Mount Townsend - Olympic Peninsula, WA

May 7, 2016

This is a fantastic hike with awesome views, WOW!!! I read this hike is one of the most popular hikes on the Olympic Peninsula through all seasons....and now I know why.

The trail climbs gradually and in steady pace gaining 3,200' in 4 miles. It's a bit long hike with a good elevation gain, but I saw quite a few family hikers with kids on trail. The tail is in good condition over all, except one section of the trail blocked with major blow downs....several trees as a cluster. But, you can trek over them or veer around them. Hopefully they will be cleared soon as the main hiking season is just starting and getting busier with more hikers. There are small patches of snow here and there on the trail at higher elevations, but nothing to worry about. Perhaps, they will all disappear pretty soon as this warm weather may likely persist. I had hiking poles with me just in case, but hardly used them after all.

The hike is really wonderful.....deep forest, creek crossings, water falls, and switchbacks with fantastic views. Wildflowers are just beginning, and I particularly enjoyed glacier lilies blooming.

Jaw-dropping panoramic views open up as you come out of the forest. Enjoy the views of the deep valley down below and Cascades range on the skyline.....and in between is Puget Sound. Continue to ascend the steep face going up above Camp Windy in switchbacks, and take as many stops (and pictures!) as you want because the views get even better as you ascend.....Glacier Peak, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, Olympic range, the Sound and beyond.

Go right to Mount Townsend at the sign of "Silver Lake/Mount Townsend". Breathtaking vistas never stop following you as you continue to ascend from there, weather permitting, of course. Take in 360 panoramic views at the summit....all the majestic mountain views of Olympic range to west and Cascades to east....Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Glacier Peak, Mt. Baker. To north, San Juan Islands, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island are visible. Seattle and Puget Sound cities are seen tucked in between. I think Mount Townsend is the only place so far where I could see the entire region and mountain ranges with Puget Sound in one single hike. It's a long drive from Seattle to do this hike, but it is totally worth it. Two thumbs up! Snow is melting fast now, so I highly recommend to do this hike soon if you want to see snow-capped mountain ranges in the background. Very beautiful.

By the way, the forest road to trailhead is mostly paved, but there are lots of pot holes and dips! Most of them are well marked with bright red paint, but some are not....so, use caution as you drive on the forest road to trailhead. Also, the trailhead parking lot is not big enough to accommodate the popularity of this hike, it seems. I saw many cars parked on the forest road as a result of overflow. I was lucky, however, I could find a parking in the lot as I arrived in the late afternoon (after 3pm).

Mount Storm King - Olympic Peninsula, WA

May 2, 2016

Another great workout hike in the Olympic Peninsula. I'd put Mt. Storm King next to Mt. Rose as the trail is equally steep, but just a mile shorter.

The hike begins from the Marymere Falls Nature Trail by the Storm King Ranger Station, and in less than a quarter mile you come to the trail sign of Storm King.

The trail climbs steep from the beginning and continues that way all along the journey with little ease. The good news is the hike is less than 2 miles one way! So, take your time and pace yourself. It's worth the effort after all and the reward is a spectacular view of Lake Crescent from the top.

After grueling march through the treeline, views open up with Lake Crescent and surrounding deep green mountain range. There are a series of vantage points along the ledge/saddle, but very exposed!....so, be careful. The trail continues along the narrow ridge gaining more elevation to the top.

To reach the top for a grand vista point, you have to ascend a couple of exposed steep and slippery dirt slopes....sheer drop. There is a rope setup for those steep sections so that you can safely climb. I had a pair of gloves in my pack and they became handy specially for descending....I learned this trick for better grip and not getting blistered when I climbed Yosemite's Half Dome.....no worries, however, Storm King is not that steep or long. 

After the exciting and thrilling climb, you finally come to a rocky peak....the vantage point you were waiting for. Take in the breathtaking view....Lake Crescent, Olympic range, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island. I was amazed to see how blue the water is. It was also interesting and educational to be able to look at the region from a bird's eye view and understand how the geological terrains are formed and divided by mountain ranges and waters, which creates characteristic climate conditions in the Olympic region - rain, snow, sunshine/clouds, dry/wet...and sustaining ecology of different landscapes and living things.

When you descend, just be careful and take your time not to slip as you hike down the steep slopes with the assistance of the rope! By the way, wildflowers are blooming....quite a few orchids and they were beautiful! After the hike, I made a quick stop at Lake Crescent Lodge and strolled along the lake shore trail....I was greeted by a couple of deer! The lodge has a picturesque lake view and there is a restaurant/gift shop inside....it's a nice place to relax after the hike and before you hit the road back home!

