Hex Mountain Snowshoe

We drove north of Rosyln to snowshoe up to Hex Mountain (a 7 mile round trip with 2,600 ft of gain). We had some time constraints today and with all the new snow we reached 3 miles out with 2,000 ft of gain before needing to turn back. We have done this hike before and will do it again, so we were not disappointed . It was wonderful to be out on a sunny day after this past week of winter storms! The closed road the trail begins on was full of snow, even before the gate. The sun was lighting up the hills behind us as we began.

Two young women had begun before us, breaking trail. We started carrying our snowshoes for the first mile, then the snow was deep enough that I put on my snowshoes.

By the time we reached the trail sign (1.7 miles up the road) the snow was very deep. We met the young women coming down, they hadn't reached the top as they also had time constraints. The trail was not packed down but their previous tracks helped!

In the morning we enjoyed the blue skies! Looking towards Hex Mountain.

The trail goes through a burnt forest from a fire a few years ago. We spotted a couple of hairy woodpeckers searching for food.

My friend wanted a good workout today, so she lead the way. There was well over a foot of snow on this part of the trail. (On the way down, we saw where someone had come up without snowshoes or skis. There boot prints sunk down through out snowshoe track about 18" or so. They had turned around and left)

Red Mountain behind me

Cloud were covering Cle Elum Lake below, Red Mountain and Mt Daniels in the distance to the north.

As the clouds moved around, we would catch glimpses of Cle Elum Lake.

Some nice color in the sky to the east.

Panoramic view to the south, here we reached the area where the two young women had stopped.

We were now breaking trail, and realized we did not have time to reach the top of Hex Mountain today. We continued up until the trail goes back under the trees on the last ridge. Mt Rainier peeking over the ridge to the southwest.

Clouds over Cle Elum Lake are starting to rise.

So peaceful in the deep snow, we reached 4,400 feet. We are about 1/2 mile and 600 ft from the top of Hex Mountain. Here the sun was warming up the snow on the trees and with water dripping down on us, we decided to head down to a flat open area to take a lunch break on our hike back down.

So beautiful snowshoeing back down into the view.

By the time we sat down for lunch, we were engulfed in the clouds. We would be mostly in the clouds for our hike back down to the car.

Cornices forming along the east side of the ridge.

The fog and fresh snow gave a beauty to the burnt forest.

We met several people skiing and snowshoeing up the trail, so from our lunch spot down, the route was very nicely packed down. (but not yet packed down well enough for those without floatation devices).

Behind us, the cloud lifted enough for another look at Hex Mountain. 

We enjoyed our time on the trail, a gorgeous peaceful day!