I got a late start on this solo hike, because I live about 100 miles away in the Seattle area and had to ride the ferry. I also thought it would be fun to call back to my Marine Corps days (got out in 2008) and so I carried a 60-pound ruck with emergency supplies. For the future, I would recommend none of these things. It's a fairly challenging hike to begin with, so there is no sense in making it more difficult and risky by (a) going alone, (b) starting late, and (c) adding needless weight. I have to say, right near the top here, that everyone should be advised about the washout about 1/3 (or so) of the way up the trail (picture attached, although as you know, pictures never do these things justice). If not navigated properly it could be VERY dangerous. I actually got a little fight-or-flight heart palpitation thing going on while I was crossing. It is sandy, maybe 100-250 feet across, and there are areas where the footing is so narrow that you will have to walk with your feet parallel to the bluff. It's not a perfect 90-degree drop, and you may not be killed instantly if you fall, but it could cause very serious injury and/or turn your day hike into an unintentionally overnight affair. While you are crossing, do not try to grab onto the wall as it is mostly clay and will break, and expect minor pebbles and dirt to be constantly raining down from overhead. Additionally, nearer to the top, there are parts where the snow is fairly deep and the trail narrow enough that losing your footing could also turn you day trip into an overnight ordeal. Overall, it's not entirely a life-or-death hike, but I would only encourage intermediate to advanced hikers to travel this one. It's not for kids, not for the out of shape, and not for the faint of heart. I don't remember what this hike was rated in terms of difficulty, and maybe it seemed harder because of my pace and the extra weight, but this time of year the hike is definitely in the "strenuous" category. The first third is soft, dry ground and a mild to moderate grade, the second is alternatingly steep and occasionally rocky, and the third is pretty brutal, particularly with snow and mud and often steep grades. There are points in the last 2/3 of the trail where the grade must be 35-40 degrees for sustained periods. I don't think my pulse dropped below 100 BPM for two and a half hours, and at the top the sweat was pouring off my head. For these reasons I would recommend bringing lots of water (I had a 100 oz. CamelBak) and extra food. I saw about 7 other people on the way up, in 3 groups. One group advised me of the washout and told me to take off my YakTrax, and that poles would be better. I would NOT advise that for crossing the washout. I think YakTrax are essential, and poles would be more dangerous, if anything, because they occupy your hands when you need them to steady yourself or brace (but not grab) the wall. YakTrax will also be COMPLETELY essential near the top, as there is lots of mud and snow to be traversed. I might have spent an extra 15 minutes slipping around and getting dirty without my YakTrax, gaiters, and old tennis shoes, all of which are good ideas for this one. On the way up, there are several "false" endings near the end of the trail, where you think you're done and there's another quarter mile before you think you're done again, only to find another quarter mile and so on. Because I started so late (4 PM), I almost didn't keep going all the way to the top for safety reasons (I didn't want to cross the washout in the dark, for one), but I'm glad I continued to the top, because... ...danger/logistics aside, this is a BEAUTIFUL view. There is a cool WWII plane-spotting cabin (apparently 1 of 2 still standing of the original 13 in the Olympics), the inside of which has been vandalized with various insipid amateur philosophy, and even some vulgar anti-Bush scrawlings, just in case W finds himself atop Pyramid Peak in the next few years feeling good about himself. You will find you are REALLY high up, and the views of Crescent Lake (and others nearby) as well as the snow-capped mountains are rivaled only by that of, say, Mt. Pilchuck on a clear day. Because it was already dusk by this time, I only spent 10-15 minutes up there, but under better circumstances I would have stayed for a nice lunch and some good pictures. I ran all the way back down, which was hell on my knees with the pack and the 100 oz of water, and I even bit it once (mercifully I survived with only a little gash). All told, it took me about 80 minutes to get up, and 40 minutes to get down, but most people at a normal pace should plan on closer to 105 minutes and 75 minutes, respectively. There is a cool dock overlooking the lake below the "parking lot," which makes for some more good pictures, and after the laborious hike up (and down), it would be a shame to miss the easiest view of all down there at the bottom. There are also picnic tables and a fire pit for groups who want a scenic BBQ to put a cap on the hike. All in all, I would describe the difficulty as 'high' to 'very high', the view as 'exceptional', the hiker traffic as 'low', and the danger as 'moderate' to 'high'.

