We're going in at the Kek west trailhead on Friday. Given the logistics of an end to end hike, I'm expecting we'll just do an out and back. I know that they haven't sent any clearing crews in this spring. Has anybody day-hiked it this spring yet, and/or does anybody have general intel about the condition of the trail?

I have been on the Kek for a couple of day hikes this spring. I turned around just before getting to the Benezie loop but the trail was in very good shape up to that point.

Some cuts looked pretty fresh, but not sure if they were from last year or if someone had done a little trimming this year. There was a saw hanging from a branch on a dead fall across the trail just before the first beaver pond. Was going to try to use it to cut the dead fall, but the saw was pretty dull so gave up on that idea. Really not as much down over the winter as I would have expected.

Have a good trip and please report back on trail conditions.

Don't have any trail conditions to report, just wanted to say that I'll be up there this weekend as well. Going in on Saturday, doing a quick loop of Snowbank/Disappointment. Don't know if I'm going to go clockwise or counterclockwise yet.

HappyHuskies: "There was a saw hanging from a branch on a dead fall across the trail just before the first beaver pond. Was going to try to use it to cut the dead fall, but the saw was pretty dull so gave up on that idea. "

I saw that saw while doing the Snowbank loop last September. I assumed it was accidentally left behind by the crew that went through there last year.

HappyHuskies and geotramper, you both just made my day. That sounds better than I expected, should make for a good trip. Geotramper, how was the north section of Snowbank last fall?

TominMpls: "HappyHuskies and geotramper, you both just made my day. That sounds better than I expected, should make for a good trip. Geotramper, how was the north section of Snowbank last fall? "

Great hiking. This was the first weekend in October if I remember correctly. Trail was clear of major trees across the path. Brush wasn't thick (although it was late in the season) and the tread was easy to follow. I do remember one beaver dam on the north-ish side of Snowbank that wasn't very structurally sound which made for pretty wet and muddy feet. I'll take those conditions any day. Also saw a black bear foraging just West of Grub lake.

We got back yesterday, the trail is in gorgeous shape. I was really surprised how good it looks given that there hasn't been any clearing this year. We did the western half - according to the Kek guidebook, 19.3 miles out to the stream just beyond the Strup Lake campsite on the main trail, and then a little further on the way back, as we stayed on a site on the Benezie-Becoosin loop. The Old Pines and Benezie-Becoosin loops are both in good shape, though a good bit more rugged than the trail itself. We're already talking about doing the eastern half, as well as the BRT later this season.

If you're considering doing the trial, buy the guidebook. It's an easy trail to follow, but the guidebook is way more convenient than the Mackenzie maps at confirming the various spurs and crossings, and it provides some useful information about the trail too.