Amazing hike! One of my favorites in WA so far.
The drive wasn't too bad. Gravel road for several miles up the mountain, but mostly smooth.
Started at the upper trailhead late afternoon, and parking was easy. We were happy we started there rather than the lower trailhead. Did not feel like we were missing out on much, and it was still a great workout.
A steady uphill climb through trees eventually turns into a steep rocky incline with sweeping views behind you. In the rocky section, mountain goats were a constant presence. They were not at all shy around people and blocked the trail several times. Our dog REALLY wanted to say hello to them, but we did not let her for obvious reasons. We kept our distance, and the goats tended to disperse after seeing a lot of people (and our overly eager dog). There were a lot of people and dogs on the trail, but it was actually a good thing to keep the goat-to-human ratio in check.
Bugs were annoying. We applied bug spray but didn't pack it for the climb, a rookie mistake! It would have been good to reapply after sweating it off. That said, I don't feel like I was bitten at all. During the hike, I thought I was going to need to bathe in cortaid all week.
The summit is incredible with views of the jagged Olympics and more mountain goats.
Comments