I haven't hiked the Old Pines loop in several years and was thinking about making it an early season trip as soon as a little more snow melts off of the trail.

The last time I was out that way was before the 2016 blowdown and was wondering if anyone on this forum hiked it last year? If so how did you find trail conditions and are the old growth pines on the southern loop still standing? I did hike the Kek last year and found it to be in pretty good shape, but did not venture onto the Old Pines loop.

Thanks for any information you can share.

I accidentally hiked part of the old pines loop this past weekend. I meant to stay on the Snowbank trail, but missed a turn and kept going.
Anyway, I can't tell you if those old pines are still standing. Some of them might be, but if you are a big tree lover, you may get pretty depressed while hiking out there. There are so many big trees tipped over. It just goes on and on.
The trail crews have done an amazing job though and have made the hike relatively easy compared to what it must have been after the storm.

No bugs right now, and very little snow on the trail, but it is wet in the low spots, and any beaver dams are overflowing and tough to get across with dry feet.