Hurricane Ridge Snowshoe

I drove up to Hurricane Ridge at Olympic National Park to do some snowshoeing on this beautiful sunny day and learned this is the last weekend the road to Hurricane Ridge is open until sometime later in April or May. So glad I came up! I combined parts of several trails: Hurricane Hill Road and part way along the ridge, over to Sunrise Point and then back to the Visitor Center by what would be the Cirque Rim Trail in the summer time, Overall 4.7 miles with 700' of gain. The ranger told me there is 10 feet of snow here.

View of the Olympic from near the Visitor Center

Panoramic view to the south

The closed Hurricane Hill Road is a mile long, I then continued up along the route towards Hurricane Hill, only two snowshoers before me today. Lots of cornices have built up along the east side of the ridge.

Looking back to the south from up on the ridge. The winds have blown most of the snow off of the ridge, it was hard packed and a bit icy.

Views from the ridge

northwest

west

south

Mount Angels to the south east as seen on my way back 

Then I headed up to Sunrise Point, view looking back towards the Visitor Center and this gorgeous view of the Olympics

zoom of Mount Olympus

Views of the Olympics from part way up to Sunrise Point

Mount Angels and Klahhane Ridge to the east

view of the Olympics to the southwest, the Visitor Center can be seen, but the parking lot is hidden by the meadow area.

Sunrise Point is to the left, with Mount Angels in the center

From Sunrise Point looking out along Sunrise Ridge towards Mount Angeles. Between the cornices and the exposure, I decided not to continue along the ridge, but to enjoy the views form Sunrise Point.

View of Hurricane Hill to the southeast

Mount Angels and far below the Salish Sea and north to Canada

Another view of Hurricane Hill

Heading back down, Olympic Peaks to the southeast

Panos looking south

from Mount Angeles in the east to the route down from Sunrise Point

route down from Sunrise Point towards the west

lots of lovely frosty trees

icicles hanging down from the branches

View to the north from the "Cirque Rim Trail"as I head back to the visitor center