Crystal Peak — Monday, Nov. 4, 2019

As the two women I passed on the trail today said, "You can't complain on a six volcano day!" All five of WA's and Mt. Hood were out in some stunning sunshine. Not much to add here but just a nudge to get out here before the weather turns and the road closes! Road is completely bare of snow right now. I know as of yesterday Google maps was still showing a road closure on 410 but that was temporary because of a rockfall and it's definitely open again... we'll see for how long! Chains are required to be in your car once you're in the national park as of Nov. 1st though. Trail is almost totally devoid of snow and there are just a few hard-packed/slippery spots here and there as you get higher. I had microspikes but never donned them. Poles were useful in a few places, especially coming down off the peak where there was some icy snow with a little more exposure. Spent some time with a woodpecker on the way down... I think a hairy but hard to tell being so high up and backlit! I was the fifth car when I arrived and only saw three other people on the Peak trail today and two below the junction with the Lakes trail, so all in all a pretty good spot for some beautiful solitude right now.