the distance, the summit of Heybrook Mountain which sits at a meager 1820 feet or so. The road down to my car sits on the other side of it. Maybe another 1.5 miles?

I weighed my options. The vegetation was not terribly high or rough, some salal and ferns. I could just continue straight even if it might be a bit slow going.

I also knew I was now running parallel to the Heybrook Lookout Trail on my right and it would not be difficult to cut across and join it. There would be a bunch of downed trees to navigate but for a short amount of time. I knew this from my mushroom hunting experience.

But that would mean people and there were sure to be some headed up to the lookout. And it would be a longer detour.

So, I headed directly for Heybrook Mountain. No, I did not factor in the skirt. Or the fact that the ridge was undulating down before it went back up to the summit.

And down meant that the short vegetation became taller and more dense the further I went. And the ground became more water logged and filled with bramble. Soon I was pulling out my bandanna to sop up the blood running down my legs as I pushed waist deep through all the spring growth. No pain, no glory, right? I was forging trail here! Still, I couldn’t help but think this was why you might not want to wear a hiking skirt even when recreating responsibly.

On the other hand, I’m pretty sure ticks are not an issue…

Once down in the “valley” below the summit, I had another decision to make. Did I ascend straight up or around to the side? It was clear from the map that the left side was steeper than the right. But I knew the right was basically the service road up from the lookout. What fun would that be?

Having had enough of the bramble, I made the decision to go into the forest on the left and take my chances there would be less undergrowth. I was right, it was so much easier to walk, just some trees to navigate. Nothing grabbing at my ankles to snare me.

From here, it was a straight forward scramble up the side of Heybrook Mountain about 300 feet. Have I mentioned how much I love scrambling? Even on something as mundane as this? And while wearing a hiking skirt?

About 150 feet shy of the summit I broke out of the trees and found a spot to sit for a snack. The angry red tracks on my legs had clotted enough to stop bleeding and my shoes were water-logged. I didn’t know I could have so much fun so close to civilization.

From here, I stayed out in the open and made my way closer to the tower that sat at the summit. The slope leveled off in about 10 minutes and I came to an actual boot path. A boot path that led back into the woods on the other side and to the service road.

I took it and looped around the side of the “mountain” to come out on the other side. Wahoo, I summited! As I stood there I could hear laughter coming from the lookout confirming that I had avoided people by taking the road less traveled. Or the ridge less traveled I guess. The view here is open, Baring Mountain and Gunn Peak towered to the east in the notch of the ridge clearing.

But it was time to finish my loop. I could look over the summit and see the road I needed. Did I want to continue straight down here or go back to the service road?

It wasn’t really a decision, I turned and made my way back down to where the service road meets the lookout service road and the backwoods toilet.

More laughter and the barking of competing dogs echoed to my right so I promptly turned left and walked the service road.

In about a quarter mile the road split and I took the left to drop down off the side of the ridge. The rest of my walk was uneventful, passing just one other hiker on her way up. I crossed Lewis Creek about half mile from the car on a capable bridge with the rushing water below me.

I was back to my car at 12:41 pm for a total of 7.3 miles for the loop. With the town wall, that made for a 10.6 mile day.

I can’t say I would have done anything differently, not even the skirt. It certainly didn’t inhibit my mobility. And scraped up legs are just one more excuse to not have to shave my legs these days.

But it is a stinging reminder to always be prepared for anything and expect the unexpected.

Even when wearing a hiking skirt and recreating responsibly.

Things I Have Learned Since Wearing A Hiking Skirt

The first skirt I started wearing while hiking was an Eddie Bauer skort from Costco that I cut out the liner of to wear on our El Camino Primitivo walk in Spain. It was great for flat hiking but a little short and narrow for more adventurous undertakings.
My next skirt was a robin egg blue one from Purple Rain Skirts out of Bend, Oregon and I have not looked back. Roomy, well designed with large pockets I now have 3 of them (black and dusty pink have joined the wardrobe). The comfy waistband alone is worth the price you pay. I hate to admit it but I now own 8 Purple Rain Skirts, including 2 of her winter versions.
I do have to wear something underneath at times due to humidity, cold or bugs. Or when riding my bike. This may be a base layer of wool thermals or just some capri leggings. When it is warm, my trusty pair of lightweight Nike running shorts with the liner cut out that I have been wearing for years as a part of my backpacking clothing system work to keep chafing away.
Having always worn pants, chafing was never an issue. However, when it is hot and humid friction can happen. My first step is to watch how I walk, taking a wider stance. Second, I carry ointments like coconut oil and the Knuckle Balm I talk about in this post. It is usually enough to ward off a rash.