|
HIKE |
Mt Washington |
|
ROUTE |
Up the main trail, TNAB special bushwhack, hit the top |
|
DATE |
05/04/2006 |
|
ATTENDEES |
Chris M, Chris S, Damon, Dan, Don, Jim, Joan, Larry, Mark C, Mark S, Russ, and Tom. |
|
NOTES |
Snow is better than bugs |
PHOTOS
Photo credits: Mark
Photo credits: Chris S.
TRAIL1EPORT
Hello, TNAB'ers:
As expected, the "official" schedule had to be tweaked in order to avoid heavy snow on Snoqualmie Mountain, so Mt Washington was bumped up to the front. Good timing, as it would turn out, for a sweet hike/bushwhack/snow trudge.
It was a very warm and pleasant evening, mid-70s, with hazy skies for the beginning of the hike. The great weather must have been responsible for the large turnout: one dozen hikers! The Crew: Chris M, Chris S, Damon, Dan, Don, Jim, Joan, Larry, Mark C, Mark S, Russ, and Tom.
I don't get paid enough to keep track of ya'll. Next week - nametags!
It was Damon's first hike out this year, while the prodigal Mark C returned (with Jim) from an extended TNAB absence. The newbie was Tom, the man behind www.nwhikers.net. Welcome to TNAB, Tom! Remember, it takes two TNAB hikes to be a TNAB veteran...
We all hit the trail shortly before 6:00 PM. The next hour passed quickly as we climbed and switched our way to the creek. From here, we left the main trail and started up the eastside of our next objective - the ridge. Commence bushwhacking! The bushwhack was mercifully short but scratchy. Upon gaining the ridge, we had a new condition to deal with: snow! Fortunately, Dan and Larry, with their customary headstart, left great tracks to follow (or not to follow - watch the postholes). It was interesting to see so much traffic in such a remote place as we zigged and zagged up the ridge.
The rest of the hike up was straightforward from that point on. We got to the logging road, kept to the left, then hit the trail to the summit, where we arrived shortly after 8:00 PM. Entertainment was watching Joan destroy the mini-piņata I brought, with Don's ice ax - woo hoo!
We stuck around for a short while, then headed back. Here, the "wanderings" began in earnest. The majority descended the bushwhack route, Chris M was off examining potential rock climbing routes, while Jim missed the bushwhack turnoff and was on the other side of the mountain. The Marks decided to try the logging road first (lots of snow), then bushwhack down before it made the big contour around the east peak. This route had its charms, but was ultimately much longer than necessary. So once and for all, I promise myself that next year, I'm taking the bushwhack route off the mountain! Nonetheless, we all made it back to the cars by a reasonable time - can you say fiesta? It's Cinco de Mayo somewhere!
Next Hike: Silver Peak, tentatively. If anyone has some beta on current conditions, please let me know. It seems likely that snow will be an issue for some weeks to come...
Cheers!
-Mark