We had a beautiful Saturday ride, with unseasonably warm weather. Despite packed parking lots, we didn't see a single other biker on the trail. We found the directions super confusing, though in hindsight they are accurate. After the blue gate, you stay to the left at the first ambiguous spot. After that, you continue until the road takes a left at a rusted gate. Insted of taking this left, you go right/straight over the large water bar onto the actual CCC road. Views were great without leaves on the trees. There were lots of stream crossings and downed logs that required dismounting. After going through the extension, which is the best/prettiest part, we took the middle fork road back to North Bend to save some time, stopping by Scott's Dairy Freeze.