Sauer's Mountain - WA

April 28, 2016

OMG!!! Yes, that was my first reaction when I saw them. So many wildflowers!!! I had never seen that many wildflowers blooming in one hike in springtime, besides summer's wildflowers. I literally dropped my jaw when I saw those endless wildflowers from the beginning to the end...all the way from trail head to the summit. I am NOT kidding. In fact, I couldn't sleep last night since all the beautiful flowers were still twirling so vividly in my head like a kaleidoscope!

If you want to see those impressive wildflowers and dip your body and soul into them, I highly recommend doing this hike soon and capture the beauty of the spring wildflowers before they are gone. They are absolutely fantastic!

The WTA's description of the hike is correct. So, you can refer to it for hiking details and driving directions. However, I took I-90 from Seattle instead of HWY 2 because GPS showed I could save 15 min....which made sense as the trailhead is located in a small town of Pershastin south of Leavenworth.

I met Mr. Sauer at the beginning of the hike. He was sitting on a chair by his vineyard along the trail and friendly greeting hikers. He said he was over 80 years old and growing wine grapes right there for many years. It was nice to meet him and come to know the man who has been a significant part of Sauer's Mountain history.

Trail is in good shape, but narrow, so be courteous to fellow hikers when foot traffic is heavy. There are several steep slopes, but they are very short, so nothing to worry about. The trail ascends gradually in most parts. 3 miles one way gaining 2,000 ft.

Enjoy views as you ascend....they are really beautiful and peaceful - Stuart Range, Wenatchee River Valley, Icicle Ridge and the Enchantments. The trail eventually splits as a loop, and you can go either way because it meets back again. If you go to right at the loop sign, it takes you through a forest to the summit. If you take left, it takes you along the viewpoint of Wenatchee River Valley. The way I did was to take the right fork to ascend through the forest, and descended via the other way so that I could explore both routes of the loop.

At the summit, take in the grand vistas of the mountain ranges across the valley below you. The top of Glacier Peak is also visible. The trail continues from the summit to a little higher level until it finally drops down to the other direction. I followed the trail a little farther from the summit because wildflowers were all over along the summit ridge!!!

I saw lots of wild birds and they kept singing all along the hike. With myriads of wildflowers and wild birds singing, I felt mesmerized somewhere deep into wonderland. Sauers Mountain is a magical hike with countless spring wildflowers all over!

Yosemite Horsetail Fall Firefall - February 23, 2016 - Yosemite National Park, CA

 

Natural Firefall in Yosemite Valley. For two weeks in February, only when the right conditions meet, the sunset light hits Horsetail Fall at the perfect angle, by illuminating the waterfall glowing like a fire fall.

2016 February presented a perfect condition for the firefall with enough snow melting water for Horsetail fall, thanks to El Nino, and the weather was favorable for the firefall.

 

I arrived at El Capitan camp site around 4:30pm.  There were already many people there hoping to see the spectacular firefall. Sunset was expected to begin after 5:30pm. For the next hour or so, I enjoyed viewing Horsetail fall changing its colors as the sun went down...from bright yellow, gold, pink, orange and finally into the color of a glowing fire fall.

 

Seeing such a natural beauty was like awestruck....then, I felt such a calm and peaceful sensation....a Zen moment.  It was a realization that life is ephemeral, and yet, still beautiful and eternal.

 

To see a World in a Grain of Sand 

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower 

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

And Eternity in an hour

- William Blake -

Filmed by Lifeisamt, 2/23/2016

 

Mt. Rose - Olympic Peninsula, WA

April 7, 2016

It was 74 degrees when I arrived at the trailhead parking lot around 1:30pm. The weather was like an early summer. Traihead is easy to find and located right across Lake Cushman on FR 24. Trailhead has a small parking lot for about a dozen or so cars. Privy is available.

In short, this hike is quite a feat as the WTA's description details....one of the steepest trails in the Olympics. I'd say it's somewhat like a combination of Mt. Si and Mailbox Peak(old trail)....it gains 3,500 ft vertical in 2.9 miles based on the trail information at the trailhead. However, it's worth the effort to see the spectacular views from the top.

The trail is in good condition with no significant obstacles until you hit the snow covered route which begins somewhere around the last 3/4 mile to the summit via left loop route after ascending about 1/4 mile from Horsecamp. The snow covered route was mostly packed with boot tracks, except the slope going up to the summit because there were some soft spots where I ended up post-holing a few feet down. (See the pic.) Also, part of the snow covered route can become sketchy when snow starts to melt and boot tracks disappear. Therefore, it is a good protocol to pay attention to where you are heading, particularly when you descend as the boot tracks you followed up may disappear if it's warm weather by the time you follow back....you don't want to get lost! There are some trail markers of bright orange color tapes tied around some trees and branches which I found helpful as well as following the boot tracks in and out.

