Kesting

Hello again, If you knew the route then going down would be easier as there would only be one rappel. (The vertical root ladder has a sling rappel point, but it is easily down-climbable). The problem is that route finding is somewhat difficult (when to go left or right around cliffs and when to hop on knife edge ridges, etc.) Also the route off the ridge to the final rappel would be impossible to follow unless you knew where to go. I think the route finding is much easier going up. You only need to bring slings, there is no rock around that is solid enough to anchor anything! Probably 8-10 large slings would be fine. If you go down the route it would also be difficult to find the start of the correct ridge. The point where the ridge meets the plateau has no indication whatsoever that a trail exists there. When are you planning to go? Take care, Chris Kesting

Hi Chris, Three of us went up the Mystery Trail last Sunday (6/8/2008). We parked at Ainsworth State Park Campground. Take the connector trail up to the Gorge Trail (#400) and head East. After about 0.25 mile before the trail starts heading down hill turn right on a faint track that disappears in about 10 feet. Continue in that direction until you reach a deep gully. Find your way into the gully and climb up it about 200 feet until you can climb out the East side. Hike straight up the East side until you intersect the Mystery Trail. It officially starts down this ridge where most people access it directly up the overgrown streambed from the freeway exit (not the best route). Turn right on this trail and work your way up to the saddle at the South side of St Peters Dome. The trail continues South up a short scree slope and then traverses a ledge to the West. Be careful here as a fall will result in a 100 foot splat. This is where you need to rope up. The next 70 feet are extremely dicey, near vertical mud and deep moss with a you-fall, you-die exposure over said 100 foot cliff. Someone should install a fixed rope here (maybe next time). There is a cable around a large tree at the head of this gully that probably had a fixed rope at one time. We climbed up to the right where there was protection in the form of small trees. The gully itself would require step cutting in 70 degree dirt. You can put away your climbing gear at this point. Head straight up to the top of the ridge from here. At the ridge turn right and skirt obstacles either on the left or right. In most places there is a faint trail. At one point you walk along an awesome knife-edge ridge that terminates in a 50 foot vertical wall with several small cedars that make a convenient tree and root ladder. At the highest cliff impass, skirt around to the left in a slight descent(the right side is another death gully of 70 degree dirt). Once around the cliff, climb straight up to the ridge and proceed to the edge of the plateau (with a great big sigh of relief) where the Rock of Ages Trail is shortly crossed. You can turn right here to return to your car or turn left for several loop options. We hiked up over Nesmith Point where there was still 3-4' of snow and down the standard Nesmith Point trail. Enjoy your climb and don't forget the rope!