Introduced my California cousin and his wife to Lake Crescent Lodge and Pyramid Peak. It was a perfect, partly cloudy day for this 7-mile, snow-free, round-trip hike to the old lookout tower. We started after brunch, around 11:45 am and had the trail completely to ourselves. The hike is nearly entirely in the cool shade of the forest, with peek-a-boo views of Lake Crescent initially, and later on, of Vancouver Island and the Strait of San Juan de Fuca. The first half of the hike is quite gentle but the latter half is steeper. The trail, however, is easy on the knees, being mostly fallen pine needles on packed dirt, and the route is in excellent shape. Three small stream crossings ensure plenty of water. A pair of very large fallen trees have partially blocked the trail about 1/3 of the way up, but you can easily squeeze under them. Of more significance is the landslide about 2/3 of the way up, which has left only an 8-12" wide path that falls steeply away and feels a bit precarious, esp. if there is any more moisture added to the soil. Poles were quite helpful here, but use caution. The views of Lake Crescent, Mt. Storm King and Happy Lake Ridge from the false summit just a few dozen yards from the lookout are actually better than their corresponding views from the summit itself. From the summit lookout, however, there are unparalleled views of Vancouver Island, the Strait, Mt. Baker and the Cascades on the horizon. Several patches of calypso orchids were in bloom along the trail, with some monster-sized white and pink trillium. TIME IN: 1:45 TIME OUT: 1:15 DISTANCE (R.T.): 7 miles ELEVATION GAIN: 2400 ft. DIFFICULTY: mild-to-moderate for the first 2 miles, then moderately strenuous to the summit DIRECTIONS: U.S. Highway 101 west from Lake Crescent to Camp David Jr. Road. Turn right and follow this gravel road for 1.6 miles to the North Shore picnic area. PARKING: plenty of parking and an outhouse at the North Shore picnic area, but the small pullout directly across from the trailhead is closest. NO DOGS ALLOWED

The last report to WTA that I've seen about this trail is from May 6, 2005. It says that the trail is impassable due to a landslide. Today I found that the trail was re-established across the roughly 250-foot width of the slide. The new trail is only about 8"" wide, but unless one is particularly susceptible to vertigo, it can be walked quickly and easily. Restoring the trail to the specified 18"" tread would be difficult, because most of the soil and vegetation slid off, leaving bedrock and little--but enough--soil behind. If a hiker did slip off the trail, he or she would have a dirty slide down the talus slope and a tiring climb back up, but it would probably not be a serious fall. The rest of the trail is in excellent condition. I was amazed to find that the lookout at the summit is being nicely restored. I look forward to seeing it when it is finished. Today was a glorious fall day, with brilliant yellow maple leaves and warm sun on the mostly south-facing trail, which I had all to myself.

Chose this trail for National Trails Day. The trail appeared to have been recently maintained. The land slide area is passable at this time. It's precarious but not un-doable. The bugs however, were practically unbearable. I was only able to bear about 5 minutes at the top due to the swarms. My lunch break was also cut short due to the bugs. Otherwise, the trail is in great shape and the view is spectacular!

Trail impassible due to landslide! The trail starts out pleasant enough, easily passing through the lush forest on the north shore of Lake Crescent. Except for one large, branchy blowdown, the trail is in very good shape. The first two rivulets are easy to cross, but the third is washed out and a bit tricky. About two miles in, the trail is abruptly destroyed. A large landslide has sheared off a steep face of the mountain, cutting a 50 foot swath through trees and trail and leaving a bare exposed scar about 1000 feet long. The composition of the soil is too dangerous even for ice axes and rope. Time to turn around at this point. It's not a waste, however, to do the first two miles. The trees are lovely and trillium, western starflowers, and fairy slippers decorate the underbrush. There is a nice public dock out into the lake just below the trail head with a picnic table on it which is perfect for a lunch break.