Rating: 7/10

The Glacier Ridge trail is the most difficult one in the network of trails in this region. Actually, the only challenge about it is the short ~70 yard (I'm guessing here) rocky section known as SOB Hill, which is close to the intersection off of the Middle Fork of the Swan road. The rest of the trail is quite easy and deserving of a 3-rating. The other end of this road is at Georgia Pass. It is about 4.5 miles in length.

The views from Georgia Pass are pretty nice, but there is a short drive to an unnamed summit just to the east to gain a bit more elevation and see some more things. Just below the summit, the Glacier Ridge trail takes off to the north. There is a distance of the road that is 15 or 20 degrees off-camber (I can't remember which), but it's not rocky so it's no big deal. During the descent, I went through a number of puddles. I only bring this up as it must have been a little humid since the brakes and tires could not dry off. This would definitely come into play on the SOB Hill descent as they grinded their way along.

Once at the hill, I got out to walk it and see what it was all about going in this direction. It looked plenty doable to me, so I got back in the 'Runner to do this thing. Well, after making the first drop in the first few feet and lightly hitting my rear bumper, and some decent whacks on a slider and skid plate due to the rear end swinging around from the tires skidding on the slick rocks, I knew this could be a pretty wild ride! Sure enough, I was a kamikaze pinball over the rest of the obstacles as well. Good times! The hill itself has about four bigger rock ledge obstacles to traverse. From here, it's a short drive out to the Middle Fork of the Swan road. Going uphill on this section is more difficult, and pretty much requires a locker.