Elevation Gain: Approximately 3800 ft.
Time: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Weather: Cold, partly to mostly cloudy, snowing, and a sun break or two.
This ended up being one of the hardest hikes of my life. I have done this hike before, and while it is steep in sections, it is not overwhelmingly difficult. What made the hike so difficult today was the weather.
I took 8 students with me, and we were at the trailhead by 8:45 am. My co-leader met me there. By the time I was geared up and ready, it was around 9 am. It was cold, and as we hiked up the trail, it began snowing. It was beautiful, but as it kept snowing the trail got a little slippery. It didn't slow us down too much. We made it to the fire lookout, and it was snowing really hard. We didn't stay long, and we began climbing down after a brief snack and water break.
Here is where the hike became tough and dangerous. The snow had made the rocky trail feel like a slip-n-slide. It took longer to get down than it did to get up. I must have fallen 30 times. It was a challenge, and in a way, that was nice. It has been awhile since I had been this confronted by a hike. I was very impressed with the students who managed to have fun the entire time.
Orchid: The beauty of the PNW in the late fall when the first snows are falling.
Onion: All the falls on the hike down.
Picture:
Google Map
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