TOC Rock (Little Haystack) by Haystack Mountain sits in the shadow of Mount Persis. It perches above Highway 2 by the vast Skykomish River. Meanwhile, Zekes Peak across the valley rises over the secluded Lake Isabel.
See more trip photos here.
TOC Rock at a Glance
Access: Road 62 gate
Round Trip: 4.3 miles
Elevation Range: 480-1440′
Gear: none
Route Info: Redwic @ Summitpost.org
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: on the road
Road 62 Gate
The yellow lab and I last set foot (and paw) here in 2014. We made the fourth trip to Mount Persis before Weyerhaeuser bought the property and closed the gate. Then, in 2021, it sold the land to Hampton Resources (news release).
Despite the guesswork around land use, there were noticeably more documented activities beginning in 2021. The new company’s Recreation Lands page lists the permit regions. But the map doesn’t include this newly acquired area.
See more trip photos here.
East Saddle to TOC Rock Summit
TOC Rock had been through the 2016 Proctor Creek Fire. The aftermath was still evident from the road as we relished the nearby scenery. The path reached the saddle in under two miles and soon ended past the east peak.
The steep, rocky southeast slope offered a direct route from the saddle. The inevitable down logs and the thin blackberry bushes en route were painless. Then, it was a short way to the high point far west of the ridgetop.
See more trip photos here.
East Summit Plus Exit
I peeked at nearby peaks through the trees. The thinner vegetation on the south side viewed Mount Persis and Ten-Four Mountain. I poked around and tried hard to see the river before returning to the broad saddle.
The outcrop by the semi-woodsy east peak offered Wild Sky Wilderness and Sultan Basin views. But it was more of a surprise to see the sheer north face of TOC Rock. We basked in the morning sunshine before strolling down the road.
See more trip photos here.