Tamanos Mountain — Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024

Today I introduced two sons in their 20s to one of my favorite hikes. It got mixed reviews, which I will blame on the weather and them being lame.

FYI: WARNING, there is an in-ground wasp nest about 1.0-1.5 miles into the trail, right in the middle of the path. The hole is visible, about the size of a cantaloupe, left side of trail as you head in. Not a problem on the way out (sleeping bugs), but both sons got stung on the hike back.

Left Seattle area 5:45, had to register for the first time ever just to enter the park (a bit odd, but not terrible--I'll do this in advance next time), and started on the trail by about 7:45. Only 2 other cars in the Owyhigh Lakes parking area (and just one when we left!). Cool, foggy, overcast most of the way, but the trail was great.

84 minutes to the turnoff (just over 4 miles) to the right to start the serious uphill portion (when the grumbling started--our average pace of about 21 min/mile dropped to about 50 min/mile). The boot track upward is the same, largely narrow trenches compacted by hikers for years, some parts are 18-24 inches deep! But a glorious flowery hillside meadow to hike through (the boys tried their hand at yodeling). On the way up it started to clear, but still none of the great surrounding sights that make it so memorable (until the hike out).  We DID see a handful of grouse, however.

At about 2:25 we hit the saddle on the ridge (still no views of Rainier) and turned right for the ridge walk. 20-25 minutes later they were ready to call it quits at the end of the trail (and some peekaboo views) but I told them it continued for another few hundred yards to the left--this is the wonderful scramble that is the highlight of the hike for me, but their least favorite part. To each his own, I guess. We passed one guy coming down, wearing a down jacket (ominous, considering I was in shorts and a T, though both sons were wearing fleece). A few wrong paths and mostly right ones--keep in mind that as you scramble toward the true summit, your tendency it to stay high, but there are usually better paths forward about 20 feet below and you can get blocked on the top of the ridge. Finally we were at the top, snacking, and the mountain made a decent appearance along with the sun. Warm rocks feel nice on frozen hands. But when a cloud blew over like the dementors in Harry Potter, we were suddenly shivering, damp, and cranky. About 2:45 to the summit, 20 minutes atop, and 2:15 back to the car. The trail is great for trotting, but one of us had blisters, new boots, the wrong socks, and a surgically repaired knee, so we went easy downhill averaging about 20 min/mile. In the end, a wonderful day that I hope they will remember more fondly as the years go by.

Vital stats--Distance: 10.35 mi

Ascent: 3,016 ft

Time: Up 2:45, down 2:15

Moving time: 4:35, total time 5:19

Now for the all-important question: How do you pronounce Tamanos?  I've heard both Tuh-MAY-nos (like Camano Island) and TAM-uh-nos. Are there more? Who is right? Probably a discussion for around a campfire.