Pyramid Mountain / Pyramid Peak — Saturday, May. 11, 2002

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast

I think this is sometimes called Pyramid Mountain, but peak seems a slightly better description of the tiny chunk of rock at the top of this trail that serves as the foundation for an old World War II aircraft lookout cabin. And that rock foundation is just barely big enough for the small building and a very narrow path around it. If you don't like looking straight down a rock to a lake 3000 feet away, you may not like this destination. This trail is located on the north side of Lake Crescent, just west of Port Angeles. Beginning at an elevation of about 700 feet, it climbs steadily, without any real letup all the way to the lookout at 3100 feet. The trail hugs the steep hillside most of the way up and then traverses a narrow ridge line for the remainder, making some of this good spring conditioner a bit scary at times, cuz its a long way down the mountainside to a water landing. The trail is in good shape, though a bit overgrown in a few places, meaning it doesn't get a lot of traffic. In fact, I spent a magnificent spring day on the mountain and didn't run into another soul. Good elevation gain, great views, a few bugs and lots of solitude.