Mount Rose

Decided to end the year with a good conditioning hike up Mount Rose in the south Olympics. This is a 6.4 mile hike, if you complete the loop on the top. Heading up to the peak going clockwise at the loop, the trail gains 3,500 ft in 2.9 miles.

There was one downed tree at the beginning of the trail.











lovely cascades at the second bridge near the beginning of the trail

The trail is mostly in the forest, we had some peekaboo views of Lake Cushman as we hiked up the beginning part of the trail.

The snow became consistent on the trail near the start of the loop at 3,050 ft of altitude (1.8 miles up the trail). We headed up the loop going clockwise.

There were some nice icicles hanging off the boulders.

Lovely tree standing on a boulder.

logs over the creek crossing

There was a fairly well packed down route in the snow from previous hikers. Snowshoes were not needed on this track, but it was icy, so we were glad we brought our microspikes

 lovely little creek

 As we gained elevation we had some peekaboo views of Mt Rainier and












Mount Elinor.

We did end up off the main tracks, following a single set of tracks up a steep section (this may be near the summer route)

This led us up to this gorgeous view of Mt Elinor

Before the final section heading up to the top of Mount Rose,

here there is a nice flat area with a view overlooking Lake Cushman with Hood Canal, Puget Sound,  Mt Rainier, Mt Adams and Mt St Helens seen in the far distance.

Another view as the trail heads up close to the summit

 The summit of Mt Rose at 4,300 ft is filled with trees, there is a rock cropping off to the side with some views of Lake Cushman to the southwest and










some of the southern Olympics to the north west.

 gray jay in the branches












We saw three eagles soaring above us as we were at the summit of Mount Rose.











This was the first time on Mount Rose I found a good set of tracks going down the loop on the other side of the summit, so we opted to go down that way. For a while the trail continues along a ridge, here we had peekaboo views of Mt Rainier,

 Copper Mountain and

 Mount Elinor, now in the clouds

















One of the creek crossings on the way further down the loop trail.