I drove up to the end of the Westside Road that is open to motor vehicles before it closes for the season, so I could hike up to Gobbler's Knob, 12 miles round trip with 2,600 ft of gain. I had the hike up to and at Gobbler's Knob to myself today, it was so quiet and peaceful.
The first 3.6 miles is up the closed Westside Road, view of Mt Wow and the moon as I began soon after sunrise.
Further up the road, I had a view of the top of Mt Rainier beyond Tahoma Creek.
There were some vine maples turning colors among the evergreens of the forest.
At Round Pass, I took the trail up towards George Lake and Gobbler's Knob. On the way I had a peek of Mt Rainier between the trees.
View of Lake George
Views of a pond about 0.6 mile below Gobbler's Knob
The only tracks before me in the snow were of a deer,
and a rabbit.
View of Mt Rainier about 0.2 mile below the top of Gobbler's Knob
Looking up at the Fire Lookout on
Gobbler's Knob
View of Mt Rainer from
Gobbler's Knob
The Fire Lookout on
Gobbler's Knob
From the lookout, I watched Mt Rainier disappear in the clouds
I decided to hike back down the trail to avoid the attack of the gray jays as I ate my lunch.
Goat Lake down below on the west side of
Gobbler's Knob
Mine were the only footsteps as I retraced my route down from
Gobbler's Knob, part way down the trail I met 4 other hikers heading up, the only people I saw on this trail today.
Back down on the road section, I could see that Mt Rainier had come out of the clouds.
some of the flora, fall color and fungi seen along the trail today:
This morning, I walked about 3.25 miles along the trails and board walk at Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. View across Puget Sound.
zoom looking towards the snowy Olympic Peaks in the distance
American wigeons
view along the boardwalk
seagull
cormorant and seal on a small islet
about a dozen seals on another islet
view of Mt Rainier to the northeast
zoom of Mt Rainier
The last part of the boardwalk is closed because of waterfowl hunting season (mid October to February 3)
Lots of Canadian geese
Along one section of the trail, I could see the Fire Lookout up on top of Gobbler's Knob.