The last few hundred feet ascending the steep face to the summit was a little tricky today because the weather was warm and the deep snow got soft and slushy/slippery. I had micro spikes in my pack just in case, but I didn't have to use them after all. However, hiking poles became certainly useful. And, water proof boots are highly recommended to tackle the snow covered route to the summit.

All the sweat and effort were rewarded with the breathtaking vistas from the top in the crystal clear sky and gorgeous weather....Lake Cushman, Mt. Rainier, the Olympic range and Puget Sound. I had the summit and all that view for myself! By the way, the summit is very small....looks like it's only about 6 sq.ft.? and just enough for a few people!!!

I descended back the same route instead of continuing the loop because of the snow condition and I didn't want to take a risk of getting lost!!!

Mt. Rose is a great hike with spectacular views....with a little(?) effort and determination to challenge the steep trail. After the hike, I took a side trip down to Lake Cushman from the trailhead.....wow, it was gorgeous!

Snoquera Falls - Mt. Rainier, WA

What a beautiful day it was! It almost felt like an early summer and hiking in a T-shirt was just comfortable. I started late arriving at the trailhead/Camp Sheppard at 2:30pm and returned to my car by 4:30pm.

This is an easy hike and the waterfalls are stunning. I also recommend to combine to hike Moss Lake loop trail which is located in the basin of the trailhead. As the name says, Moss Lake loop trail offers mossy forest in a short distance. You can combine this hike either at the beginning or the end of Snoquera Falls hike.

Follow the signs of Snoquera Falls to the falls. There are several blow downs along the trail, but they are all passable. The trail climbs gradual and consistent, so it gets your heart rate going.

At the waterfalls, there is a side trail going up to the bottom of the falls. It's steep, but a short hike up for a closer view of the waterfalls. To get to the side trail, you have to cross the falls rapid creek, but it is not deep....however, boots are highly recommended, or your feet will likely get wet.

Take in the spectacular view of Snoquera Falls. It's a perfect short hike with a little effort and determination. Families with kids would also enjoy this hike. The trailhead is conveniently located at Camp Sheppard right by HWY 410.

  

Artist Point Snowshoe, Artist Ridge - Huntoon Point - Mt Baker, WA

What a beautiful day for snowshoeing! Perfect with blue sky and powder snow. Artist Point is one of my favorite hikes through all seasons....either for summer/fall hike or winter/spring snowshoeing. 

It was after noon when I arrived at the upper parking lot of Baker Ski located at the end of HWY 542, and the spacious lot was completely full. Considering it's a holiday season, I recommend arriving earlier for convenience as even overflow parking along the road tends to get pretty full when it gets crowded. Also, the route to Artist Point from traihead gets in the shade by early afternoon, so that's another good reason to start early if you prefer to snowshoe in sunlight.

The road was clear of snow and well plowed all the way yesterday, but some icy spots on road surface. It was a smooth drive except that there was a section of one way lane traffic control due to road work on 542. It takes extra time to get through the wait line, particularly when everyone is on the road after leaving about the same time between 4pm - 5 pm. It took me extra 20 min. to get through the west bound traffic.

The snowshoeing route to Artist Point is obvious and easy to follow since there are well established snowshoe tracks en route....basically you trek up southeast parallel to the ski run from TH/parking lot toward Artist Point. Also, there is an option to snowshoe down to Chain Lakes....I noticed quite a few hikers with/without snowshoes exploring down to the snow covered lakes yesterday.

There are a few steep slopes you have to ascend to get to Artist Point, but they are not that long and doable for average hikers....just pace yourself. There is a lot of snow up there and it was a powder condition, not icy at all yesterday. I had gaiters in my pack, but they were not necessary to put on.

Enjoy the views on the way to and at Artist Point in all directions....breathtaking vistas - Mt. Baker, Mt. Shuksan, Table Mountain, other Cascade ranges of US/Canada border and Baker Lake down below. It's a beauty of winter wonderland! From Artist Point, I trekked up to Huntoon Point....the high point at the southeast of Artist Point where you can overlook Artist Point and take a dramatic closeup view of Mt. Shuksan just for yourself.

All the way back to the parking lot from Artist Point, Mt. Shuksan was magically entertaining through expressing a change of colors from snow white to yellow, orange, red and purple reflecting the sunset light.

By the way, it is always a good protocol to check avalanche forecast in advance when you hike into a snow country.